Should it be the law that everyone has to vote?

[Constellationsofmyheart]

Interesting local election results in my city with no overall majority.

Turnout typically very low for the local elections.

It’s got me thinking, should it be law that everyone has to vote?

A lot of people are very disillusioned with politics and a lot just don’t understand or don’t know who to vote for therefore they just don’t bother.

That means that a minority are making decisions for the majority.

If everyone had to vote then people might be more inclined to do their research, but at least everyone would have their say.

Only if there is an option for “none of the above”. People should not be forced to vote for a party they don’t agree with.

Not voting in itself is a choice

I think it’s incredibly naive to think people would research and think before voting especially if they are starting from a place of apathy.

We fought hard for the right to so I would never not vote personally. I would always encourage others to do so. While I find it sad that people don't make the effort to select the least worst if that's how they feel I also believe that it is their right not to vote and to accept the consequences of their decision.

@Growlybear83

Having the option online would make it even easier, though - I'm talking not having to bother to leave the house at all. Voting with the absolute minimal effort.

So you will be arrested for not voting? Or?

I think society has more than enough to deal with without chasing non voters.

And open to hacking and fraudulent votes.

@ForPlumReader When I did vote, my vote changed nothing. We have the government elected on less than 50% of the votes at virtually every election since the year dot! In 2024, Labour got just under 34% of votes, yet got 411 seats! How did 2/3 of voters get represented in terms of their wants and needs? Obviously most people don’t get anything from voting (well a few opposition MPs with no power) and this is leading to discontent, amongst other things.

If there was a box marked:
None of the above - do better,
It'd be a great idea

Jesus, do you realise how authoritarian and Big Brother this is?

No, because if someone can’t be bothered to get off their arse to vote, it’s hardly going to be a well-informed and considered decision if they’re forced to do it.

I think it should be compulsory to attend to vote. What you do in the voting booth is up to you

Australia has mandatory voting. It's a good thing in my opinion.

Definitely needs to be a NOTA option

I’d also like to see a rule where if turnout is less than 50% no candidate is returned and seat sits empty

I'm not sure it would be a good thing. If people don't want to vote, and are forced to, they could protest by picking the option they think is least palatable to others.
I think there is a lot of people who have been discouraged from voting by the nasty "You are too old, too stupid, too poor, too Northern, too uneducated, too racist, etc" that spewed out after Brexit. I have heard a few people (not all Brexiteers) say they won't bother voting again

Where would this end? General election? Local councillor elections? Local police commissioner elections?

There was a tread a while back where OP was suggesting that you should only be eligible to vote if you earned over £40k.

It always surprises me to see a low turnout I guess because I personally feel very aware of the sacrifices the suffragettes made to win us the vote, so I always use mine. I would always support people’s freedom not to vote and freedom to spoil their ballot though.
I do think if you’re going to have an opinion about the outcome you have to participate in the process whether it’s by voting, campaigning, standing for election, supporting a candidate, attending a protest, signing a petition, writing a letter, educating our children… we should all participate in democracy to some extent at least because we all have to live in this society.
I suppose there need to be some greater controls on media and in particular social media to ensure they are impacting elections (and democracy and society more broadly) responsibly, but we seem to be going in the other direction.

This. No point forcing the ignorant to vote.

I wouldn't want any political party to have the power to implement that as that could be a building block for more compulsory things we'd have to adhere to for our own good.

Fine as it is vote ,don't vote personal choice.

I honestly voted in every single local and general election from 1989-2016 but since then I've felt politically homeless and no one party has impressed me enough. I don't like having to provide photo ID either tbh.

I didn’t vote. I’d rather pay a fine.

I don’t think people should be forced to vote, I very much think people should vote I just think some people don’t vote because they really don’t want to and thats fine (as long as they don’t then complain about the government they get).

I also wonder if we had IQ tests and economics test to allow people to vote how many people who were utterly sure of themselves would find they cannot infact vote. I’d say all my siblings are of roughly equal intelligence yet have managed to vote for different parties most elections so I wouldn’t be assuming that those who don’t agree with you politically are just stupid, they see things differently.

We get fined in Australia if we don’t vote and I feel that’s anti democratic. Voting is about choice and taking away someone’s choice is anti democratic.

No

Honestly no. So many people vote now and quite frankly shouldn’t as they are utterly clueless.

I mean look at the mess Labour has made and I see posts on here saying well it’s the tories fault, parroting what Labour themselves say, when any fool can see the economy has tanked hard since they came to power and implemented their horrendous tax and spend policies.

so for me, people should have to sit a test to see if they have a basic grasp of politics and the issues, then be allowed to vote. And if you’re clueless then told to fuck off home again,

Is there a danger that people made to vote against their will would not spoil the ballot or select "none of the above" but would vote for Count Binface or similar, who could get elected with a massive majority. Before dismissing this, note that H'Angus the Monkey was elected mayor of Hartlepool three times!

Two not totally facetious points:

1. They can make voting compulsory when they let us elect members of the House of Lords.
2. Voting in all Parliaments and all Councils should be compulsory and the elected members should be fined for missing any vote.

If "none of the above" gets the most votes, then the representative should be chosen by sortition.