Compulsory voting means ignoring Election Day is not an option

Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | Wednesday, November 24, 2004 | GREG BARNS

[freeparella]

Voter turn out in America is pathetic. I like the idea of making voting compulsory here.

[monkeywrench]

I like freedom better.

[JenB]

I don't want people who don't care enough to vote on their own, voting.

[Publius]

Already posted here earlier today.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Liberty includes the freedom not to vote.

[Semper Paratus]

The average voter is dumb enough already. (48% voted for the most unqualified person a major party has ever nominated)

Compulsory voting would elect that person.

[FreeKeys]

But I don't want stupid people voting!!

[jdsteel]

Yeah, that's what we need...MORE uninformed voters!!!

[Lazamataz]

Voter turn out in America is pathetic. I like the idea of making voting compulsory here.

Too "1984"-ish for me.

[NJ_gent]

If an individual is too apathetic to even come to the polls, do you honestly believe they'll do the research necessary to make informed decisions about who'll best lead our nation if they're forced to vote? That's all we need - apathetic idiots pulling random levers to decide who's going to lead you and me; the ones who actually do give a damn.

If someone doesn't want to vote, more power to them. If that's their attitude, I'd much rather they sit down, shut up, and stay out of the electoral process.

"Compulsory voting - putting the intelligent, informed, and motivated under the control of the apathetic, the ill-informed, and the lazy."

[MPJackal]

"Voter turn out in America is pathetic. I like the idea of making voting compulsory here."

If a citizen does not like the candidates, he can express that dissatisfaction by not voting. It is a little thing called FREEDOM. And if a citizen is so disinterested that he does not know the candidates or issues, why would you want him to vote? His vote would dilute those of that are involved.

[Graybeard58]

I don't want more people voting. I want fewer.

I'm also in favor of IQ tests for qualification - If someone's IQ isn't as high as an average turnip they shouldn't be allowed to vote, thereby assuring Republican rule.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Great idea! Make people who don't give a damn vote ........

I much prefer that you have a college degree, a 120 IQ, own a home or at least a car, be a veteran and get handed a ballot with nothing but the position on it and if you're too damn dumb to fill in the correct name you don't get to vote.

[hang 'em]

Too many people vote in this country as it is.

In more enlightened times only land owners were allowed to vote.

Welfare recipients and non-english speakers definitely have no business voting.

[freeparella]

I like freedom better.

Oh, I love freedom just fine. But making voting a requirement seems to solve a lot of problems according to the article. It costs less in terms of time and money and forces the candidates to listen to everybody's concerns. I especially love the part about candidates not having to have a zillion dollars in their back pocket.

[RockinRight]

Compulsory voting forces people to engage with their democracy -- maybe the United States should try a dose

Hell no. If someone is too ignorant or apathetic to vote on their own, they have no business voting because they are generally clueless.

[t_skoz]

I have Australian friends, and one thing I've asked them about is their compulsury voting laws. They don't like it. My one friend is very apolitical and she votes for herself, because she really doesn't care to understand the issues. I respect that more than her voting for one person or another without investigating them.

I like freedom. Freedom means being able to be stupid. Freedom means being able to hurt yourself. Freedom means not voting if you don't want to.

I'm 24. A lot of people my age don't care about the issues. I have more respect for people who don't know about the issues and don't vote, than I do for people who have no idea what the hell they're talking about and don't shut up about it.

I hope you don't argue for removal of the Electoral College. One terrible thing we did was change the Constitution to directly elect Senators.

[Spok]

If 'none of the above' is not an option, compulsory voting would probably be unconstitutional.

[RockinRight]

Owning a car or home isn't necessary, but I think in order to vote one must have actually PAID TAXES in their life!

[nyconse]

I prefer the freedom of voting...or not voting.