Government & Politics

Compulsory voting or not?

Government & Politics

Posted by: Hilary

23rd Mar 2012 04:48pm

Do you agree with compulsory voting or do you think it should be voluntary?
What are your reasons?

Comments 26

johno
  • 30th Aug 2012 09:18am

Like the usa if we have the right to exercise our freedom of speech yes of course it should be voluntary and we should not be fined for exercising our rights.

johno
  • 30th Aug 2012 09:15am

Its really a fundamental decision in an elected demorcratic society we are given fredom of speech and a right to challenge all we think is wrong whether its by law or electing a government my point is like america shouldnt we have the right to say yes or no to voting at an election.

Anonymous
  • 22nd Aug 2012 08:35am

Voting should be voluntary, as half the people who vote, vote for the wrong reasons, cause mum and dad do, or they don't really know, or because they are impressed with a certain person who comes over well on the t.v.

tam
  • 18th May 2012 11:18am

Why vote? all that changes is the faces! everything stays the same. Jobs are going over seas with the blessing of the government. Prices are going up with the blessing of the government.
How can you so the prices go up has any thing to do with the government??
It is ease THE LARGE PAY PACKETS!!!!! How needs pays that are thousands of dollars. We need to pay more for every thing so the can get them and don't for get the taxis that are put onto companies. The companies are passing all this on to the ones how can not afford to pay that is us.
The companies want more and more to pay not just CEO, other high paid staff but also make million on to (telsta the government this is just two)
so why vote it does nothing for us. One day I hope that it will but when will that change come.

Rossissmellingtheroses
  • 22nd Apr 2012 04:35pm

G'day Hilary. The subject is interesting & has been widely debated around the world.
Obviously, the most desirable outcome is accuracy & I believe that, in itself compulsory voting has a built in inaccuracy factor, brought about by the compulsion factor. However, if voting was not compulsory, then those who have strong opinions either way, would vote anyway. It could be argued that this is the purest result, as those who did not vote, don't care.
I believe, the best result comes from a combination of non-compulsory voting & electronic voting requiring a log on with a tax file number.

Captain Slog
  • 21st Apr 2012 02:00pm

Hello Everyone!
WOW! What a can of worms this is, aye?
I'm not sure what to say really, except, with Voting being made Compulsory, it sounds more like a dictatorship. "VOTE for us or we'll shoot you!" Sorry! That's a bit extreme. "VOTE for us, or we'll make you PAY!"
Either way, whoever gets in is an idiot only interested in THEIR own agendas, like here in NZ. We are as NOT Free as we're made to understand. And with ANZAC Day coming up, and the talk of all those Diggers, Kiwis and other who fought and died for our FREEDOM is just that. TALK! We should ALL be FREE under the Bill of Rights 1689 and our Universal Rights are just obvious. Neither can be taken from us, but our governments threaten us by telling us they are just mere. . . "PRIVELAGES." According to THEM, they must be earned. Yeah, RIGHT!
I live by our Universal Rights and the Bill of Rights 1689, and NOT these so-called "Basic Rights" offered to us as CRIMINALS. Criminals have the Rights, WE only get them if we become one. Again, Yeah, RIGHT! NO ONE can take away our Bill of Rights 1689 or our Universal Rights and those who think they can ARE criminals!!!
Live Long and Prosper, and may The Force be with you all!

Captain Slog
  • 21st Apr 2012 07:32pm
I'm with you Cap'n. Don't like the compulsory census either. And I don't like having an army of bureaucrats administering useless laws. It's everywhere you look.
This mob over here (in Oz) are...

