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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want voting to be compulsary?

75 replies

darleneoconnor · 06/05/2011 11:39

Low turnouts are shameful.

Victories are hollow if less than half the electorate vote at all.

Can anyone who didn't vote please give me a good reason why?

I'm not suggesting throwing people in jail for not voting but the threat of a small fine (like the census, tv license, not updating DVLA details) would surely up voting numbers and make our country much more democratic?

If people don't want to vote for anyone, then turn up and spoil the ballot paper.

OP posts:

GwendolineMaryLacey · 06/05/2011 12:14

"in the same way that it is a requirement to participate in Jury Service."

except that whenever jury service is mentioned on here it's by people who are desperate to find ways not to do it. So that argument doesn't really stick.

sweetheart · 06/05/2011 12:14

well that's ok then - I can honestly say I don't think I moan about any of those things - life's too short!

onagar · 06/05/2011 12:17

Fair enough then.

Next time I will vote BNP to please though who want compulsory voting. How's that? It doesn't matter who you vote for as long as you join in yes? and that would be a vote against those currently in charge here. Maybe I will campaign for them too.

Those worried about democracy should be looking at the right of the church to be in the house of lords.

ABZMike · 06/05/2011 12:18

HowToLookGoodGlaikit - Do you live in a cave?

Those who do not take part in the democratic process have no right to comment or complain on the results that follow. This is nothing to do with education or information, it is to do with taking an interest in how your society is administered.

shmoz · 06/05/2011 12:24

YANBU to have your opinion in this democratic society.

Other people are NBU in exercising their right not to vote if they so choose.

YABU to ask people to give you a reason why they didn't vote - nosey!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 06/05/2011 12:30

But if people arent property informed regarding politics it would make a complete mockery of the whole system if they were made to vote and did so without having a clue who they are voting for - whats the point in that!!!

YABU - I didnt vote and its none of your business why I didnt (I usually do)

Toygirl · 06/05/2011 12:42

I like the idea of online voting. I rarely vote but if there were an online option, I'd vote every single time

SoFluffyImGonnaDie · 06/05/2011 13:03

FWIW I don't think our local councillors were too bothered about the election either. I didn't get a single vote for me flyer through the door this time with election promises etc.

I can just see it now next election will be a won by whoever has the most "likes" on facebook or followers on twitter. (I am in favour of online voting)

JamieAgain · 06/05/2011 13:07

What Hecate said.

kw1986 · 06/05/2011 14:20

YABU

I didn't vote and never have (I'm 25) because I don't like the look of any of them.

Its strange to me how people CAN vote considering the crappy choices we have... Do we go for dodgy guy number 1 or dodgy guy number 2???

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 06/05/2011 14:30

So you would support a change so that you could opt to abstain then?

Would you go out to vote to register that none of the options available to you deserved your vote?

I really do think that, even if voting was not made compulsory, an option to abstain would be a really good idea. It would show once and for all WHY so many people aren't voting.

Maybe if they added an abstain vote and the turnout was massive and most people crossed 'abstain', it would trigger actual change.

[hopeful]

RJRabbit · 06/05/2011 14:34

YABU. I don't want people (of whom there are very, very many) who have absolutely no idea or interest in politics, or indeed in lifting a finger to find out about it, voting for the people who represent us. It would result in loads of people taking a "stab in the dark" on the ballot paper, or voting for a name that looks good to them, not a representational government.

kmac80 · 06/05/2011 14:41

I am Australian and I am proud of the fact that compulsory voting is enforced. Yes there will always be 'donkey votes' but it also makes people more aware of who and what policies they are voting for.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 06/05/2011 14:46

But why are people like that?

Why are people more interested in the fucking X factor and bloody eastenders than in politics? why are people more interested in what is wearing and what perfume princess catherine was wearing on her wedding day than having their say on who runs the country and how? Why are people more interested in what you can wear with leggings than economics? why are people more interested in which pop star is dating which actor than in the global economic crisis?

This is a big problem.

Perhaps if politics and all related topics were taught at school, people wouldn't grow up to be so appaulingly ignorant and to think that politics was something that didn't affect them. They'd understand that politics affects every part of their life.

