Does anyone think that it's a good idea to make voting mandatory?
601542
On the one hand, I applaud the concept of making every participate in our democracy.  No one should feel marginalized if they had a hand in electing their leader.\n\nOn the other hand, I am like a lot of the Founding Fathers who expressed severe doubts that the average person could make intelligent decisions.  I live in a typically middle class area where you would expect people would have the education and the interest in politics to understand the issues.  However, the amount of fallacious thinking I encounter is downright scary.\n\nI'd have to consider your idea further, but right now my gut tells me this: If someone isn't interested enough to vote of their own volition, how meaningful will making them put an "X" in Box-A, or Box-B ?  A lot of these people would know nothing about the candidates.  I think it would encourage candidates to "dumb down" their campaigns, and pander to certain groups.
686612
It's OK, but I would start by introducing the topic. "The idea of requiring potential voters to take and pass a test before being allowed to vote is a controversial one. My team and I concur that this is an unfair requirement which violates many American's constitutional rights."
604735
Are you aware of the Jim Crow laws? They made intelligence tests required. Remember, this legally keeps people from voting. I think almost everyone has an opinion. We should all be allowed to vote, even if we don't like who the people choose. I think if you don't vote everyone should know, and you should be banned from complaining. If you don't care enough about your nation to vote for the leader, what gives you the right to complain about it? This, of course, could not apply to those under eighteen or who were not of legal voting age when the last election occured. I think voter education would be much more productive. Politicians need to tell everyone exactly where they stand on topics, there need to be sheets comparing each persons stand on hot issues distributed to the masses. This can be difficult to do, but if all parties joined to make it happen, we would have smarter voters. People would, in theory, vote for politicians they side with. Then you would know whomever is in office is the favorite.
868502
OF COURSE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!!!!\n\nWe get to choose our leaders!  That is the bedrock of our democracy!!!  If you choose not to vote, you give up your voice!  Don't let other people choose your leaders for you - VOTE!!!
801685
I agree 100% with you, but lets take it one step further. In libraries and community building machines like automatic teller machines could be placed and from time ballot was printed till 8 o'clock election day you could enter your voting card get paper ballot an envelope vote at your leisure put it into envelope, and with magmatic voting card deposited it to be collected and counted election night. This would end 3 hour time problem. Biggest problem would setting up system to prevent counterfeit collection boxes from being put into system, but with GPA tracking it could be overcome. Primaries could also be done this way if you were allowed to pick you party day you voted.
236316
It's more. You have a _responsibility_ to vote. Voting is the orgasm of democracy. Unfortunately, most citizens can't get it up.
19883
There is a problem here that goes a little deeper than you might expect.\n\nIn my humble opinion, people in our society have gotten very used to having someone else (i.e. "the government") do things for them.\n\nThey have moved away from (or forgotten) the concept of collaborating with their neighbors, friends, co-workers, acquaintences, etc., to accomplish needed missions and goals.  For instance, the United States has a relatively low voter turnout compared to other countries.  As a matter of fact, sources rank the U.S. in the lowest 25% worldwide in terms of voter turnout among different countries.  It should be noted that some countries such as Belgium, Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Uruguay, to name a few, have compulsory voting.  If you don't vote, you are either fined or disenfranchised.  Compulsory voting is an admirable, if not misguided, attempt at keeping people from becoming complacent.  I believe it is better though to make our decisions freely.  Free will is what was given to us by our Creator, to make right and wrong decisions.  It is what makes us Human. \n\nNow, if we don't tell the government what it is that we want, how can we expect the government to "do anything".  To take it a step further, do we really want the government to "do anything"?  After the tragedy of 9/11, the government "did something" by removing various and sundry civil protections that were afforded to us by federal statute and the Constitution.  Now that's "doing something!"\n\nI, personally, work for the government (a state, but government none-the-less).  Now, I am here to tell you that you really don't want the government "doing anything" without very clear, concise, and incontrovertible, instructions.  It is very important that you go visit at least one government office a week (preferably with a group of your associates) and let them know in very clear terms, what it is that you want them to do. You also could possibly write a letter to the manager or director of the government offices, while sending a copy to your congressman, alderman, commisioner, or what have you, clearly indicating exactly what it is that you think should be done.  Otherwise, the people that work there will go on their merry way, doing what they think they should be doing, when that's not really what they should be doing at all.  But you can't blame them... you didn't tell them!  So how are they to know?  They are people just like you and me.  But sometimes they get isolated and lost, and they forget. At first, it may appear that they are unresponsive.  But that is only because they have gone so long without being reminded what it is that they are supposed to be doing.  It may even be necessary, at first, for you and your associates to stand out in the street in front of the government office, and make a spectacle of yourselves.  But like I said, it's only because the people that work there have forgotten, because we all have gone on our way and left them to their own devices without the guidance, experience, and knowledge, of the body politic. \n\nI noticed in your question that you mentioned your paycheck.  Have you discussed this with your co-workers?  Are they having issues with their paychecks?  Maybe you should consider organising yourselves as a group, and discussing this with your employer?  Perhaps as a group, in negotiations with your employer, you could come up with ways to increase production and efficiency.  This would increase your employer's profit margin and thereby  make it easier for him to give you a raise.  Of course if after you increased his profit margins, he found himself still unable to consider your plight, you would already have formed a group of people with a common bond and concern that would find it within their ability to deal with that too!\n\nSo to answer your question... No, I don't feel particularly betrayed by my government.  I f
596040
Yes. I think citizens should have to pass a simple test to vote. As an example, for a national election you should have to be able to name at least one of your State's Senators and the current President. Ever watch Jay Leno's Jay Walk bit. It's really an eye opener.
