I strongly disagree. Compulsory voting is not consistent with the freedom associated with democracy. It’s the government’s job to protect our rights, not enforce them or make them mandatory. Forcing people to vote violates their civic rights and it often results in random and uneducated votes.
When it comes to voting, quality rather than quantity should be the focus. We don’t just need active citizens, we need educated and active citizens. We shouldn’t be forcing citizens to vote, we should be encouraging them to vote and educating them on political and social issues.
Additionally, the right not to vote in an election is as fundamental as the right to vote. Mandatory voting is a violation of the First Amendment’s prohibition of compelled speech. Not having an opinion is an opinion. If I disklike two of the candidates running for presidency, I shouldn’t have to compromise my values and vote for one of them, even if that candidate is the “lesser evil.”
I think it’s dumb that countries such as Australia fine people who don’t vote. It’s ridiculous that in Belgian individuals who fail to vote lose the right to vote for the next 10 years (which is so counterproductive) and as a result face social stigma and problems like near impossibility in having a job in the public sector.
Voting should be carried out by people who care and want to vote. Those who want to vote deserve to be heard more than those who do not.
