Should Voting be Compulsory in the United States?
Recently I wrote about the unreliable youth vote in the United States and conducted a poll of TheCandidacy.com’s readers asking if the U.S. should welcome international election observers. Both posts received a flurry of comments and opinions. So, in keeping with that theme, I’d like to propose a new poll question – Should Voting Be Compulsory in the United States?
Voting is mandatory in over 20 countries around the world from Argentina to Australia where all eligible citizens must vote or face possible fines or imprisonment. Would such a change in policy be good for the U.S.? Or are we better of leaving things the way they are?
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After you vote please leave a comment explaining your reasoning so the COS can summarize results later. As usual, I’ll start us off.
Popularity: 7% [?]
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a Master of Arts in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism). Use the form on the right to sign up for the "Friday Morning Fix” and other timely updates.
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dickmill
| Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Would that make it madatory for all deceased persons to vote (unlike now, where only a portion of votes are received from the deceased?)
Daniel Williams
| Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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I voted No. Force folks to vote and you’ll get write-ins for every movie star and rap artist in the country, not to mention the real possibility of electing Mickey Mouse.
We should, however, make it a national holiday and open the bars early: getting screwed always feels better with a buzz on…
Vanessa | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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It should not be mandatory, because then the people will feel so controled that they will vote for anyone just to get over it.
RHM
| Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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I voted no also and partially for the reasons Daniel mentioned.
Forcing people to vote doesn’t make them any more informed and I’d prefer that if people are either too dumb to understand the issues or don’t care that they just stay home.
Alex | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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voting should not be mandatory, especially in a two party system. there are legitimate circumstances where a well-informed and responsible citizen simply will not agree with either candidate.
however, i personally believe that voting should be the privilege of someone who cares about the country, not simply of someone who was born here. if the aim is to make the electorate more engaged in meaningful discussion, require a proofs of patriotism with mandatory national service (peace corps, military, civil service, local volunteer work, etc) and a national history exam for those who desire citizenship and DO NOT just hand it out with birth certificates
tom kern | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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most people like myslf are too busy to vote,so if it were a little easier and less time consuming then i’d vote all the time. maybe we can use the internet more wth this.
Will | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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I don’t think requiring people to vote would solve the main problem with the electoral system in this country. People feel like their vote doesn’t matter, that the two parties are insignificant, that they’re only one person, etc. Requiring voting would only spread the general disaffection associated with voting as it is.
David Sullivan | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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Forcing people to vote is like having a conscripted army. You get what you pay for.
Alexander | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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I keep thinking of those images we saw out of Iraq and the blue-inked fingers…the country’s voter turnout was like what, 80-something percent…that with the threat of being killed to do so!
U.S. voter turnout is generally pathetic!
TO | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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No to mandatory voting. They who wnat to sit it out should be allowed to do so without being fined (AKA taxed). TO’
David Jule | Sep 5, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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Forcing people to vote does not solve the problem of voter apathy. If anything, it would make it worse. When thoughtful people are moved to vote, they will. In the meantime, it is perhaps better to let the unthoughtful remain removed from the ballot box. And yes, there will always be the unthoughtful.