Voting in many countries is held in different ways. In The United States of America, voting is voluntary while the Australian citizen has to vote, it is compulsory. When an Australian citizen does not vote they receive a fine. Compulsory voting has now become a large political issue for many countries. Great Britain has seen a dramatic decline in the number of people voting in the last 15 years (Singh, 2014) and compulsory voting has become a large political and social debate. However, as with any political change, there are strengths and weaknesses. The Australian system is an excellent one to analyse as the question has to be asked when introducing compulsory voting what are the long term democratic, economic and social issues? Four key points can be outlined to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the Australian compulsory voting system. The first, compulsory voting provides a clear and accurate representation of an entire electorate. Additionally, this system may influence an increase in support for the leftist policy in a current democratic institution. Another key issue to consider is, does an active and informed citizen have a moral duty and obligation to vote to protect and further society? Key constitutional changes brought about by referendums can prove that compulsory voting is essential and needed in society for every vote to count. Lastly, compulsory voting when being a secret ballot can turn into a more compulsory “turn up” for many citizens as they can
The civic issue that my point of view has changed on is the 1st speaker’s issue for the second speaker’s corner reflection. The speaker’s issue is that more Canadians need to vote. He states that only about 60% of the citizens voted in the last federal election. He also continues and says that if 60% of the population is voting for a government that is representing 100% of the population, you can’t really call that a truly democratically elected government anymore. By having more people to vote, we can have a government that represents our country the best since everyone’s opinions are considered. This can allow our country to develop into an even greater country. The speaker suggests that Canada should introduce some form of mandatory voting legislation to encourage people to vote. This civics issue is important to all Canadian citizens because our government represents 100% of the Canadian population. This is also another
The reading passage basically states that the law which makes the voting compulsory has a positive future outcome. The reading material points out that because of the low turn vote in Australia in 1922 the voting has become mandatory. Nowadays the turn vote in Australia presents almost 94% because it becomes habit for the citizens. Actually in 20% of the democratic nations to vote is obligation established by the law. As an example are given countries like Thailand, Greece, and Luxembourg. The low voting rate cast doubt on the legitime of the chosen government. Upon the passage, the voting could be compared with the taxation. The nation should
Industrial Countries all over the world have seen a steady decline in voter participation; Great Britain is a great example of this. The country has witness turnout in elections falling slowly as time pass. However, the election of 2001 dropped the country from their average of 76% voter turnout to just a 59.4% turnout. Comparatively, Australia, a former colony of Britain, has enjoyed high and steady voter participation since 1924 because of the implementation of compulsory voting. This system has proven to be not only effective in bring voters to the polls, but also effective in improving Australia’s democracy. By evaluating these two countries with similar political structure; one can see the difference in compulsory voting turnouts
The United States of America is supposed to be a land of freedom where one can exercise the right to have various liberties that are not found in many other countries around the world. Among these liberties is the right to vote in a democratic government. Voting is a privilege in the United States that should not be taken for granted; many countries do not have the luxury of choosing who they want to represent them in government. Or if they do, they have in place a system that is called compulsory voting. Compulsory voting is a system in which voters are obligated to come to their designated polling place on Election Day to place a vote. If
A strong democratic government rest on citizens exercising their power of voting. Even though in many countries including United States, entitled voters don’t vote during Presidential Elections. This paper will explain that Federal Voting should be mandatory in United States. Many people in United States try their best to stay away from political affairs not realizing the importance politics. Voting is one of the most common ways to get involved in politics. Firstly this paper will state the main problems for the non-voters. Moving forward, why it is necessary and important to vote? And lastly the outcomes if people doesn’t voted. Votes determine who will be responsible in considering laws and their enforcement to all the Americans. By this
A very controversial topic in the United States is whether or not Americans should be required to vote. Voting is a very essential piece to democracy, but many Americans today are not attending their voting location and supporting the candidate they feel is best. In recent elections, just 60% of registered voters casted their vote for a candidate. This is an issue that many people are not happy about, but whether or not there is reason to fix it is the other side to the case. Voter participation is an issue that has been going on for years, and no laws are in place currently to bring it up. Americans have been proud to live in a “free country”, and a law forcing citizens to vote may be against America’s principles. Compulsory voting should
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.
