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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not casting a vote should be made a criminal offence

82 replies

palanca · 07/10/2016 18:17

Turnout is always low, even in the Referendum. With postal votes and possibly online voting in the future, voting is straightforward. There certainly should be a further box for "none of the above" so I am not saying for one minute that people should be forced to choose one the options presented.
People have fought and died for the vote - let's make sure that it gets used.
Other countries do this including Australia, Cyprus, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Singapore, Uruguay so it is not only North Korea!

OP posts:

Soyouare2faced · 07/10/2016 20:28

I believe that a non vote is a vote in itself if you're doing it for the right reasons.
This been said I do think that some people vote without educating themselves on matters. I think people should have to do a short 'test' to prove they have the knowledge

scaryteacher · 07/10/2016 20:36

I live in Belgium, but don't vote here, nor would I even if it were compulsory for all residents, as it is not my country and I find all the layers of politics and horse trading between parties frankly baffling.

I think people should vote, but should equally have the choice not to, Fine line between democracy and dictatorship on this one.

Patapouf · 07/10/2016 20:37

Democracy is an absolute fucking farce in this country anyway but I do think there should be a fine for people who don't vote and then whinge about the result or would have voted the same way as me

kali110 · 07/10/2016 20:48

palanca no i couldn't just get up and vote considering i was in hospital.
I suppose i should have planned it better

HeyOverHere · 08/10/2016 00:24

The freedom to vote is also the freedom to use your vote as you choose--that should include the freedom not to not use it at all.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 08/10/2016 00:36

I would also want a 'I decline to engage with this process' for the PCC elections. I spoil my paper because I don't agree with a PCC at all.

MommaGee · 08/10/2016 00:36

I didn't vote at theast election because my love was in hospital and we lived permanently in hospital / hospital accomodation for 4 months. I tried to sort a postal vote but I tried to doots of things that involved concentration and then he'd need another operation, he'd get worse. Are you honestly suggesting I should be prosecuted for not leaving my very poorly toddler in hospital for a 3 hr round teip to vote? And I didn't sort postal vote before cos it was an emergency admission that kept getting extended

SpaceUnicorn · 08/10/2016 00:37

Criminalising abstention is undemocratic.

Aside from the dictatorial implications, those not interested enough to vote voluntarily are not going to cast an informed or considered vote, and may well mark a box at random, which seems rather pointless.

caroldecker · 08/10/2016 00:48

Why the fuck do you care if people don't vote? they have the right and ability to vote but choose not to - what the fuck has t to do with you?

IWasGintyMarlowe · 08/10/2016 00:54

YABU. i do agree that people should not take freedom to vote for granted but i don't see how penalising people who don't wish to/can't would help? wouldn't it only end up with lots of spoiled ballot papers or stupid votes from people who are politically apathetic and have no real clue?

and it isn't straightforward for everyone to vote. taken into hospital? had a bereavement? in bed with flu? no transport because your car has broken down and you can't get it fixed and too late for postal vote??? mentally unwell? elderly and long term disabled? some people don't vote because they just can't.

MommaGee · 08/10/2016 01:04

Bah my lb was in hospital not my love

MrHannahSnell · 08/10/2016 01:17

Nobody has been prosecuted in Belgium for not voting in living memory and the Belgians are thinking of repealing the compulsory voting law. It just doesn't work.

kerryob · 08/10/2016 01:20

I'd love an option for none of the above

tiddlyipom · 08/10/2016 01:42

In the Australian Federal Elections you do not have to vote actually.
You have to present yourself at a polling station and get your name crossed off the list to prove you turned up.
There is no ID check, which astonishes me.
There is also nothing to stop you turning up at every polling station in your electorate and voting at every single polling station, which happens
In the 2013 election there were about 7000 cases of multiple voting and not a single prosecution.

Topseyt · 08/10/2016 01:59

I tend to agree with the OP.

I would especially like a NOTA option on each ballot paper. It would provide more people with an option for getting across how disillusioned they feel with the current crop of politicians.

caroldecker · 08/10/2016 11:35

OP - are you in favour of adopting all Belgian and Australian law, because sometimes these countries disagree with each other.

Chikara · 08/10/2016 11:56

Was reading a thread about Jezza Kyle on here and someone had included a link. Shocked me tbh.

People whose idea of contributing to society is having more kids and screaming abuse on tv; who don't work, have never worked, don't intend to work, who are very unlikely to understand much about economics or politics...being forced to vote??

OF COURSE they should have the right to vote. Absolutely. No question. And maybe they do vote - but if they are too stupid to vote or don't give a shit about voting or other people then really what is to be gained by criminalising them?

Educate people, get them to fully participate in society as a worker, a volunteer, a responsible parent - something - and then look at voting behaviour.

JellyBelli · 08/10/2016 11:58

YABU. People who dont want to vote will just pay the fine. Its not the best way to change voter apathy.

Excited101 · 08/10/2016 12:00

I think there should always be a 'I don't like any of them' box, to account for those who feel passionately about using their vote but when all the candidates are shit.

The last thing we need is people casting their vote when they don't know or care anything about it all. It makes a mockery of the whole system.

Chikara · 08/10/2016 12:10

Excited101 - absolutely right
Also agree JellyBelli

I would like a "Non of the Above" option as I often feel squeezed between a rock and a hard place but determined to use my vote for reasons mentioned above.

GingerLDN · 08/10/2016 13:44

No don't make people vote. These people are likely to just chuck a tick in any box without thinking it through. Could be disastrous really IMO

Andrewofgg · 08/10/2016 13:55

I would rather the apathetic did not vote.

SwedishEdith · 08/10/2016 14:02

I'd spoil my ballot paper on principle if this was introduced probably wouldn't but

What's with this "If it's good enough for the Ozzies" argument? When have we suddenly wanted to emulate Australia? Why not Canada? Why are people so obsessed with rules and authoritarianism all of a sudden?

I agree with I don't want people who don't give a fuck to vote.

newwoollysocks · 08/10/2016 14:20

No don't make people vote. These people are likely to just chuck a tick in any box without thinking it through. Could be disastrous really IMO

Well I can't see how it could be more disastrous outcome wise than recent votes.....

But re general elections I'd much rather see the emergence of something people want to vote for than a fining system etc to deal with vote apathy.

Given the current choices I'm amazed at the tone taken to the apathetic.

RortyCrankle · 08/10/2016 14:42

YABU - I always vote and wish others would too but making it a criminal offence is not a good idea.

And what would be the punishment for such a heinous crime?

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