NationStates Jolt Archive

alot of people say they will not be voting this year

will i have this idea

if you dont vote you cant complain about the gov't till you do in 4 more years
and every time you do you should be fined starting at $5 and have the fine double every time after

I like it! I did Early Voting so if Bush wins, I will be complaining for the next four years!

How... authoritarian.

You have two gangs in front you. They say, "We're going to brutally beat and rob you, but we'll give you a choice of which one of us will do it. If you don't choose then you can't complain about being beaten and robbed."

I got a better idea. It's called "freedom of speech".

you can't force people to vote, what if the voter likes both candidates? or hates both? and won't vote- that is perfectly reasonable.. or other reasons

It's reasonable to not vote. It means you don't really care about the direction of your country, but it's reasonable.

A hilarious idea, but it would never pass. The non-voters in this country outweigh the voters.

A hilarious idea, but it would never pass. The non-voters in this country outweigh the voters.

i hope not! lol

i hope not! lol
I think the statistic is 40% of people vote. I'm not sure though.

Same game...different players

I think there may be some arcane rule already governing this... If I remember right, I think that it's called the First Amendment.

I think the statistic is 40% of people vote. I'm not sure though.
*rases eyebrows* ok thats not so good..
so the majoriy of the minority's candidate will win?

errm.. no comment.. yet..

You have two gangs in front you. They say, "We're going to brutally beat and rob you, but we'll give you a choice of which one of us will do it. If you don't choose then you can't complain about being beaten and robbed."
you could vote for a third party
you can't force people to vote, what if the voter likes both candidates? or hates both? and won't vote- that is perfectly reasonable.. or other reasons
if you like both make a choice thats what life is about if you hate both look above that quote
It's reasonable to not vote. It means you don't really care about the direction of your country, but it's reasonable.
i was wondering when this would come up
the people that "don't care" are the ones that complain the most
A hilarious idea, but it would never pass. The non-voters in this country outweigh the voters.
true, but sence they dont vote it wont effect the passing of this

you could vote for a third party

if you like both make a choice thats what life is about if you hate both look above that quote

i was wondering when this would come up
the people that "don't care" are the ones that complain the most

true, but sence they dont vote it wont effect the passing of this

No, your idea is horrible, and completely un-American. Go away.

You have two gangs in front you. They say, "We're going to brutally beat and rob you, but we'll give you a choice of which one of us will do it. If you don't choose then you can't complain about being beaten and robbed."

Hey, you didn't vote in the poll, you can't complain about it. That'll be a $5 fine...

Hey, Mr. United White Front, why do you care if/how/why I vote? It isn't any of your business whether or not I exercise my rights -- the only that matters is if I can.

Hey, Mr. United White Front, why do you care if/how/why I vote? It isn't any of your business whether or not I exercise my rights -- the only that matters is if I can.
i dont care who you vote for
i dont care if you do it in drag standing on you head
but i do care that people complain about the job the gov't is doing yet they never put thier 2 cents in by voting
aka you dont vote dont complain you could have tried to do somting before

i dont care who you vote for
i dont care if you do it in drag standing on you head
but i do care that people complain about the job the gov't is doing yet they never put thier 2 cents in by voting
aka you dont vote dont complain you could have tried to do somting before

Your idea has a frighteningly amusing sort of appeal. However there are several things you need to consider:

1. People under the age of 18 can't vote
2. Illegal citizens/foreigners in the country can't vote
3. Wrongfully accused criminals (who haven't been pardoned) can't vote
4. Somtimes people vote and their votes aren't counted
5. A major family/personal incident stops someone from being able to vote

Would you fine any of them?

And besides that, how would you enforce the rule? How can you know whether or not someone voted, short of taking tabs and doing other authoritarian things? I might not wear a "I voted" sticker and have voted, or vice versa.
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Nevertheless, the idea is insensitively appealing, because people too pathetic to vote really shouldn't complain. Even stupid, uninformed, uneducated, and dogmatic people vote, and if someone is too apathetic to vote, whether it be that they are incredibly brilliant and jaded, and therefor too cynical to vote --- or simply too lazy or uneducated to be "bothered" to vote, they really shouldn't bitch about it...
EVEN if they live in a state where they know their vote "won't matter". Because if all of them DID vote, maybe it would (though not bloody likely).

I'm assuming this rule doesn't apply to people in foreign countries, of course.

i dont care who you vote for
i dont care if you do it in drag standing on you head
but i do care that people complain about the job the gov't is doing yet they never put thier 2 cents in by voting
aka you dont vote dont complain you could have tried to do somting before

What about people who were not of age when the elections took place? Immigrants who did not become American citizens until after the elections? Are they subject to your "rules"?

