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.

I don't really think it would help the situation. If people don't care enough to vote, if forced, the vote surely would not be considered one.
People should have the right to abstain but then not to complain at decisions made or how the country is run

Dapplegrey (my favourite horse was this colour as a child)... I agree idgaf option is not helpful, but how about if it was phrased along the lines of "these candidates / choices do not represent my views)

As is the case for a huge portion of the country politically right now that our binary tribes are moving further and further apart

I agree completely or a £50 fine but I know that not possible for everyone

I've heard very strong arguments against compulsory voting. Basically, people soil their ballots or end up making ill-informed decisions (because they can't be asked to be informed or don't want to be). Anecdotes that people literally vote for the last person they saw advertised nearest the polling station en route to cast their ballot. That will be the only candidate they can remember hearing anything about. So compulsory voting regime does nothing to stop ppl from being disengaged, nor does it make them truly think about their ballot.

We have Brexit for exemplar. Allegedly, this is an extra valid marvelous result because so many people voted who normally don't ever bother to vote. Does anyone agree?

"If people don't care enough to vote, if forced, the vote surely would not be considered one."

yes. Imagine how many people would just tick a box without thinking which one it was.

Some of the comments directed towards people who don't vote on here are awful.

I don't vote. I was in a refuge, I can't go on the electoral register because they cannot guarantee that my ex won't find me.

I have had people at my door threatening me with a fine, but not one of them can say that my ex won't be able to get my details so what am I supposed to do.

There are many reasons people don't vote. Don't assume we are all uneducated idiots who don't care.

Yes and no.

Telling people they have to get out and vote is one thing, just as long as each ballot paper is anonymous and the authorities can't tell who spoilt their ballot papers in protest.

The spoilt ballots need to be counted up and any reasons given noted.

The turn out for the EU referendum was one of the highest recorded.

I've spoilt my ballot paper before (Not for the EU referendum). I consider that to be the protest/ I don't want any of this shit vote

U have a right to vote and a right not to vote

You can't do this fairly in a way that everyone will think is right.

I dont know if id have bothered because i didn't even consider a leave vote to be a possibility

People, especially women, not bothering their arse boils my piss. My personal view starts "How dare you...." Spoil your ballot by all means, but ffs get off your lazy arse.

However, that's my personal view and you're entitled to not vote. It's your right. I don't want people like that forced to vote though, too lazy to tick a box and probably too lazy to think. The self selection process is probably a good thing.

Locally we run a group to help people access voting by taking them to the polling station, it's a range of people from the political spectrum. I started helping after they helped me one year, I'd just had surgery and couldn't afford a taxi.

I don't think it's lazyness I think people just know the government will do what ever they want regardless of the people, you just need to look at the farce that was the Scottish independent vote

The government do what they want because the know people won't vote.

Voter apathy results in unresponsive governments. Democracy is about the people not the politicians.

Also the anonymous registration process was updated last year to allow more women access to vote after a brilliant campaign by Women's Aid.

www.womensaid.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigning-and-influencing/campaign-with-us/right-to-vote/

The anonymous registration only lasts for a year as far as I'm aware, which means I now have to choose between the safety of my children and I, and my right to vote. No contest really, but it's bloody unfair.

Conservatives in Australia would love to get rid of compulsory voting because the people least likely to vote for them - the poor, for instance - would are also less likely to turn up to cast a ballot on Election Day.

I voted here in Sydney yesterday and it was lovely. We walked down to our local school, said hello to people we knew, voted, bought from the cake stall and the sausage sizzle and went home. Took less than ten minutes to actually line up and vote.

I forgot to vote one year and received a letter asking why. I wrote back and told them I forgot and they didn’t fine me. No guns or police required.

I like compulsory voting. There is no confusion over whether a government has the mandate of its citizens.

There is a nuance on Australian compulsory voting that no one has grasped - it’s compulsory to attend a polling station (by post, before or on the day) IF you are on the electoral register.

It is compulsory to join the electoral register but compliance is voluntary, ie. nothing will happen to you if you don’t. If you never join the register then you never have to vote.

Elections are held on Saturday between 8am and 6pm, you can visit stations outside your electorate (e.g. if you’re away) or you can pre-poll in person or by post. Mobile polling stations go to prisons (a group not allowed to vote in U.K.), nursing homes and hospitals.

Voting in the U.K. is miserable by comparison. You can only attend one allocated polling station, so it catches out people who can’t make it home in time to vote. We do postal votes as our local polling station is grim.

Having worked on elections in the past, I do think some results would have been different if everyone had voted.

I absolutely believe going to vote should be mandatory even if you spoil your paper (I did that for both Police Commissioner votes). No vote no voice.

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.

Starzig could you tell us more about this exam you think voters should have to take?
Who would mark it? What questions would be asked?
After the EU referendum bearbehind also suggested this would be a good idea.
Personally I think it’s the most undemocratic suggestion I have ever heard. Why should only the ‘educated be allowed to vote?

starzig
(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.*

The most educated person I know refuses to vote.
They do this for two reasons:-

1. they are in a safe seat even if everybody voted against the MP that they have they still wouldn't have a voice.
2. Its not democratic if you can't vote in a negative way.

So they won't vote (atm) unless a form of PR comes in or they get a NOTA on the ballot paper.

....if manifestos were legally binding...

That would be unworkable. Say the manifesto pledged to introduce legislation to do xyz. In the time it took to draft the legislation and put it before parliament, something quite unforeseen might happen, or some new research be published, which would mean xyz was no longer appropriate, and perhaps even harmful, but the govt would still be bound to go on with it.

I have been known to spoil my ballot paper in the absence of a "None of the above" option

AnnaComnena

I have no problems with manifestos being legally binding, as it would mean that the political parties would have to think through what they could actually do and it would stop them from promising to do things that they have no intention of doing.

OP, to answer your question in your first post - 72.21% of voters turned out for the EU refernedum. This is one of the highest turnouts we have had in a while. Which I feel is REALLY signicant. Regardless of how I voted, I think it is extremely worrying that by disregarding the vote of so many people and forcing it to be overturned (let’s face it, this is what is being pushed for by a lot of people), we will damage our democracy and future voter turnout for a very long time. And before anyone says that all those people ‘voted in ignorance’, that they were uneducated and of a certain social class and age, no I would never be so awfully patronising as to make such a blanket statement about so many people. Let’s try and be fair and look at it from the perspective of all those people who will now never bother voting again. It should not be about listening to those who shout the loudest, or who have time to post on social media, or who can afford to travel to protests, and so on, realistically it should be about respecting democracy and getting on with things. I accept that my vote was what it was but that I can’t force others to be ‘right’. What life lessons are we teaching out children by refusing to accept the majority vote.

Starzig

Great idea... We should test people for their ability to understand the issues properly before they’re allowed to vote (eg getting people to articulate the actual benefits of Brexit and test whether they stand up to scrutiny!). If we’d done that before the referendum, most of those who voted “leave” would probably have not passed the test and we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in now!