NationStates Jolt Archive


Forcing People to Vote

Loanet
19-10-2008, 13:43
In the real world, you can vote at your leisure. Which is probably why the numbers of people who bother is going down.

I'm not saying it's better for it to be compulsory in real life, but in a nicely liberal nation of only 6 billion + (it's a big planet we're living on), it's one of the few things that ARE compulsory. I think that's pretty reasonable, don't you?

Loanet! Where we cram democracy down your throat!

Vote or suffer!
Blouman Empire
19-10-2008, 13:44
Is this a RP thread?
Lunatic Goofballs
19-10-2008, 13:45
In the real world, you can vote at your leisure. Which is probably why the numbers of people who bother is going down.

I'm not saying it's better for it to be compulsory in real life, but in a nicely liberal nation of only 6 billion + (it's a big planet we're living on), it's one of the few things that ARE compulsory. I think that's pretty reasonable, don't you?

Loanet! Where we cram democracy down your throat!

Vote or suffer!

I do something similar with tacos. *nod*
Loanet
19-10-2008, 13:53
No, Blouman. More a place to talk about things you've made illiegal in your country but don't entirely agree with.
Hairless Kitten
19-10-2008, 14:03
In my country you have to vote by law. There's no choice. If you don't vote then you'll face a fine.
Fonzica
19-10-2008, 14:27
In my country you have to vote by law. There's no choice. If you don't vote then you'll face a fine.

Freedom isn't free, and the freedom to not vote costs you a $90 fine. Simple to me.
Rammsteinburg
19-10-2008, 14:32
In real life, forcing people to vote isn't going to accomplish anything good. People would continue to be apathetic, and we would continue to end up with crappy leaders.

In my nation, compulsory voting helps the military stay in power. :D
AB Again
19-10-2008, 14:33
In my country you have to vote by law. There's no choice. If you don't vote then you'll face a fine.

They take it a step further here. You have to have your voting record up to date to get any government job, and most non government ones. You are obliged to vote, but you can vote for no one if you so desire. (However votes for no one are transferred to the candidate with the most votes - so effectively it is a vote for whoever is winning).
Hairless Kitten
19-10-2008, 14:40
Compulsory or mandatory voting, it doesn't help to elect real good people.

We should eliminate this silly system.
Callisdrun
19-10-2008, 14:58
Lol. n00b is a fucking n00b.

That's not what general's about, dude.
Callisdrun
19-10-2008, 15:01
Freedom isn't free, and the freedom to not vote costs you a $90 fine. Simple to me.

Perhaps think of it more as a "convenience charge" rather than a fine.
Lunatic Goofballs
19-10-2008, 15:06
Lol. n00b is a fucking n00b.

That's not what general's about, dude.

*launches tacos at you*
Dimesa
19-10-2008, 15:07
My take is that forced voting is bollocky. In the long run it does more harm than good. Anything that prompts the state to handhold and coddle the public's intellect is ultimately harmful to that society. The better bet would be forcing education. This is why Australia looks fucked, it seems to be heading down that path.
Collectivity
19-10-2008, 15:11
You actually don't have to vote in Australia - you have to go to a polling booth to get your name ticked off, that's all. Noone can make you vote for someone if you don't want to.
They also usually accept an excuse if you don't turn up (e.g.illness).

Australia has compulsory attendance at a polling booth and has at 95% voter turnout.
The US has voluntary voting and gets a voter turnout of 70% or less.

Which system is more democratic? You could argue either way. The Australian system is more inclusive but then there is that compulsion aspect.
Dimesa
19-10-2008, 15:12
You actually don't have to vote in Australia - you have to go to a polling booth to get your name ticked off, that's all. Noone can make you vote for someone if you don't want to.
They also usually accept an excuse if you don't turn up (e.g.illness).

Australia has compulsory attendance at a polling booth and has at 95% voter turnout.
The US has voluntary voting and gets a voter turnout of 70% or less.

Which system is more democratic? You could argue either way. The Australian system is more inclusive but then there is that compulsion aspect.

I'm talking about stuff like making "hate speech" illegal. It's around the same vein as forced voting.

And as far as the pros of that government. Just look at how they get along with the smaller aboriginal minorities. Try that with large minorities.
Call to power
19-10-2008, 15:19
what they should do is some sort of free gift offer at the voting booths and make it up to be like a second birthday

that would be kewl and I would remember to vote :$
Dumb Ideologies
19-10-2008, 15:31
If I could be bothered to vote I'd vote against compulsory voting being introduced, should it ever be put to vote.
Farflorin
19-10-2008, 16:25
If a fellow Canuck can verify this or back me up on this... aren't pubs/bars required by law here in Canada to be closed on election day? Then again, that might be an old law that has been repealed...
Ashmoria
19-10-2008, 16:32
i think it should be your right not to vote.

if you dont have a strong opinion on government, why should you be forced to make a decision about something you dont care about?

for example, if you are a US citizen of voting age and you cant make up your mind between john mccain and barack obama at this point you should probably just stay home. it obviously doesnt matter enough to you to do some thinking on the subject. to force such people to vote goes against the idea of elections being the will of the people. these people have no will.
Callisdrun
19-10-2008, 23:20
*launches tacos at you*

*catches tacos.*

*eats tacos.*

Tacos are pretty good. Tacos... now that's what NSG is about.
Ardchoille
20-10-2008, 04:15
You Generalites know damn well where you're supposed to discuss RW topics, and it's NOT HERE!

The II and NS denizens know where to do roleplays, and it's NOT HERE!

Complaints about issues belong in Got Issues, NOT HERE!

So, Loanet, whetever your post was supposed to be about, its place is NOT HERE!