Forced Voting?

[Dissipate]

Total bullsh!t.

 

[imported_artemis]

Originally posted by: techs
I also wonder what happens to people who are ill? Or get called away for work? Or are mentally retarded? Or too elderly to make it to the polls? Or mentally ill?
It would be a logistical nightmare if everyone were forced to vote.

They actually don't force those 79 and above to vote. Yeah, I don't know what they do to those who are too sick to make it to the polls that day. I'll have to ask my mom.

 

[Ika]

people who care will vote. if you force people to vote i would venture to guess most would just pick whoever looks better or isn't offensive or anything. I know i would.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: johnnobts
Really? I keep seeing polls and surveys that suggest that American voters are very poorly informed about the important issues of the day, I can't imagine their voting choices are done any more intelligently.

______________

because those media outlets are upset people aren't watching them as much as they think they should. so the media says, "voters are just dumb b/c they aren't informed by us."

So the media is making the whole thing up? I'm not talking about vague media reports, I'm talking about scientific polls that suggest as many as 50% of Americans in 2003 thought Saddam was involved in the 9/11 attacks.

This isn't about media elitism, it's about verifiable facts suggesting people are poorly informed about current events, to the point where I question whether or not they should really be voting.

 

[canadageek]

to me, not voting is a vote too. it just says "i don't want any of the people on the card"

 

[FNP90]

What I meant, is whether this is something we should incorporate in the US.

That's one of the craziest things I've ever heard. I don't vote and I never will. Mob rule and encouraging thugs to rob people is something I choose not to be a part of.

 

[ExpertNovice]

Originally posted by: artemis
The Peruvian elections are today, and I found out from my mother, who is Peruvian, that she is required by law to vote in Presidential elections. If she does not, she will receive a $1,000 solos fine and will not be permitted to enter into any legally binding contracts. What do you think -- forced democracy is a good thing or not?

Peru has a Constitutional Republic and the Constitution was established in 1993. Closest I could get to Peruvian Constitution in the time I had to spend

Remember, Cuba has elections so don't confuse elections with Democracy. Besides Democracy is more of a "mob rule" than a good form of Government. In the United States we have a Democratic Republic so rule of law is supposed to keep Democracy from running amok. Too bad a certain party constantly ignores the rule of law. Just check the election shenanigans over the past 16 years to determine which party.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Stunt
No.
In a democracy we should be free to vote or not vote, besides who wants people who don't pay attention to the issues voting anyway?

I would however like a section where disgruntled voters can vote against current parties and candidates (ie. none of the above).

I agree on both counts. I don't support mandatory voting. We have too many uninformed voters already.

I would very much like to see a mandatory "None of the above" option. As long as we are encumbered with a "two-party" system, a "None of the above" vote would allow us to reject both candidates instead of holding our noses and voting for the lesser of two evils. Whenever "None of the above" wins a race, there must be another election with different candidates. Repeat until the parties manage to offer somebody worth voting for.

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Stunt
As opposed to now, when all the voters are well informed and make an educated decision about the best candidate based on a variety of weighted traits and positions on important issues?

Yes.
I think the vast majority of voters have a legimate reason for voting who they vote for.

I'm not convinced of that. I don't know the percentage, but too many people do party-line voting because that's how their daddy voted, or that's what their preacher or union or spouse or whatever told them to do. They actually have little clue about the candidates and issues.