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Should voting be made compulsory?

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Compulsory voting
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Total votes: 13
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vidcapper View member profile	15th November 2017, 03:46 PM Post #1
Paul Hyett Joined: 4 April 2006 Posts: 25,346 User: 364	Some countries do it, but would it work here? Some background : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting What should be the consequence of not voting, under such a system? This post has been edited by vidcapper: 15th November 2017, 03:51 PM


vidcapper View member profile	16th November 2017, 10:26 AM Post #2
Paul Hyett Joined: 4 April 2006 Posts: 25,346 User: 364	QUOTE(vidcapper @ Nov 15 2017, 03:46 PM) Some countries do it, but would it work here? Some background : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting What should be the consequence of not voting, under such a system? Do you agree that if it was compulsory, there should be a 'none of the above' option?


Soy Adrián View member profile	16th November 2017, 10:29 AM Post #3
I'm so lonely, I paid a hobo to spoon with me Joined: 6 February 2010 Posts: 12,908 User: 10,596	I'm not necessarily in favour of it in general, but I don't see why you'd need a 'none of the above' option when people are able to spoil their ballot. Automatic registration on the other hand is hugely important.


Popchartfreak View member profile	16th November 2017, 01:33 PM Post #4
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,832 User: 17,376	No, and no consequences. If people feel themselves not informed enough, or bothered enough, to vote, then that is better than putting a random cross down cos someone has a nicer smile and a hairdo.


Soy Adrián View member profile	16th November 2017, 01:42 PM Post #5
I'm so lonely, I paid a hobo to spoon with me Joined: 6 February 2010 Posts: 12,908 User: 10,596	Apparently in Australia you are more likely to win election if your surname begins with 'A'. Try working out why that might be...


vidcapper View member profile	18th November 2017, 02:30 PM Post #6
Paul Hyett Joined: 4 April 2006 Posts: 25,346 User: 364	We've had problems with names here too, of course - e.g. misleading party labels like 'Literal Democrats' and suchlike.


Suedehead2 View member profile	18th November 2017, 03:43 PM Post #7
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 13 April 2007 Posts: 36,673 User: 3,272	QUOTE(Soy Adrián @ Nov 16 2017, 01:42 PM) Apparently in Australia you are more likely to win election if your surname begins with 'A'. Try working out why that might be... When I was at school I read an article in a mathematics magazine about this phenomenon, known as "the donkey effect". They studied a large number of UK election results and concluded that, contrary to expectations, the best position on the ballot paper was second. Of course, the Australian system (AV), combined with compulsory voting, is probably more likely to favour candidates at the top of the ballot paper.


vidcapper View member profile	21st November 2017, 09:54 AM Post #8
Paul Hyett Joined: 4 April 2006 Posts: 25,346 User: 364	I'm interested as to why several of you oppose automatic registration when you reach voting age? Unless there's a compulsory voting scenario when you can be fined for not doing so, there seems no obvious reason against automatic registration.


Soy Adrián View member profile	21st November 2017, 10:01 AM Post #9
I'm so lonely, I paid a hobo to spoon with me Joined: 6 February 2010 Posts: 12,908 User: 10,596	Well, there are certain reasons for some political parties - although I don't know many people on this forum who are dedicated enough to any of said parties for them to want to oppose it for that reason.


vidcapper View member profile	21st November 2017, 11:03 AM Post #10
Paul Hyett Joined: 4 April 2006 Posts: 25,346 User: 364	QUOTE(Soy Adrián @ Nov 21 2017, 10:01 AM) Well, there are certain reasons for some political parties - although I don't know many people on this forum who are dedicated enough to any of said parties for them to want to oppose it for that reason. But merely registering to vote doesn't align you with any political party.