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In reply to the discussion: BREAKING: President Obama Wants To Propose 'Mandatory Voting.' It would change everything. [View all]Android3.14
(5,402 posts)167. Sounds good
Would have been even better 7 years ago.
What a waste.
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BREAKING: President Obama Wants To Propose 'Mandatory Voting.' It would change everything. [View all]
kpete
Mar 2015
OP
I agree with that, the length of voting should be at least 1-2 weeks and in fact July
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#36
Exactly. Not to mention the elderly would still have the option of mailing in their ballots. nt
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#210
Nice! ....sans the fireworks for the sake of the pups—2x per year is enough. :)
C Moon
Mar 2015
#145
I'll raise your mandatory voting and add Publicly Funded Elections and outlaw campaign contributions
Dustlawyer
Mar 2015
#190
Would this require a constitutional amendment or would simple legislation do it?
totodeinhere
Mar 2015
#4
Just attach a rider which say you can preregister to not vote each election.
Half-Century Man
Mar 2015
#37
I am answering a question about a counterpoint to a speculated scenario.
Half-Century Man
Mar 2015
#109
They could just do what Oregon did and make it so everyone is registered automatically
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#41
Yup and if they get the IRS, Social Security and varies federal agencies involved it might help
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#106
That is a good idea! Also IMO voting should be standardized across the nation. Far too many states
RKP5637
Mar 2015
#200
One thing that does bother me about mandatory voting, and maybe more, is that some people
RKP5637
Mar 2015
#316
If sitting on jury is a duty .. then so is voting. You need to enforce voting just as much
srican69
Mar 2015
#268
I don't think that suffices. Not voting qualifies as expressive conduct in a different way. n/t
Yo_Mama
Mar 2015
#301
It's not going to happen, and the president saying "hey- neat idea" doesnt mean he's actually
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2015
#139
Gloom and Doom is for Republicans...who are those that agree with them? Why??
Fred Sanders
Mar 2015
#191
Oh, it's not only not going to happen immediately, it is never going to happen.
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2015
#218
One) I said the opposite- I DON'T think, necessarily, compulsory voting would make people vote D.
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2015
#307
That law about mandatory voting, let me know when that happens, okay?
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2015
#328
Terrible idea. Talk about uninformed voters. We have enough idiots now voting based.....
Logical
Mar 2015
#8
I don't think it'd work any other way, and he did make an extra holiday to add to another day.
freshwest
Mar 2015
#159
Even that is probably silly. What is needed is an election period like an open enrollment
TheKentuckian
Mar 2015
#341
"If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country," If everyone
Cha
Mar 2015
#11
Just edited out by media. The examples are well known. So those who want to know, had to work for it
freshwest
Mar 2015
#160
Some choose to participate by not participating. Might want to read the First Amendment again.
Lochloosa
Mar 2015
#187
yea your car broke down , your dog ate your shoes , you lost your calendar, your alarm didnt go
Romeo.lima333
Mar 2015
#245
Yeah, they should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, even when they're barefoot.
jeff47
Mar 2015
#248
well they could wait until their barefoot and naked to start fighting back
Romeo.lima333
Mar 2015
#250
what i know about poverty is that unless you vote your situation isnt going to get much better
Romeo.lima333
Mar 2015
#287
Yeah, if you believe in treating free adult citizens like errant schoolchildren to be lectured at.
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2015
#336
voting is the act of a free adult, not voting is being an errant school child
Romeo.lima333
Mar 2015
#340
I agree that not voting is stupid. And people who don't vote also, to my mind, forfeit their right
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2015
#354
Yes, it would be terrible if the youth who were already not voting continued to not vote.
jeff47
Mar 2015
#246
Did you think people would not notice you switched from "doesn't say they can" to
jeff47
Mar 2015
#263
Oh. I dunno. I think the people might actually pass such a referendum.
Nuclear Unicorn
Mar 2015
#262
"Everyone gets to have a say in the debate about those costs and benefits."
Nuclear Unicorn
Mar 2015
#275
"You owe the corporatists at the moment for the food you eat blah blah blah"
Nuclear Unicorn
Mar 2015
#289
that is a good idea. I do think also that there could be more incentives to vote.
CTyankee
Mar 2015
#51
I thought about that but had some concerns that a system of cash payments could be hijacked by one
CTyankee
Mar 2015
#273
You might be surprised at the length people will go (lefties and righties, both)
Ineeda
Mar 2015
#279
What imposing? He expressed an opinion he didnt say you or anyone else has to agree with it.
