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This isn't even funny any more.

The notion of mandatory voting just turns my stomach. How would they enforce this one? If I go into the polling booth and don't mark the ballot - how do they know? And if they would know, there goes the right to not saying how you voted.

We need the government butting out of our personal rights and freedoms, not taking more away.

Obama: Maybe it's time for mandatory voting - CNN.com

We need to do SOMETHING to improve voter turnout. This last election, my state had a 36% voter turnout and the winner took 52% of the vote. That meant that19% of the registered voters actually elected the current Senatorial idiot.

Not sure Mandatory Voting is the answer, though.

Of course giving voters a sense of control over the process might be worth pursuing. I think "None of the above" should be an option on every ballot, at least in the primaries.

As I understand it, voting is mandatory in Australia.

It's just an idea and a conversation. Nothings gone run-a-muck.

If we have the freedom to vote for who we want, we should have the freedom not to vote.

The reason turn out is so low is that the politicians we vote for are only puppets.

Ahso!;1476228 wrote: It's just an idea and a conversation. Nothings gone run-a-muck.


Except for Congress

Bruv;1476234 wrote: If we have the freedom to vote for who we want, we should have the freedom not to vote.

The reason turn out is so low is that the politicians we vote for are only puppets.


The reason turn-out is so low here is that nobody wants to vote for the idiots the parties keep throwing at us.

flopstock;1476208 wrote: This isn't even funny any more.

The notion of mandatory voting just turns my stomach. How would they enforce this one? If I go into the polling booth and don't mark the ballot - how do they know? And if they would know, there goes the right to not saying how you voted.

We need the government butting out of our personal rights and freedoms, not taking more away.

Says the person who thinks it's okay to tie a child to a bicycle to go to school.

I can't see where it is constitutional to enforce a vote. I'd be curious to see if there would be any difference if we were............it would be scary if there is no difference, but enlightening all the same.

LarsMac;1476236 wrote: The reason turn-out is so low here is that nobody wants to vote for the idiots the parties keep throwing at us.


I agree. The best turnouts appear to be when we are clearly given someone to vote against!

LarsMac;1476235 wrote: Except for CongressThat's what happens when we elect runamucklicans.

Ahso!;1476244 wrote: That's what happens when we elect runamucklicans.


As a nation, I guess we want them & what they represent.......which makes it harder to defend against the many worldwide who hate our guts.

Personally I believe that anyone who doesn't vote has no right to complain about the outcome.

However, I also believe that mandatory voting would only serve to benefit such parties as The Monster Raving Loony Party, as these are the ones that disgruntled mandated voters would be likely to vote for.

Snowfire;1476225 wrote: As I understand it, voting is mandatory in Australia.


Yes it is. Mind you we call it compulsory instead of mandatory. However, it's only compulsory to show up and get your name ticked off. You may write anything you like on your voting papers, even rude words. No one will ever know who it was. If you don't show up you will be fined. No way will I ever get fined for not showing up, because I believe that everyone who has the right to vote should do so.

"Every nation has the government it deserves" - Joseph de Maistre