To think voting should be compulsory

[TheoriginalLEM]

Im not sure what % of people didn't vote in this current shit show. But a significant number im sure. Even if there was a third "i don't give a fuck" option, we might have a clearer of what "the people" actually want.

I voted to stay but now i just want this over.

The don't give a fuck option is not bothering to vote. Not sure why you need a little box to actually tell you that.

Sometimes I do think it should be made compulsory, but I guess some people would just spoil their ballot paper if they really didn't want to vote.

Sone people seem quick to criticise what's going on in this country, but then do nothing to try to change it.

I've got Australian friends who live over here in the UK and they're surprised every time a vote comes up that it's not made compulsory to vote. They've voted whilst over here for the Australian elections and can't understand why we don't do something similar.

I don't think it should be compulsory to vote, but I would quite like there to be a "None of this shower get my vote" option so that would could get a more accurate idea of how many people don't vote because they don't like any of the options as opposed to just can't be arsed

IF you make voting compulsory, then it is an obligation not a privilege. People exercise their right to vote or not vote. have you looked at the list of countries who have enforced voting ? There isn't one I'd want to live in. Less than half are democracies. Actually if voting is forced, none are true democracies.

No. Democracy and freedom includes freedom to decide whether to vote. And on a practical level, how would you enforce it?

I always vote, but I think it's important to have the choice whether to or not: I'm fairly sure that a government elected by citizens with little knowledge of or interest in current affairs would be even worse!

Lyra yes, that is exactly the question i am asking myself.

I voted, i want to stay but if it hadn't been on my way to worrk that day? I dont know if id have bothered because i didn't even consider a leave vote to be a possibility

I don't think that people who either don't know or don't care enough about what is being voted on to voluntarily cast a vote should be made to, no.

Compulsory voting is often suggested by those concerned about low turnout - easier to force people to vote than to take seriously the reasons why they're choosing not to, I suppose.

I get the democracy thing which is why the "not voting" vote should be present.

Sigh, im just clutching at straws really.

A vote validates a party or policy. If you’re forced to vote, you’re being forced to agree with one of the alternatives on the ballot paper even though you may not wish to support any of them. I far prefer voting being optional in a free democratic society.

I don't want my government to be chosen by people who are voting only because they were forced to.

I don't think people should be forced into voting. But those who don't vote shouldn't moan about the outcome.

I have spoiled my vote before. These do get counted. If 50% of the population spoiled their votes then it would mean a lot more than is 50% of people didn't vote as that looks like they couldn't be bothered.

No. I think you should have to take an exam before you can vote (any age). Too many people vote that don't have a clue enough to make an educated decision.

Not sure the opinion of someone who can’t be arsed would carry much weight with me tbh.
I do agree with pp tho that an option to say “I don’t agree with any of you” would show a more accurate national opinion

Absolutely not. Ridiculous idea.

stazig. What a very foolish thing to say. I'm guessing you're hoping that the history of voting wouldn't figure too much in these exams, otherwise you might not do particularly well.

Look up what people had to do in this country in order to gain universal suffrage and yet you would be happy to throw that right away. Silly sod.

It is compulsory to vote in my country. Of course does not mean that you have to vote for one of the parties on the ballot. You can choose to a blank vote, i.e. vote for none of the options, or spoil your ballot. But at least you have to actually think about it and make a choice. I am wholeheartedly in favour of mandatory voting.

Oh and my country is very much a democracy, in response to one of the posters above.

I absolutely think it should be compulsory- but I'm Australian, so I'm used to that. You vote in private so if you really, really, genuinely have no preference about anything, you can leave the paper blank, or write "I hate them all" or whatever you want and spoil your ballot. But the reality is that very few people do that because most people actually do have a preference.

I didn't vote as I'd just had a baby and barely knew what day it was. If I had voted, it would have been Leave.

I've believed there should be a "none of the above" option every since I participated in a count once. The ballot papers that people actually wrote "none of these" went into the same pile as the ones that double marked, didn't mark at all, drew a penis etc. I think there should be a way of actually registering "I want to vote, but none of the parties available work for me".

starzig why don’t we just give the vote to landed male gentry like in the good old days. That would stop any old thicko voting

PlainSpeaking you would t want to live in Australia, Belgium or Greece? Just 3 countries who have compulsory voting.

I also think the option for handing a postal vote into the polling station should be advertised more as I know several people who, for various reasons, missed the post for their postal votes and didn't realise they could hand it into a polling station (or ask someone to hand it in for them)