On the evening of June 27, Norman Ornstein, co-director of AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project, debated Fred Smith, President of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, on the subject of whether the United States should make voting compulsory. See this story. The debate was held in Washington, D.C., and was moderated by Mark Green, former Public Advocate for New York city. The debate was one in a series sponsored by Ralph Nader and the Center for the Study of Responsive Law.
Nothing says freedom like mandatory voting.
A “None of the Above” option would be a requirement. I believe that most places with mandatory voting have such an option, or at least the option of a blank or spoiled ballot.
It would be interesting to know what would happen if the 60% or so who don’t vote were pushed into the polls. Imagining the result is probably the main benefit of considering mandatory voting. I don’t think it would go over well. Better to consider how to draw potential voters out.
#1 Or laws. Or taxes. Or drivers license requirements. Or yadda yadda yadda.
Do the usual suspects want votes for children, felons in jail — killers, rapists, robbers, terrorists, etc., mentally ill folks and even illegal foreign invader folks (aka illegal immigrants) ??? Duh.
Which EVIL monster in Devil City will open its EVIL mouth and start Civil WAR II ???
Forcing people to vote is a bad idea.
I would appreciate one of you legal ‘Scholars’ out there to lay out how this could POSSIBLY even be ENFORCED anywhere within these United States. Since the U. S. Constitution now bars any form of a “poll” tax how could a State or the U. S. Government justify taxing a citizen who (for whatever reason) declines to vote.
Many local elections habitually have no more than 10-15% of the REGISTERED voters voting. Which co-incidentally make it easier for outsider/Independent candidates getting elected. This would also increase the cost of holding elections, which could then be used as an excuse to justify making more Offices, appointive rather than elected. That sure wouldn’t be an improvement for the people of this Federal Republic.