The voting rate in America has been very low the past few elections. There are many reasons people feel that people aren’t going to the polls to vote. For example so people believe that its because the people running for positions of power aren’t the the best so nobody votes. Other people believe that its or right as Americans to go to the polls on election day. Forcing People to go vote on election day is not democratic because we are given the freedom to do what we want.
All through-out Australian well have precited and and denied the ingenious population there rights,The ingenious population have suffered many immense impacts to their lives these include Discrimination,Racism and Nations segregation.The right to Vote Federally for the ingenious population was granted in 1965 .Before this was enacted for an Aboriginal or a Torrey Strait Islander to obtain full right that had to repent there culture to obtain full rights in the eyes of the justice system not only that they had to blend into modern white society.
“This act flows from a clear and simple wrong, its only purpose is to right that wrong. Millions of Americans are denied the right to vote because of their color. This law will ensure them the right to vote. The wrong is one which no American, in his heart, can justify. The right is one which no American, true to our principles, can deny.... It is not just a question of guilt, although there is that. It is that men cannot live with a lie and not be stained by it, “said the president (Equal Citizenship and the Individual Right to Vote). The Voting Rights Act was “one of the most monumental laws in the entire history of American freedom”—a law that, very exclusively, aimed to break down the legal barriers at the state and local governments’ level of authority that prohibited African Americans from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
The United States of America, almost since its conception, demonstrated a shining example of what a successful democracy should be. As citizens of a democratic country, we have the privilege to choose our leaders and the opportunity to have our voices heard. Many countries around the world operate by dictatorship or royal lineage. In these countries, citizens are not granted the freedom to elect officials. Often times, these people face grave consequences if they speak out against their leaders resulting in arrests or other penalties.
Voting plays an important role in the modern lives that can easily shape the whole world. While some people believe that voting should be voluntary, I believe that voting should be mandatory for more social benefits. This essay will discuss the reasons why voting should be compulsory.
Australia uses Alternative Voting (AV), AV is where voters are asked to rank their preference for the candidates from 1, 2, 3 etc. If a candidate receives a majority than the candidate wins, but if the candidate did not get the majority than the candidate with the lowest average preference is dropped than those votes are redistributed to the next candidate with the next highest preference. This keeps on going until there is a majority. Republic of Ireland uses AV voting in their presidential voting, similarly British tried to switch to AV in 2011 instead of First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) by holding a referendum but AV lost. In U.S. history AV could have been helpful in the 1912 presidential elections when the Bull
As a political science student, voting is an essential part in which patterns can be studied. Voting covers various aspect which deals with elections. People are always engaged in voting because of the perceived benefits that are obtained from balloting (McDonald 107). This means that regardless of the effect of the outcome of an election, it may have substantial effect on a person’s life. Citizens always participate in an election exercise in order to obtain some benefits. In order to understand this, it is critical for any political system to include the participation of its citizen. This therefore provides the link between the individual voters to the political system, for instance the government. With such a link created through voting, it legitimately serves the political system to the extent of democracy and shape policies so that they accord with the popular wishes and interest (Green, 79). In most of the parliamentary democracies in the world, for instance the U.S, the straightforward and easiest form of political participation is through voting. This essay will give in sight on the importance of a person’s vote, the reasons why they vote and engage in non-voting
One of the most critical ways that individuals can affect governmental decision-making is voting. Voting is a formal expression of preference for a candidate for office or for a resolution of an issue. Voting takes place in the context of a large-scale national or regional election, however, local and community elections can be just as poignant to individual participation in government. Every Australian citizen who is aged 18 years or more can vote in a federal election if validly enrolled and not disqualified from voting. Political participation is the basis of democracy and a vital part of the ‘right to vote’. Australia’s constitution has framed the progressive democracy Australia has become, however there is debate on the derivation of this right to vote and on the extent of the protection of that right. The right is not constitutional at all, instead being governed by international treaty obligations and commonwealth legislation. The right to vote has been defined as the right to cast a ballot in an election. However, in order to fulfil the democratic objective of representative government, modern definitions require that the vote cast is effective, that each individual may only vote a single time and that franchise is equal. Further, the right must have legal prevalence in order to prevent its erosion through legislation.