At ease, Alex.
Thank you for your response and support.
Voting is our Duty, so we may elect our next Government, and we are free to do so without force, unlike some countries. If it comes to the day when I don't WANT to vote, because there are to many IDIOTS trying to get in to power and remove even more of our Rights from us, and stuff our country up, just as John Key (the dirty liar) when he sold the Crafer (sic) farms to the chinese when he "promised" us he wouldn't, then I simply WON'T vote.
We have the most bureaucratic, over legislated, over regulated, over taxed and over policed country in the world. And its getting worse.
Some bastard's not going to like what I'm saying here, either because it upsets them for telling the Truth, or they're scared of what I've said, or whatever. Especially if its some nazi cop. (They REALLY ARE. We're living in a police State. THEY make the laws. The government only pretends to. Think abouit it!)
I did hear something about someone wanting to have Cats registered. How rude! Cats are far better than dogs. Dogs are savage and cruel and KILL people. They crap all over the streets, parks, beaches, peoples gardens, savage people and kids. Dog injuries recently here are horrific. Cats are quiet and calming, no threat at al to anyone. Except perhaps the odd bird or two, but that's no real threat to the bird population. Upsetting though it is, cats to attack birds. Its their job. If it is YOUR cat, though, train them NOT to and they'll leave them alone.
I'm with the Rebel Alliance, and am a very Proud "Idle Triffid" from the RNZAF (I was only in the Force for 28 months in the 70's, when we HAD an Air Force ). I will live life, as I said, observing the Bill of Rights 1689 and our Universal Rights. OUR Rights and THEIRS (The stupid bastards don't even realise it, and if they do, they DON'T want US to have any of them), with in the Laws of Common Sense and I will NEVER turn to the Dark Side.
Live a FREE Life, but NEVER cross the "line."

Alex
  • 21st Apr 2012 02:34pm
Hello Everyone!
WOW! What a can of worms this is, aye?
I'm not sure what to say really, except, with Voting being made Compulsory, it sounds more like a dictatorship. "VOTE for us or...

I'm with you Cap'n. Don't like the compulsory census either. And I don't like having an army of bureaucrats administering useless laws. It's everywhere you look.
This mob over here (in Oz) are even trying to register cats.
What a waste of time. I'm all for flying under the radar.
Tell them nothing and take them nowhere.

mairs
  • 21st Apr 2012 01:04pm

No not compulsory. Some persons just go to get their names off the roll.Others vote for anyone and there is of course the informal that do not care one way or the other.

Alex
  • 21st Apr 2012 12:04pm

Voluntary. The UK and America and NZ have the right to vote. Australians have the 'requirement' to vote.
If you don't vote you can be fined. Oddly enough nobody has been fined for failing to enrol. If you don't want to be forced to vote ... don't enrol.

Alex
  • 21st Apr 2012 11:58am

Voluntary. The UK and America and NZ have the right to vote. Australians have the 'requirement' to vote.
If you don't vote you can be fined. Oddly enough nobody has been fined for failing to enrol. If you don't want to be forced to vote ... don't enrol.

Froggie_Cynical
  • 21st Apr 2012 10:12am

Compulsory voting was introduced by the Labor Government in the early last century as compulsory voting was seen to favour the Labor Party. Similarly preferential voting was introduced by the Labor Party to consolidate the vote for the major parties. This was in response to some splintering of the socialist parties and yes it favoured the Labor Party. Support of compulsory and preferential voting really depends on what party you support and if you like to give small parties like the Greens a voice. Personally I support voluntary voting and a first past the post system.

wicko
  • 15th Jun 2012 10:21am
Compulsory voting was introduced by the Labor Government in the early last century as compulsory voting was seen to favour the Labor Party. Similarly preferential voting was introduced by the Labor...

I agree,compulsory voting is not a sign of a true democracy,I favour first past the post on a voluntary basis.
The present system has the Greens holding the goverment to ransom on every decision that they make, for example:- carbon tax,immigration.

Sis
  • 21st Apr 2012 06:23am

Personally, whilst being a responsible voter over the years, I do not advocate that voting should be compulsory.

You can use the carrot and stick approach to anything but true results are not achieved via this method.... I agree that more honest outcomes can be achieved by not making Voting compulsory.. In fact when anything is made compulsory are people not inclined to just tick the boxes if at all they respond just for the sake of obeying the law..

Another point ... is this.. In a Democracy, how democratic is it to Force people to vote..

To me Democracy represents the right to freedom of speech and by dictating that all should vote surely makes the Democratic Vote non existent..

Kj1809
  • 20th Apr 2012 10:49pm

I'm with the compulsory vote team. However the idea that everyone is enrolled is crazy. I know of at least 3 people who are of voting age and simply aren't on the rolls. These people have moved and simply never updated their address with the electoral commission. None have ever been fined. Makes me wonder just how many people have done the same thing.

