Should Voting Be Compulsory?

[*rogue*]

Can you force people to be "free"? Should we be bale to give them the choice? If we have to FORCE some people to vote, what kind of person would these ignorant people be voting for?

On the other hand, if we don't have everyone voting, would the outcome really be representative of the general opinion of the population? There are some groups, like elderly gun nuts, that vote more often than others. Do we want to have only these people running the fate of our country?

Or here's an interesting point - do we need elections anyway? Would it be a lot simpler we we just had those in power decide what was right? It would save everyone a lot of hassle and money, and those people have more experience in the political field anyway. Sure they might make mistakes, but so do we in our voting records.

[Fizzy]

i think it should be mandatory. of course, you can't force our generation to care or even know about the elections, but that's because we've been brought up with basically total political apathy. on the other hand, if there were to be mandatory voting laws, i could see future generations being raised with more of an emphasis on their political interests.

[Klover]

forcing people to vote goes against democracy.

if the people who don't vote bitch about our country's policies....then they are just kidding themselves.

all scientific data and polling statistics are proven to be representative of our large population, even if it is only a small amount(because people vote from every region, every age, every ethnicity, every religion) so even if more people voted...it would not change that much.

before we debate whether or not more people should vote....we should get rid of the electoral system or divide them up by proportional electoral votes.

Originally Posted by fizzy94

i think it should be mandatory. of course, you can't force our generation to care or even know about the elections, but that's because we've been brought up with basically total political apathy. on the other hand, if there were to be mandatory voting laws, i could see future generations being raised with more of an emphasis on their political interests.

how would you even force people to vote though?

making a law penalizing them for not voting would be against the constitution.

[Fizzy]

Originally Posted by Klover

how would you even force people to vote though?

making a law penalizing them for not voting would be against the constitution.

yes, but it was founded on certain principles, the notion that everyone would stand up for their rights and for their country, because that's the way americans viewed their country. but if you look at the country now, we've regressed completely. no one cares anymore. i read a book called Tuned Out recently, with really shocking statistics as to what is happening to our democracy BECAUSE of these allowances we've made. you should check it out.

the point of democracy isn't to be allowed to do whatever you please. we're forced to pay taxes, is that undemocratic? we shouldn't ignore the duties we have to our country, to ourselves really, just because we can. i'm not saying it's plausible for right now, given the nature of the people in our society, i'm just saying it's the best choice, in the long run.

[Klover]

Originally Posted by fizzy94

yes, but it was founded on certain principles, the notion that everyone would stand up for their rights and for their country, because that's the way americans viewed their country. but if you look at the country now, we've regressed completely. no one cares anymore. i read a book called Tuned Out recently, with really shocking statistics as to what is happening to our democracy BECAUSE of these allowances we've made. you should check it out.

the point of democracy isn't to be allowed to do whatever you please. we're forced to pay taxes, is that undemocratic? we shouldn't ignore the duties we have to our country, to ourselves really, just because we can. i'm not saying it's plausible for right now, given the nature of the people in our society, i'm just saying it's the best choice, in the long run.

but....a law making voting compulsory....would still be unconstitutional.

and taxes are not undemocratic, as long as we have representation.


the whole idea of the constitution came from that notion.


people care more than we all think...its just that no one puts it in to action.

we're too distracted by other things...and hey....thats human and part of life.

some people are able to really follow their hearts and goals when it comes to changing society at large.

and others? they just want to get by and be happy. its hard enough just to do that, because of our society. and thus...you get the never ending circle.

[bshieh]

Originally Posted by Klover

all scientific data and polling statistics are proven to be representative of our large population, even if it is only a small amount(because people vote from every region, every age, every ethnicity, every religion) so even if more people voted...it would not change that much.

if a large amount of people with the same social standing (i can't come up with a better word. cliches?) all decided to vote, it could change the vote dramatically.

i'm pretty sure that a large amount of people who don't vote belong to the same religion, or the same age, or the same ethnicity or religion.

just look at what obama's done with the youth vote... all these people that weren't counted in previous elections, all of a sudden decide that they care, and they vote.

i'd say it's changed pretty much.


excuse the terrible wording, i'm brain farting like mad. i think it's pretty understandable though.

[Fizzy]

Originally Posted by Klover

people care more than we all think...its just that no one puts it in to action.

yes, and what better way to get people to act than what i've proposed? and i'm not challenging you, but i can't remember any specific clause in the constitution that specifically says compulsory voting is unconstitutional. like i said, in no way am i saying that it's plausible given the reaction that it would get from indignant non-voters, i'm only suggesting that it is the best solution to the overwhelming apathy in america.

[Klover]

the amount of 18-24 year old voters rose significantly.

how much did it change the voting pattern? under 3%


when women got suffrage, thats right, all of women, how much did voting change? not at all. because they just followed their husbands votes.

and even in the past election the voting curve of men and women were very close together.

of course this election is different, because you have a female and male candidate....


but if you research statistics and polling and voting....it really is accurate.


in psychology we had a whole week devoted to the percentages of people who are polled and who vote, and its amazing how they prove that it really is representative.


but polls are another matter, because a large percentage of people wait till the day of to vote.


I know im not citing any sources, but i studied this is AP psychology in high school, critical thinking first semester here, and in my quantitative reasoning class this semester.

believe me or not...im just stating what i've read and been taught by several teachers.

[Fizzy]

Originally Posted by Klover

believe me or not...im just stating what i've read and been taught by several teachers.

lol, i had a discussion about this exact topic with my political science prof just before finals were over and he agrees with me. but listen love, i've got a terrible headache and can't bring myself to very much coherent thought right now, so i'd love to continue this another time. and miss you hun!

[Klover]

Originally Posted by fizzy94

i can't remember any specific clause in the constitution that specifically says compulsory voting is unconstitutional.

Two cases interpreting congressional power to alter the manner of
federal elections are relevant to the question of whether Congress has the
power to install compulsory voting. The first is United States v. Classic.
Effectively shutting the door on arguments that states have exclusive
authority to determine the manner of voting, Classic noted that a state’s
general power to determine how federal elections are conducted extends
only to the point that Congress has legislated otherwise.

Classic therefore stands for the proposition that federal legislation mandating
compulsory voting would supercede contradictory state legislation, were it
to exist. The second case discussing Congress’ power to change federal
election procedures is Oregon v. Mitchell.

In Mitchell, Justice Stewart relied heavily on the Necessary and Proper Clause to support the power of
Congress to determine the manner of federal elections.

Writes Stewart: “Congress brings to the protection and facilitation of the exercise of
privileges of United States citizenship all of its power under the Necessary
and Proper Clause.”




The only way to make this type of law unconstitutional, would be to make an amendment. Because people NOT voting is not a good enough reason for congress to use the Necessary and Proper Clause

[*rogue*]

i love ravelinks

[mustache]

Forcing all people to vote means forcing the indifferent and ignorant to vote. I'm not sure having people like that deciding a country's future is in anyone's best interest.

My $.02.