870115
I studied in OZ for a while, and I was VERY surprised to find that almost every single aussie i talked to knew MORE about American politics... i dont know if it's because voting is compulsory... it could have been the people i talked to (the school was very good)...\n\nI think compulsory voting in the U.S. sounds good at first, but uninformed people will end up voting on sound clips,  and I shudder to say this... but conservatives often say, "If they can't be motivated to vote, why should they have a say?" which as wrong as it sounds at first... not voting, is itself quite democratic... it is more or less a vote for your opposition... but hey...
864586
You may a good point. Additionally, due to "possible" errors with the voting machines, it is be recommended by both parties to take a camera with you to the polling place. Make very sure that when you make your vote, that it registers the way you voted and take a photo for your own records.\nMost importantly, don't forget to vote.
895157
it needs conscious voting not the rules there are many rules which were bent and broken and often modified by those criminals fot their purpose. the power lies in us voters change it forever. it need education moral values in people those who vote, that may come on one day i waitig for that. hpe it will come soon
347816
You shouldnt ask people what they are going to vote for, then that would mean that your vote wouldnt be from you. You should vote your yourself, and its not like one vote is going to make the world of difference anyway.
222347
voting needs to be done with the voter fully informed...otherwise, it's a very dangerous endeavor....it's like putting who knows who in office or passing a who knows what proposition.....voting blindly or just because it's mainstream should NEVER  be done...unfortunately I believe it's done extremely frequently & I think that's why our country is in the bad condition it's in...will be interesting to see your other responses, for I'm sure there'll be those who will say it doesn't matter & is futile because all of it is corrupt anyway....unfortunately, when trying to inform people, I get that alot....I just can't convince them otherwise...it's hard to blame them
299326
I vote, but I live in the U.S.  In my opinion voting is definitely important.  I also think that people that don't vote should not run their mouths about who is currently in office because had they taken the time to go vote they may have been able to sway the outcome of the election.
1090209
They are not necessary. They are an instrument that allows the people to pick a representative. Without them, it is hard to see how one could have a democracy. However, elections alone are not suffient to have a democracy.
1091902
I don't live in Montreal, so I can't speak to that specific situation.\n\nAre we oblidged to pay taxes?  Yes.  In every civilization in the world, there are taxes.  It's one of those inevitable things, like death and ESPN having mediocre analysts. ;)\n\nAs far as voting is concerned, I favor having "none of the above" put on electoral ballots.  That way, people who don't like the choices they have in candidates, or don't like the government in general, can have their voice heard.  Also, claims by politicians of having a public mandate to do whatever they want would be reduced, especially if "none of the above" actually gets more votes than any of the candidates.  If given this choice, I'm betting voter turnout would increase as well: all those people who want to tell the candidates and the government to go to H311 would have their chance at the ballot box. ;)
1051273
It should not be. Nor do I think voting should be a requirement to voice your opinion.\n\nA vote is saying that you affirmatively approve one candidate over another. If none of the people on the ballot are ones that I actually support, I wouldn't vote for them.\n\nHowever, because I am still stuck with whatever laws the majority-elected government chooses to enact,  I absolutely have the right to voice my opinion about those. Especially since I don't actually have the opportunity to vote for most of those laws directly.