(Untitled)

[slick_mink]

I have come to the conclusion that Australia has the right idea when it comes to elections, and we should copy them.  They have a system of compulsory voting.  Well,a better dscription would be, compulsory turn out.  Everyone able to vote must attend the polling station and have their name checked off the list there.  If they don't, and can't give

Comments

[slick_mink]

The Government has always had that ability, it's nothing new. Look at Jury Service. If you don't attend, you get into trouble.

Just because you say it's coercion to vote, doesn't mean it is. As I've said many times now, you are free to turn around and walk out the moment you've been ticked off as having attended. Or you can spoil you ballot, or you can wear a funny hat and dance a jig. You don't have to vote just because you've attended.

Anything that makes people more likely to attend and vote is a good thing. I am sick and tired of people not voting and then whining about the Government. I am sick and tired of seeing 51% turn out to elections. I am sick and tired of the excuses given.

If people don't like the system, then spoil a ballot. If people think the main parties are shit, then vote for an independent. Hell, you are supposed to only be voting for your MP anyway, look at the issues they stand on rather then their entire party.

So many people have died, and so many people still die, to get their right to vote. It sickens me to see people then toss that right away. I think that's far more disgusting then any system that makes people more likely to turn out.

[midnightschilde]

I totally agree that it's a shame that people don't use their vote.

However, I'd be very much against being *made* to turn up.

Jury service is a different deal...they can't take volunteers as they have to make sure it's different everyday random people for it to work at all. I see what you are saying, but I don't think they compare at all.

[faerierhona]

You are coerced to attend a place where a vote is taking place - I consider that an infringement of my civil liberties, I can make argument to avoid jury service, by the way. Many of them, and not believing in the process is actually often accepted.

People died to give me the right to vote (and, seriously, like I of all people don't know that???) they did *not* die to force me to attend a place a vote is occurring which I *still* say is coercion to vote with a pretty front end on it

I believe that self-determination is the most important factor, I believe that people have a *right* not to vote, to opt out of the system. I believe they are wrong to exercise that right, but what else should be people be forced to do or "oh just be forced to be there when it happens" because the educated and privileged believe they should have to do it? The less we are forced to do, the better!

[belak_krin]

I don't see that making voting a civil duty, rather than a right is a particularly harsh strain on the liberties of the citizen (especially considering some of the other crap thats happened in the last decade).

I would think however, that rather than state you have to have a good reason not to turn up, people should be given the option to complete an 'opt out' form that states they do not have to vote.

Apathy is the real enemy and I think when faced with a choice of filling out a form to vote or filling out a form not to vote, most people will choose to vote.

So yeah, switching the emphasis from right to duty seems like a good thing to me.

[darklord_vecna]

I disagree. People died so we'd have the freedom to choose what we did rather than being forced to do something.

I chose to use that freedom today, and not in a way that'll make you happy.

V.

[slick_mink]

That's not using a freedom. It's in fact the opposite. Don't dress it up as something it isn't.

[darklord_vecna]

No, it's a freedom because I chose what happened rather than being forced.

V.

[slick_mink]

You didn't choose shit. Don't be proud.

[darklord_vecna]

So, to be clear...

Your post is about how people should be forced to turn up at the polling station but can then choose to not vote if they don't support the system and that your major issue is with lazy people who can't vote.

Your comments are then that people who decide not to vote for whatever reason (not counting laziness as a choice) are clearly just weak minded fools, and those who disagree with your view point have their choices insulted by you in an entirely childish fashion.

I have friends who voted for the Conservative party, I don't understand why (and given the Conservative party's voting record on things like LGBT rights, I wish they hadn't) but you won't find me swearing at them for making a 'wrong' choice.

I didn't say in my above responses why I chose not to vote, and to be honest, I'm not going to bother as I can see it won't make a blind bit of difference to your contradictory and emotional outbursts.

V.