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.

I know someone who voted Reform because they want the "boat people" dealt with... and this was someone who is on multiple benefits and is the type Reform are going to target anyway.
Plus, they voted like it was a general election. It will be pot holes, bin collections, and keeping the local green spaces looking nice.

And the Flags can't forget the Flags.

It would be expensive to administer because it would require significant government resources to monitor compliance, maintain accurate voter records, process exemptions, and enforce penalties for non-voters.

It’s not a couple of people in a back room sending out a few letters after election day. You would need new systems and processes to track who voted, investigate valid reasons for non-attendance, issue fines or warnings, and handle appeals or disputes.

Additional staffing, considerable IT infrastructure, public information campaigns, and legal or postal costs would also be required.

In the UK, administration would be particularly complex because different nations operate under different electoral rules. Scotland and Wales allow voting at age 16 in some elections, while England and Northern Ireland use 18.

Different elections are also held under different systems and on different timetables across the UK. Separate administrative processes would be needed in different parts of the country - trust me it would be very complicated and really expensive.

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.

And you’d want to force those people to vote? There is no guarantee they will study the candidates or show any interest in the vote, if they don’t usually vote they don’t care so why would they suddenly care? They may just tick a box blindly which can be just as bad as no vote (if not worse)

I have been thinking about our electoral system for a while.
Seems to me that a lot of people are protest voting - they are pissed off and want 'change'
The ultimate of this was Brexit - I think most people who voted for it would concede it's been an abject failure

If we suddenly went to PR with a pissed off electorate, I think that would be a disaster. There needs to gradual steps put in place

I think compulsory voting would be a step forward. Julia Gillard (ex Aussie PM) said a big advantage of compulsory voting was that the people in the centre far outweighed those on the fringes so political parties had to take notice of them more rather focussing on distracting tropes (e.g. boats)

If we went for compulsory voting I think there should be a box for 'none of the above'

I do think everyone voting should have at least have a very basic knowledge of politics.
Maybe a qualifying multiple choice question like 'who is the leader of the opposition?'

Maybe a qualifying multiple choice question like 'who is the leader of the opposition?'

whats the point of something so basic though, i actually do think there should be a basic understanding test, not something as simple as you suggest though. Because if you don’t even have a basic grasp of it,then what is the point of your vote. You don’t even understand what you’re voting for.

I had one leaflet through my door about the elections, and it was from the Labour candidate. No door knocks either.
I could not tell you her name even now, and had no idea who the oppositions were.

Because at least a very basic question would ensure most people's vote would be counted.

The question should not be too difficult. Maybe to exclude the truly feckless who can't even be arsed to look up the basics

Is this the same Australia where there is endemic racism, a significant neo-Nazi movement and the recent massacre of Jewish people on Bondi Beach?

The point is, there are far too many people voting, who have not grasped what the vote is for.

Seriously - go and talk to someone who has worked in a polling station. It is eye opening, and really quite worrying.

So teachers, Police Officers, Nurses, Social Workers, SaLTs, Paramedics, Administrators, Charity Workers, Dinner Supervisors, Bin Men, Shop workers, OTs, Dieticians, etc, etc, etc, all should not be allowed to vote according to whoever posted that.

More than 50% of adults of working age. Then all the retired people who don't have generous pensions.

Yes, it should be compulsory.
And the memorandums should be available online, both written, on 15 or so min videos. Easy to access. Plus radio and TV interviews and debates, online too. And flipping easy to access!
One of the guys here had videos that would not open........

The turn out in the 2025 federal election was 98.2%.

Yes, but what does that have to do with compulsory voting?

You haven't read "Nineteen Eighty-Four", have you?

The Australian prime minister's claim that compulsory voting produces centrism and consensus.

Years ago but I don't remember the bit where Orwell made an impassioned case for fining people who didn't vote.

Apparently research into countries that have compulsory voting does show this. It's about the results of voting, the election of governments.

It does not mean people aren't racist, don't form neo-Nazi groups, or as two individuals did, massacre innocent people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting

Look at the section labelled Impacts, which focuses on research.

You have to vote in Australia or you get a fine. It used to be a real pain, everyone trying to vote on the Saturday (that's our voting day) but now you can vote early, from 2 weeks before election day, its ok.

We had to vote by post for a local election a couple of years ago and a lot of votes didn't make it and people were fined. Apparently they should have taken a picture of them posting their vote as proof 🙄

@FKAT you do realise that the UK have issues with neo Nazis and racism as well?
From what I have read in Australia it's relatively recent that these groups have become more organised and brazen.

I guess my point is that these groups get nowhere near being voted in as a political party as everyone has to vote

Reform are a more effective political machine than the BNP.
Not everyone who votes Reform is racist but everyone who is racist and votes, votes Reform.

The trouble is that judging by my local FB groups, the people who have no clue what exactly they are voting for tend to pitch up in their droves - bringing their black pens so no one can rub out their pencil votes…. - and we get the result we get.

Plenty of Reform voters in my area are now rubbing their hands in glee about “stopping the boats” when in reality their newly elected councillors will be dealing with missed bins, potholes and moans about local planning issues.

Actually I am sure racism is present in every political party but I am sure most congregate around Reform.

I agree with what you're saying but don't think it can be used to justify forcing people to vote against their will. However, I also don't see how someone that doesn't vote can complain that they are not being represented. I would like to see the introduction of a PR system rather than first past the post. To me that would better represent all voters and is far more democratic.

@ForPlumReader I think going straight to PR would be a disaster, however, it should be the end goal.

Giving a disinterested, under informed electorate PR would just be like the Brexit referendum but on a regular basis.

I would introduce mandatory voting, with an option for 'none of the above.' This would mean that the electorate had to to engage with the voting system.
Potentially introduce an easy qualifying question so that people need to do the bare minimum of research.

Once voting behaviour becomes enmeshed in society then you could move to a form of PR system

No. But it should be the law that everyone has to have a basic education in politics and current affairs up to age 16 so there’s more of a chance that people actually understand what their vote means.