Compulsory voting

Compulsory voting is a practice that requires citizens to vote in elections. If an eligible voter does not attend a polling place, they may be subject to punitive measures such as fines, community service, or (rarely) imprisonment.

Contents

1 Arguments in favor of compulsory voting

2 Arguments against compulsory voting

3 Countries with compulsory voting

4 Compulsory voting in non-democracies

5 See also

6 External links

Arguments in favor of compulsory voting

The most commonly cited reason for compulsory voting is to guarantee that the government represents the will of the whole population, not merely those individuals who choose to vote. This helps ensure that governments are not neglecting those sections of society that are less active politically.

It is also argued that voting is a "civic duty", much like paying taxes, and that it is important for the continued functioning of the nation. People are required to pay taxes and sit on juries for the good of society; some feel that voting is another duty that all citizens should be required to perform.

Increased voter turnout reduces the cost of campaigning, and tends to reduce the influence of those who donate money to political parties.

Declining voter turnout in much of the Western world has led to an increased interest in compulsory voting to compensate for the apathy of the electorate. Apathy presents a potential danger to democracy, and governmental instability may result. It has been posited that the Holocaust occurred due to the apathy of the international community. This comparison, though extreme, demonstrates how inactivity could lead to tragedy.

In Australia, the initial reason for instituting compulsory voting was due to the immense loses suffered during World War I. Since 60,000 Australians had died in World War I (the highest of any nation, per capita), it was argued that Australians had a duty to use those freedoms so dearly bought. Voter turnout has not dropped below 94% since the general election in 1955 (when it was approximately 88%).

Arguments against compulsory voting

Most countries do not have compulsory voting laws, and there are many people who object to them.

Some individuals resent the idea of being "forced" to vote, particularly if they have no interest in politics or have no knowledge of the individual candidates. Others may be well-informed, but do not have a true preference for any particular candidate. According to some commentators, such apathetic voters may vote at random simply to fulfill their obligation, with results not significantly different from the outcome under a voluntary (non-compulsory) system. Even worse, the result may be contrary to the outcome that would have otherwise resulted if the entire electorate was actually passionate and informed about the issues.

Libertarians and others often argue that compulsory voting is a violation of personal liberties, and that individuals should be free to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to vote. Some groups insist that low voter participation in a voluntary election shows widespread dissatisfaction with the political establishment in a country, a message that cannot be accurately conveyed when all citizens are required to cast a ballot.

Recently, political commentators have suggested that compulsory voting may skew the focus of a campaign towards swing voters (http://the-raw-prawn.blogspot.com/2004/10/australian-election-is-compulsory.html), with candidates and political parties trying to win the votes of the undecided, rather than motivating their "base" supporters to the polls.

Countries with compulsory voting

Countries that have some form of compulsory voting:

Argentina
Australia (see the Australian electoral system)
Austria (presidential elections only)
Belgium (see the Belgian electoral system)
Bolivia
Brazil
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Fiji
Greece
Guatemala
Honduras
Lebanon (compulsory for men only)
Libya
Luxembourg
Mexico (not enforced)
Nauru
Panama
Paraguay (ages 75 and older voluntary)
Philippines
Peru
Singapore
Some parts of Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
Uruguay

Countries that previously had compulsory voting, but have abolished it:

In some countries, eligible voters are required to register, but voting itself is voluntary.

Although voting in a country may be compulsory, penalties for failing to vote are not always strictly enforced. Sometimes this lack of enforcement is due to insufficient resources, as is the case in Argentina. In Australia, providing a legitimate reason for not voting may prevent the levying of a fine. If a non-voter is sanctioned with a fine, the amount is often small.

Penalties for failing to vote are not limited to fines and legal sanctions. Belgian voters who repeatedly fail to vote in elections may subject to disenfranchising. Goods and services provided by public offices may be denied to those failing to vote in Peru and Greece. If a Bolivian voter fails to participate in an election, the citizen may be denied their salary for three months.