Timbo
  • 20th Apr 2012 09:04pm

This debate has been around for ages and some countries have optional voting while others (such as Australia) have compulsory voting (or at least compulsory attendance at the polling booth). Generally I think that Australians are quite politically aware and this may be a product of the fact that we have compulsory voting but it may also be that we take our civil responsibilities seriously. I think that the high proportion of people who engage in voluntary work is an evidence of that.

One thing that I think we definitely should have is a requirement to show photo ID when you vote. If you need this to board an aircraft or open a bank account surely it should be a requirement for voting.

I favour compulsory voting simply because it makes it less attractive for interest groups to "buy votes".

Perhaps we should also have a little quiz for voting eligibility, like matching parties to policies. I think that could be very enlightening but of course it wouldn't guarantee that the government would stick to their announced policies, would it? (Remember: "There will be NO CARBON TAX under a government I lead!").

ozycash
  • 20th Apr 2012 07:47pm

it should be voluntary
if you have to vote then you vote for the first on the list or the for 'how to vote' card you get therefore the majority does not win
if it was voluntary then the government would have to work harder to get people to vote for them, but they dont want to work they just want kindergarten playground fights during the government session

Anonymous
  • 11th Apr 2012 07:44pm

If people are not forced to vote we will get more thoughtful results in elections.

Alec
  • 2nd Apr 2012 05:16pm

it is the duty of every citizen to vote in the country's elections as this will give a real election results for the government of the day..If you believe that elections are to be voluntary then by the same token paying taxes should be on a voluntary basis.

CAT17
  • 26th Mar 2012 11:26pm

I agree with you and even though we have come up with alternatives to our voting system it isn't going to change. I know I vote and always have and take very seriously my right to vote. It is unfortunate that we don't always get what we vote for - have a look at the government we have at the moment!

Fiona
  • 26th Mar 2012 06:28pm

I think voting should be voluntary. After all we do live in a democracy, therefore if you don't wish to vote you shouldn't be forced to. If you don't care enough to want to vote then leave it those of us who do care.

jamatock
  • 22nd Apr 2012 11:59am
I agree entirely,Rudd 07 gave away the Howard govt's nest egg (how did trust accounts save the economy during the GFC) & should not have been re-elected.People with a vested interest would vote &...

I agree with you it would be a dangerous situation compulsory voting is necessary maybe the election system should be looked at the last election the government of the day was not elected by a marjority of the public

gumnut
  • 21st Apr 2012 12:56pm
My thoughts on voting been voluntary is that you lose balance. If a particularly charismatic polly has lots of followers they may well get in ahead of the person who would have it it was...

I agree entirely,Rudd 07 gave away the Howard govt's nest egg (how did trust accounts save the economy during the GFC) & should not have been re-elected.People with a vested interest would vote & those who don't care would not,a very dangerous situation

Kj1809
  • 20th Apr 2012 10:53pm
I think voting should be voluntary. After all we do live in a democracy, therefore if you don't wish to vote you shouldn't be forced to. If you don't care enough to want to vote then leave it those...

My thoughts on voting been voluntary is that you lose balance. If a particularly charismatic polly has lots of followers they may well get in ahead of the person who would have it it was compulsory.

CAT17
  • 25th Mar 2012 02:44pm

Hi Hilary, what an interesting question. It is something I have thought about and at times think that perhaps voting should be voluntary and we would get a more honest result. Then I think that perhaps people would be too disinterested in government and politics to "bother" to vote. That would not give a true indication of what the population wants from government. One thing I am more inclined to favour is that to vote you should be a taxpayer. After all it is the taxpayers who pay for the "things" government does. Many times government bring in their "pet" policies that really do not benefit the whole country. Being a voluntary vote by taxpayers might be the way to go! What do others think?

Fiona
  • 26th Mar 2012 06:32pm
Hi Hilary, what an interesting question. It is something I have thought about and at times think that perhaps voting should be voluntary and we would get a more honest result. Then I think that...

Just because you are a taxpayer doesn't mean that you deserve a vote more than someone who doesn't pay taxes. What about older people who no longer work, maybe they do a lot of voluntary work, why should they not get a vote ? Also young people who may be studying and not earning enough to pay any tax yet, surely they are entitled to vote, after all what gets decided today affects their future as much as anyone elses.

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