HHLimbo · 06/05/2011 14:48

YANBU - if there was a fine for not voting, it could be a good little money raiser, haha (dont tell the tories).

In student elections, we used to have a RON (re-open nominations) option, so that if most people chose it, nominations were re-opened and new candidates would come forward. We also voted in order of preference 1,2,3 etc.

Amazing that those old student elections were a better system than our current national system!

RJRabbit · 06/05/2011 14:51

Because, Hecate, there are lots of stupid people around. Not here, obviously (looks shiftily around, dons massive padded flame retardent suit and runs away very fast)

CoffeeDodger · 06/05/2011 14:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maighdlin · 06/05/2011 14:52

its already the law that you have to be registered to vote but not very enforced.

it does make you when you hear people moaning about who is in power or the way the run the country when they could be arsed to take 5 minutes out of their life to vote. if you have voted moan freely, if not shut up.

HHLimbo · 06/05/2011 14:55

Good point hecate & kmac.

Having debates on prime time TV was good. People should also be able to vote from the age of 10 (when they become legally responsible for their actions.)
Certainly by the age of 14 when they can get a job (and have responsibility for a business).
But at the moment they cant even vote at 16 (but are responsible enough to become parents by law!)

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 06/05/2011 15:01

You're being completely unreasonable. We have the right to vote, we aren't compelled to do so.

Whilst you're at is... is there anything else you'd like us all to be legislated by, within a country governed by people who already can't manage that?

HHLimbo · 06/05/2011 15:02

Oh CoffeeD that is such a shame. Your local elections are important because the council decide things like which school get closed down/opened, if your area recycles its rubbish and how often they are collected, maintaining/developing roads, street lighting, whether to open a new sport centre or invest in schemes for businesses, etc etc. All things that will dirrectly affect every day life.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 06/05/2011 15:27

I would however love to be able to give the government a vote of 'no confidence' and I would very much appreciate having a box giving the option for that.

Also, being able to vote for the outcome of a particular issue, not a person/party. That would be a big bonus in my view.

I detest our current form of government and whilst I vote myself, I can understand the apathy of non-voters. I can understand the thinking, "Who on earth are you supposed to vote for and how is it going to make a blind bit of difference?"

TheNumberTaker · 06/05/2011 15:34

This is the first time since I've been eligible to vote (am nearly 40) when I did not. Not sure if my reasons are great, but basically, we moved to a new town a couple of weeks ago. DH and I are still registered in our old city but not yet where we currently live. I suppose I could have voted in my old city, but I'm not sure if that would have been fraudulent, and even if not, I think it would have been slightly immoral to vote for a council I won't be having to live with. The local council does know we are here, but we have not received voting cards for our local borough.

With regard to the AV vote, although I really want voting reform, I'm not sure AV is the solution, but was not comfortable with an outright no vote. I really wish there was the ability to vote "don't know" or similar - I think it is important for politicians to know that for some it is not apathy but genuine protest,disquiet etc that makes them not wish to vote in the negative or affirmative. If the majority vote was in fact "not sure", then perhaps the parties would have to put the matter to the electorate again (and hopefully be a bit more persuasive in their arguments). In the absence of this, I am very much in favour of turning up and spoiling your ballot, simply because you then have to be counted, but I didn't this time (for the reasons above) and I am a bit ashamed about that, but also not wholly sure it would have been my right to do so. Like I said, I have voted in every local and general election since I became eligible, so I'm not a total twat, just a bit of one.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 06/05/2011 15:36

I voted yes to AV.

Not because I want AV. I want PR. but because I know damn well that if we have returned a great big no to AV, politicians will never ask us again if we want change.

in 100 years they will be saying well, in 2011 we put it to the people and they clearly told us that they want the first past the post system.

so if we haven't voted for some sort of change in the system now, trust me, we'll never get another chance.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 06/05/2011 15:49

I voted yes for the same reason, Hecate. It's not really a viable question, or an option but it seems we have to do this to get that. Not very fair and certainly not transparent, which is what the process was supposed to be, I thought?

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