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#356
OMG you are right, we are all doomed because someone is talking about something that
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#358
Bingo--you've parsed his actual POV skillfully and accurately, and succinctly too!!!! nt
MADem
Mar 2015
#164
I'm sure you could post "Wingnuts are freaking out" with any news item and it'd be correct
Chathamization
Mar 2015
#53
as much as some don't like it, not voting is freedom of speech. Just because you don't like it
liberal_at_heart
Mar 2015
#293
I am not disagreeing with you but on the other hand something does need to be done
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#310
More voters would turn out if we did something about the corruption in the system.
liberal_at_heart
Mar 2015
#314
According to Fox News: "Australians who fail to vote or Australians who are not able to vote due...
BlueJazz
Mar 2015
#67
I was lying about Fox News. Every month or two I make up something about Fox News...
BlueJazz
Mar 2015
#98
I hope Faux News and GOP will treat this the same way they treated Vaccinations...
LynneSin
Mar 2015
#72
Make voting a $100 million lottery event, and you get your ticket after you vote
NickB79
Mar 2015
#76
The legislation isn't workable anyway. There's no bill they could write that would be feasible to
hughee99
Mar 2015
#157
Indeed -- which is why I find it exceedingly annoying for the President even to bring it up n/t
markpkessinger
Mar 2015
#355
Now watch an idiot Republican claim NOT voting is a "freedom" issue....
Spitfire of ATJ
Mar 2015
#90
Maybe if we push the issue, they'll be compelled to "exercise" that right to not vote.
arcane1
Mar 2015
#96
I can picture a few "Bozo For Prez" ballots at first but after a while people would get serious.
Spitfire of ATJ
Mar 2015
#331
how about universal health care Obama? You never once even brought that to the bargaining table
liberal_at_heart
Mar 2015
#100
We already have that though, how do you think the Republicans gained control
cstanleytech
Mar 2015
#107
Mandatory voting = a bunch of ill-informed people picking a candidate for the shallowest of reasons
Nye Bevan
Mar 2015
#118
Won't matter if we let Corporations "count" the votes with no oversight and no verification.
blkmusclmachine
Mar 2015
#120
Under threat of what penalty? This is one of those "Be careful what you wish for" notions.
WinkyDink
Mar 2015
#126
Interesting. Paying taxes isn't just patriotic, it's required. Perhaps same with voting?
Beartracks
Mar 2015
#128
So .... Is he actially proposing legislation on this, and sending it to congress?
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2015
#136
That would require work on the part of the two party system. Why work when you can just
liberal_at_heart
Mar 2015
#143
good point. Just sayin. I bet both the Republican and Democratic parties would love mandatory voting
liberal_at_heart
Mar 2015
#148
"How many current politicians actually inspire you?" Damn good question.
liberal_at_heart
Mar 2015
#151
The ironic thing is that I think manditory voting would end up making money more effecting, not less
quakerboy
Mar 2015
#158
In Australia, though, it's not really compulsory--you just pay a fine if you don't vote.
MADem
Mar 2015
#163
The time to do this was 2009. Now he proposes it when there's zero chance it will pass.
Scuba
Mar 2015
#169
If a guy writes in "Bozo," I doubt he takes the process seriously.No tax credit for being a fool.
Vinca
Mar 2015
#240
True. But he would still need to show up at a polling station and cast a vote.
randome
Mar 2015
#269
Voting is a fucking joke when only 33% vote and here we are with a joke of a Congress....
Fred Sanders
Mar 2015
#195
I think the point is that most would actually think about and vote for a specific candidate.
randome
Mar 2015
#183
If Australia is an example, we should also start instant runoff voting here too!
cascadiance
Mar 2015
#188
I think voting is our patriotic duty! If politicians are going to send our young into arms way
B Calm
Mar 2015
#189
If President Obama wants it, I've got his back. And I'll leave the rest up to the experts.
Dont call me Shirley
Mar 2015
#213
At least POTUS wants people to get informed and vote.. unlike the gop that wants to make it
Cha
Mar 2015
#206
"where citizens have no choice..... but to vote" i don't like the way that sentence starts
NM_Birder
Mar 2015
#207
Wow, then the GOP racists would have to round EVEN MORE non-whites for their prisons. nt
valerief
Mar 2015
#211
We wouldn't need mandatory voting if all roadblocks to voting were removed
RedCappedBandit
Mar 2015
#216
I suggest we fix gerrymandering, voter disenfranchisement, and vote machine
rhett o rick
Mar 2015
#285
Fine. Just as long as it has a "None of the above" box and write in line.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Mar 2015
#291
I don't believe in mandatory voting but I do support automatic voter registration.
hrmjustin
Mar 2015
#313
Oregon just passed a bill that registers people to vote when they apply and obtain a
rladdi
Mar 2015
#318
We don't have "federal" elections. All elections are run at the state and county level.
cherokeeprogressive
Mar 2015
#335
No, Washington Post, President Obama did NOT "suggest requiring everyone to vote"
eridani
Mar 2015
#359