What about people who were not of age when the elections took place? Immigrants who did not become American citizens until after the elections? Are they subject to your "rules"?

There is a difference between CAN NOT vote and WILL NOT vote. Going to the ballots and sumitting a blank ballot or writing in "None of the Above" is voting. Sitting at home because you don't like neither canidates is not voting.

Choising not to vote is different than not being given the right to vote. For the Immigrants and those to young, in time, they will be able to vote.

If the fines were to be put towards the deficit... Hell yeah, that puppy will be gone in no time. :D

There is a difference between CAN NOT vote and WILL NOT vote. Going to the ballots and sumitting a blank ballot or writing in "None of the Above" is voting. Sitting at home because you don't like neither canidates is not voting.

Choising not to vote is different than not being given the right to vote. For the Immigrants and those to young, in time, they will be able to vote.

If the fines were to be put towards the deficit... Hell yeah, that puppy will be gone in no time. :D

Well he didn't differentiate. He just said "if you did not vote, you don't get to complain".

And besides that, how would you enforce the rule? How can you know whether or not someone voted, short of taking tabs and doing other authoritarian things? I might not wear a "I voted" sticker and have voted, or vice versa.

If we only require that all registered voters vote, then it would be pretty easy.
For obvious reasons, we must keep track of who has voted. Otherwise someone could vote twice. The registered voters who did not vote are just all the registered voters minus those who voted.

If you want to go farther and require anyone who can become a registered voter to become a registered voter (and then vote), you'd have to tie it to SSNs, I think.

If someone doesn't want a SSN or the right to vote, I'd be fine letting him not vote.

Sanctioning our democratic freedoms is unconstitutional. I do wish more people would vote, though!

Well he didn't differentiate. He just said "if you did not vote, you don't get to complain".


The qualifier was actually in the first line "Alot of people say they will not vote this year..."

That implies that he is talking about those who choose not to vote.

But I voted for 'other'... it's a great start of an idea... just needs work on and qualifying it will help.

Sanctioning our democratic freedoms is unconstitutional. I do wish more people would vote, though!

don't think of it as santioning... consider it a... i dunno, complaint tax? :D

Well he didn't differentiate. He just said "if you did not vote, you don't get to complain".
i'm sorry i thought that would be self explainitory

No, your idea is horrible, and completely un-American. Go away.
How do you get to pick what "American" is? And don't give me any bull about freedom of speech, because that same freedom extends to those who disagree with the constitution, now doesn't it? Me, I think compulsory voting is a good idea: elections are truly representative that way. Besides, a law like this fellow is suggesting would create an incentive for people to vote, but it would be less effective than simply fining people for not voting.

I think the statistic is 40% of people vote. I'm not sure though.
It's actually less than that, we went over this in government class the other day, i don't remember the actuall number, but it's closer to 30%

In a state ruled by republicans, it wouldn't matter who I voted for. If I voted for Ralph Nader, George W Bush would win. If I voted for John Kerry, George W Bush would win. If I voted for Matthew Peroutka (godfamilyrepublic.com---bleh), George W. Bush would win. I fail to see how exactly my vote would count, and so therefore, it is already decided who will win in my state. It will always be a Republican held state.

How do you get to pick what "American" is? And don't give me any bull about freedom of speech, because that same freedom extends to those who disagree with the constitution, now doesn't it? Me, I think compulsory voting is a good idea: elections are truly representative that way. Besides, a law like this fellow is suggesting would create an incentive for people to vote, but it would be less effective than simply fining people for not voting.

Telling people that they do not have the right to voice their opinions is a very un-American thing to say, you don't think?

Further, why should someone have to vote if they choose not to? Perhaps they are so disgusted with the choices presented that they abstain out of protest.

In a state ruled by republicans, it wouldn't matter who I voted for. If I voted for Ralph Nader, George W Bush would win. If I voted for John Kerry, George W Bush would win. If I voted for Matthew Peroutka (godfamilyrepublic.com---bleh), George W. Bush would win. I fail to see how exactly my vote would count, and so therefore, it is already decided who will win in my state. It will always be a Republican held state.
now lets go with the nuber from the post above yours
on avrage 30% of people vote
now what if the other 70% did gwb might not win in your state for all you know jesse ventora(sp?) might
and a law like this might just turn out another 50% of the people