SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
CNN reports that when asked how to offset the influence of big money in politics, President Barack Obama suggested it's time to make voting a requirement. "Other countries have mandatory voting," said Obama "It would be transformative if everybody voted -- that would counteract money more than anything," he said, adding it was the first time he had shared the idea publicly.
"The people who tend not to vote are young, they're lower income, they're skewed more heavily towards immigrant groups and minority groups. There's a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls."
At least 26 countries have compulsory voting, according to the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Failure to vote is punishable by a fine in countries such as Australia and Belgium; if you fail to pay your fine in Belgium, you could go to prison. Less than 37% of eligible voters actually voted in the 2014 midterm elections, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. That means about 144 million Americans -- more than the population of Russia -- skipped out.
Critics of mandatory voting have questioned the practicality of passing and enforcing such a requirement; others say that freedom also means the freedom not to do something.
(Score: 3, Informative) by NCommander on Sunday March 22 2015, @11:46AM
You could write it in; write-ins are legal in federal elections.
Still always moving
(Score: 1) by hurwitz on Sunday March 22 2015, @12:12PM
NCommander for President!
I was surprised to find out more than a few write-ins [wikipedia.org] were successful. Mostly in the primary stage.
Realistically speaking, it would be much cheaper to advertise a candidate: I would rather send brochures to mailboxes the week before election day (selectively, by neighborhood, however) than fork over $X00k a minute to the local TV media conglomerate during the whole 18-month election cycle.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Kell on Sunday March 22 2015, @01:03PM
Hey, NCommander, I've been wondering. If you're the new number 2, who is number 1?
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 4, Funny) by TheGratefulNet on Sunday March 22 2015, @01:52PM
I am not a number! I am a free man!!!
(bwahahahahaha!)
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
(Score: 2) by NCommander on Sunday March 22 2015, @07:10PM
If there was ever a justification to hide UID numbers by default, this is it.
Still always moving
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2015, @07:13PM
No way. If his UID was 6, that really would have been hilarious.
(Score: 3, Touché) by NCommander on Sunday March 22 2015, @07:09PM
The community of course :)
Still always moving
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2015, @05:18PM
In that case, "Anonymous Coward" should display UID 1.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2015, @04:26PM
Indeed. I was just thinking that the "ballot" for elections should be a blank piece of paper. The voter must write in the candidate of their choice for each office up for election. As an added twist, any misspelling of a candidate's name means that ballot gets tossed.