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US4 - Mandatory voting
| Voting should be mandatory. | |
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Arguments
It is currently easier to register a vote of "no preference" than an affirmative vote. I think people should be able to cast blank ballots, but this should not be an easier vote to cast than a ballot in favor of a particular candidate.
Voting is a public good, and it is easy to shirk your civic duty while still benefiting from the overall reasonable outcomes that it is likely to produce. Making voting mandatory will prevent free riders.
Forcing people to vote will prompt them to be more involved in our democracy. Democracy is not easy, and the fewer people vote, the easier it is to corrupt the process. This then leads people to become disenchanted and believe that the process itself is flawed or uncorrectable.
Counterarguments
You can't take away the right to choose to vote or not to vote. It is a choice that people shouldn't be punished for.
There are too many people who lack the intelligence and knowledge to make sound decisions and it is preferable that they do not vote.
6 Topics
Discussion
started
by vqkag
on May 24
mandatory voting is a civic duty.
Voting is free to all citizens 18 yrs old. We do not test intelligence. Racists in the south did that to keep black americans from voting. Who will decide who is smart enough? Not workable. Too easy to corrupt. Certainly we have stupid people voting now. We cannot take away their right to vote we must educate them! What are you stupid? maybe they should take away your rights. Just kiddin. sorry. Mandatory voting for all. It is what the 1% fear the most.
started
by vqkag
on May 24
mandatory voting as a civic duty
We need to look at voting as a responsibility, as an obligation, as a civic duty! We all must devote time to jury duty and paying taxes as our civic duty. This is critical to regain control of govt for the 99%. It is done in Australia, without any problems. And guess what? not everyone votes, and no one gets fined as the law allows. Voters can write in as protest without punishment. The thing is turn out is massive. This is what the 1% fears most of all - mandatory voting for all.
started
by AllArt
on May 8
Write in ballots.
started
by AllArt
on May 8
Voting is a civic responsibility.
Our Constitution defines our government to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Voting is an integral part of governing and therefore is not open to choice. Every citizen under our Constitution is obligated and mandated to vote because each vote determines the nature and direction of the governance of our country. Responsibility is never a choice.
started
by DaDaDan
on Apr 29
This counterargument challenges democracy itself
Related Ideas
| Voting should be a national holiday to expand access and give people less of an excuse to not vote. More detail | |
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| Make the first $100 paid in taxes for each individual go toward funding candidates/political causes of their choice More detail | |
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| Implement internet voting (in addition to paper ballots) to expand access More detail | |
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| Send all citizens a remote control of some sort that enables them to vote on congressional bills More detail | |
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| Voting should be required of all eligible citizens. More detail | |
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| When you vote, you get $50 credit to allocate to future campaigns / political causes of your choice. More detail | |
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