To think compulsory voting is the way forward!

[Inboxer]

It doesn't feel very democratic that we have governments in power when only a small percentage of the population voted for them. I think if voting was made compulsory like it is in Australia and a "none of the above" tick box was added as an option then more people would have to be politically engaged. Politicians would have to work to keep all social groups happy not just those most likely to want to vote and if the "none of the above" box won, it would make a more powerful statement than people just not bothering to vote. We would need better teaching of politics in our secondary schools though but I think it would make a much better system.

YANBU - at least something has to be done to increase participation in democracy. Another thing I wondered about was incentivising voting, e.g. a fiver pay out for voting.

I really think the current situation is going to get worse and worse without some compulsion or incentive. A small number of parties chase the same votes and the same demographics. Result is parties morph into each other, more people feel disenfranchised, less people vote. Parties then chase smaller number of votes and more narrow agenda ad infinitum. I find it really depressing to be honest.

I don't think that threatening the already disengaged with prosecution is going to do much except increase a sense of exclusion.

I am very against e-voting, because we have enough problems with fraud with postal votes and e-ballot has the same weaknesses plus all the possibilities of hacking (from anywhere on the planet. Leaving aside anyone who wants to manipulate the election, there'll be those who just want to show they can. And I'm not convinced UK government IT has the securest track record).

"Result is parties morph into each other,"

Or new parties emerge? Unappealing to the MN demographic, UKIP is filling that role for others.

True but presumably any new parties emerging still have to appeal to those with the wealth to get them off the ground. Again, chasing similar demographics. Would be very happy to be shown to be wrong though.

No, YABU, I strongly disagree.

I believe it's a persons right to vote, or equally not to vote. I don't think anyone should be forced to vote. It's a democracy.

I'd rather see more people taking the time to educate themselves about the political scene, than more people turning out to vote who are just blindly ticking a vote with no understanding of what they're actually voting for.

So take the Australia example. Even with compulsory voting I have never found people are more engaged and their parties are still very similar.

Oh and if you are hoping for a more left ring govt then don't look at Aus as their government is far more righy wing

Forcing people to do something they neither want not need to do is the opposite to democracy.

Neither want NOR need