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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: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 22 2015, @04:39PM
Many of these places would not know what to do if they had a 100% turnout. I voted in that 37%. It was a 3 hour wait (and had apparently been that way all day, should have early voted...). They did not have enough tables for you to vote at. Would it have killed them to have 5 or 10 more? Apparently so. This year when I vote it will probably be sub 5% vote. I have seen people elected with as little as 100-200 votes and there are several hundred thousand in their area. I will wizz in and out of there. These are the years where they like to push thru poorly thought out bond bills which are usually money grabs for some pet company.
Here is the one thing I tell people. If you do not know what your dudes stand for do not vote. You obviously do not care. Dont go ticking off crap just cause you think you need to. You are literally wasting your time and just getting in my way. Even 'I liked his hair' is a better reason to vote than 'just because I am supposed to'.
To add to this about 6% of our population can not vote anyway. As going to prison usually strips you of that right. Of that population 70-80% are illiterate. Could our polls (which is usually volunteer work) handle 3-4 million special needs people? Not at this time. They could but it will take a lot more work than they do now.
If they push this out that you must vote. Then I say you must own a gun. A right I do not exercise.