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View Full Version : Should Voting in elections be made compulsory ?



sam09
03-Nov-14, 13:21
In my opinion voting in elections should be made compulsory.

sids
03-Nov-14, 13:49
What good would it do?

More votes would just take longer to count.

sam09
03-Nov-14, 13:59
What good would it do?

More votes would just take longer to count.

Great sense of fun sids, but if you have to ask, maybe you lack the mental capacity to make your vote count.

sids
03-Nov-14, 18:50
maybe you lack the mental capacity to make your vote count.

Probably, so tell us what the improvement would be.

sam09
03-Nov-14, 21:24
Probably, so tell us what the improvement would be.

As most politicians would answer, I refer to my previous reply. (although I am not a politician).

Rheghead
03-Nov-14, 21:39
Great sense of fun sids, but if you have to ask, maybe you lack the mental capacity to make your vote count.

Interesting thought there. How do you compulsory make people go and vote who genuinely do not have the mental/physical capacity to go down to the polling station? And should you go down the route of having a medical exclusion then how much will that cost? How do you draw the line medically to say this/that person is ineligible to vote? And what of the social divisions and stigmas will that sort of thing create?

And how will your compulsory votes be enforced? £50 fine or inprisonment and who will pay for that?

It is all a bit ugly if you ask me and a bit draconian in a liberal society that we hold dear or we aspire to become.

sids
03-Nov-14, 22:28
If some people don't care who wins an election, what is the real effect of compelling them to mark a paper?

What is the benefit and to whom?

I don't think Sam has thought it through, as he's already failed to answer. I hope there isn't a problem with his mental capacity.

golach
03-Nov-14, 22:30
Interesting thought there. How do you compulsory make people go and vote who genuinely do not have the mental/physical capacity to go down to the polling station? And should you go down the route of having a medical exclusion then how much will that cost? How do you draw the line medically to say this/that person is ineligible to vote? And what of the social divisions and stigmas will that sort of thing create? And how will your compulsory votes be enforced? £50 fine or inprisonment and who will pay for that?It is all a bit ugly if you ask me and a bit draconian in a liberal society that we hold dear or we aspire to become.Australia does not seem to have a problem with compulsory voting Rheg

sids
03-Nov-14, 23:05
Australia does not seem to have a problem with compulsory voting Rheg

I heard Belgium has it too.

What are the effects and benefits?

golach
03-Nov-14, 23:11
I heard Belgium has it too.What are the effects and benefits?A 100% turnout perhaps, sadly not being Australian or Belgian, I have no idea, I voted for the Union

sids
03-Nov-14, 23:18
A 100% turnout perhaps, sadly not being Australian or Belgian, I have no idea, I voted for the Union

I heard Belgium gets about 89% turnout, so not much more than the non-compulsory referendum.

This country has thousands of bozos who don't vote. Were they made to vote, there would be an effect on results and eventually, on party policies. I don't know what the effect would be, or if we'd want it.

Rheghead
04-Nov-14, 13:50
Australia does not seem to have a problem with compulsory voting Rheg

Yes they do. Thousands are fined at elections, some pay, some refuse to pay.

Rheghead
04-Nov-14, 14:21
I think Election day should be a national holiday to increase voter availability.

*Martin*
04-Nov-14, 14:22
I'm 100% against forcing people to vote.

I'd rather someone who was voting for something had researched what they were voting for rather than showing up to vote just because they had to.

David B
04-Nov-14, 14:36
To quote a song -

If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.

(Freewill by Rush, in case anyone is wondering).

sam09
04-Nov-14, 18:16
If some people don't care who wins an election, what is the real effect of compelling them to mark a paper?

What is the benefit and to whom?

I don't think Sam has thought it through, as he's already failed to answer. I hope there isn't a problem with his mental capacity.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
I would think sids that with all decisions we make in life, we research the best choice for us and make our decision accordingly.

series2A
05-Nov-14, 23:06
From my experience over the years it really doesn't matter which party gets voted in the end result is always the same.

sids
05-Nov-14, 23:18
From my experience over the years it really doesn't matter which party gets voted in the end result is always the same.

But you can never be sure what would have happened, had the other lot got in.

series2A
06-Nov-14, 22:59
But you can never be sure what would have happened, had the other lot got in.

You can be 100% sure what would happen, politicians give themselves pay rises, more holidays, stick their fingers up at the workers, raise taxes and stick their noses into other countries business and tell them they doing it all wrong.

sids
06-Nov-14, 23:19
You can be 100% sure what would happen, politicians give themselves pay rises, more holidays, stick their fingers up at the workers, raise taxes and stick their noses into other countries business and tell them they doing it all wrong.

When did they give themselves more holidays?

series2A
08-Nov-14, 23:39
When did they give themselves more holidays?

25 November 2013. They gave themselves an extra weeks holiday for the Scottish referendum. Meaning this year they will only sit 145 working days in parliament
Before that they awarded themselves an extra weeks holiday in 2009

sids
08-Nov-14, 23:58
25 November 2013. They gave themselves an extra weeks holiday for the Scottish referendum. Meaning this year they will only sit 145 working days in parliament
Before that they awarded themselves an extra weeks holiday in 2009

Got links?

sam09
14-Nov-14, 21:27
According to The Times newspaper The government are discussing making it compulsory to vote in elections after a call by M.P`s

sids
14-Nov-14, 21:32
You're very influential.

sam09
14-Nov-14, 21:34
Maybe inspirational sids. L.O.L.