Compulsory Voting Vs. Mandatory Voting

America’s most recent debate focuses on mandatory voting and if it should be enforced in The Unites States. Of course many people have their doubts about this subject while others have already picked a side. Compulsory voting or “mandatory voting” is a system in which electors are obliged to vote in elections or attend a polling place on voting day. If an eligible voter does not attend a polling place, he or she may be subject to punitive measures such as fines or community service. But surely this subject is much more than just receiving votes for future elections; just like any other subject it must have its pros and its cons.

Mandatory voting would greatly benefit our democracy. “Requiring people to vote in national elections once every two years would reinforce the principle of reciprocity at the heart of citizenship.” (Text 1, Lines 22-24) If this would go forward, our democracy would be a true and inclusive by making people vote for what they believe in. Citizens that vote, no matter their status, would make the United States a truly democratic

More than half of all citizens in the world are currently able to vote, however, many of them choose not to, leading to an increase of enforced mandatory voting in many countries. This essay will consider the role of compulsory voting and whether legally required voting reduces freedom. Compulsory voting is often supported due to the fact it considerably raises turnout, Birch 2009 found that mandatory attendance at the polls increased turnout by between 6 and 20 percent . Legally required voting is also considered to be an effective instrument to motivate citizens to express their voice in public life, thereby ensuring that their concerns will be heard, and potentially acted upon . However, opponents of compulsory voting argue that it violates freedom and reduces the legitimacy of the elected representatives . The first part of this essay will consider why compulsory voting was adopted, following this, I will consider the different types of freedom that may or may not be compromised with compulsory voting and how legally required voting could increase or decrease freedom.

One of the main benefits of mandatory voting is that the government ensures every citizen will pay more attention to the candidates and in election date, they will have a solid number of votes. These will not leave room for errors and many conspiracies like we seen in this past election with President Trump and Hillary Clinton. On the contrary, mandatory voting will not do any good if individuals will go out and vote

Many Americans are quick to complain about how unhappy they are with the way the United States’ government is handling issues when a good amount of them do not even participate in the voting process. By implementing compulsory voting, that issue will decrease greatly. Because citizens will be obligated to vote, whoever ends up in government will lie directly in their hands. With that being said, at the end of the day if the people in government do a poor quality job during their term, citizens will have no one to blame but themselves (Norris 16). With compulsory voting, citizens will be forced to learn more about candidates’ views instead of voting ignorantly by just looking at which candidate is within their party rather than who actually supports their views for the country.

“Compulsory voting raises a question we shouldn’t even be asking: whether voting is a civil right or a civic duty” (Text 4, lines 12 - 13). In the United States, for elections and changes to be made, we rely on the voice of the population via their vote. Many candidates compete for everyone to vote for them in every state, just look at Clinton and Trump within the last six months. One thought provoking question on the minds of many is should voting be mandatory? The United States blesses everyone with their freedom, and a part of their freedom is whether a person feels the need to cast their vote. Voting in the United States should not be made a mandatory action in the daily life of the American citizen.

If we are forced by law to vote then our freedom and rights are being taken away from us. Voting is our opportunity to express our opinion when we choose to. There are amendments in the constitution that are put in place to grant us the freedom to vote if we want to. In The US Constitution stated in Amendment XV, which was ratified by the states in 1870it says:

According to text 2 lines 1-2, “All democratic governments consider participating in national elections a right of citizenship and a citizen’s civic responsibility.” However, voting is not an essential obligation to the people. It is always said that “America is a free country”. But would you be taking away people’s rights by forcing them to vote? According to text

Without a doubt, compulsory voting is an infringement of liberty as stated in the U.S. Constitution. Voting is not an imperative obligation and forcing it would contravene the first five basic freedoms of U.S. citizens guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Voting is a privilege to do in this country. Until 1920 women could not vote, African Americans could not vote until 1965. There are still people to this day that have never voted. Jury duty is mandatory, why not voting? Voting should be mandatory because as citizens, is a right and a job to be able to decide the future of this country.

To begin with, there are several reasons of compulsory voting. First and foremost, voting could tell a person view about a leader, whether the candidate is fully competent to go as a nation leader or not. In my opinion, that is what democracy means. If no one is putting their ideas in front, then what is the point of conducting elections

Have you ever felt like the government is trying to take away your voice? Well if you allow them to take away your right to vote with new restrictions on who can or can not vote then that is what they are basically doing.It would be taking away the already small voice you have in your governmental system. If they were to change the requirements then it would cause mass confusion of election day, it would be erasing what some people fought for to earn the right to vote, and the voting rate is low enough.

I’m sure you have heard that voting is a privilege and not a right. You may have shrugged the person off that told you this. In all actuality that is true. Not everyone is allowed to vote. Just because you call the United States home doesn’t mean you can vote. You must be registered, of age, a citizen by birth or naturalization, and whatever state requirements you must meet. I understand that part of your privilege is to decline the opportunity to vote. Even if you meet the requirements, unlike

Compulsory voting most certainly is a deprivation of liberty and goes against everything we value in a representative democracy as citizens should have the right choose whether to vote or not, people are not educated enough to make a vote and undertand who they are voting for and gives voters no choice.

Voting is one of the key acts of democracy and also a mandatory action in some countries. While I agree that voting is an important action, I believe this should be an optional right.