Should voting be compulsory?

[therealmiranda]

Hence why I started the other thread...

[mellie]

if marginalised groups fail to vote, governments/politicians will stop delivering policies that help them.

I don't get how the 'voluntary voting issue' is part of that equation. Whether voting is compulsory or not, surely any group that may be adversely affected by polling outcomes....would vote to save themselves from that outcome.

FWIW.....I believe voting ought be compulsory for many reasons, none unique to me......but I do say this.

The ONLY reason any Government would seek to change a system which has been in place since (I think) 1915.....is because THEY believe THEY can benefit from the change, and it is no surprise this comes from Joh's right wing lying apprentice, The Can't.

There are those in favour of the voluntary voting system on both sides of politics, and many Liberals oppose it.

It's a very individual thing, and everyone has their own views on the subject.

Not unlike the republican debate really.

Is it going to happen?

Unlikely, .... not in our lifetime anyway.

[mellie]

The ONLY reason any Government would seek to change a system which has been in place since (I think) 1915.....is because THEY believe THEY can benefit from the change, and it is no surprise this comes from Joh's right wing lying apprentice, The Can't.

"In Australia, compulsory voting in federal elections was introduced in 1924 while compulsory enrolment for federal elections had been introduced in 1912."
- http://cheaperthanrubies.com/2012/11/08 ... -you-vote/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We are far more advanced here in Queensland.

Is that why Queensland students are among the worst performing academically across the nation Aussie?

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensl ... 153qu.html

I have a theory... I think the higher QLD temperature immobilises synapses with respects to the brains neurons resulting in a tardy banana republic ....with some hick like Aussie presiding over it with a compensative pineapple pendualting between his legs wearing a straw skirt, balancing a case of XXXX beer on his head to the polls.

[IQS.RLOW]

I tend to think compulsory voting only empowers the stupid to cast a stupid vote, be that a donkey vote or vote for one of the looney parties (eg Greens)

A switched on and engaged voter base will get better results from elected officials with less compromise caused by the stupid vote

I think you'll find that it's just your opinion that the Greens are a loony party and I don't think people vote for the greens to be funny - they'd rather go with the sex party.

Actually ~ 85-90% of voters think they are a loony party. Even the Greens themselves think they are a loony party hence their recent decision to hide their looniest of policies

[Outlaw Yogi]

If there was someone I thought worth supporting I'd enroll and vote for them, but I don't, so won't.
And I refuse to acknowledge anyone's so called authority to penalise me for taking such a position.
I don't really believe in compulsory anything.

[mellie]

Bollocks........Elections are held on Saturdays.....and even if you are working on the relevant Saturday....you have other options.....postal or pre-poll, for example.

-IQ's

Casual shift workers don't always know in advance when they are required to work. If they knock work back, they risk not being offered shifts next time.

Not everyone who works Saturdays knows well enough in advance to cast a postal vote.

The thing is IQ's... Voluntary voting makes electoral fraud much easier.

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

[Aussie]

If there was someone I thought worth supporting I'd enroll and vote for them, but I don't, so won't.
And I refuse to acknowledge anyone's so called authority to penalise me for taking such a position.
I don't really believe in compulsory anything.

When you were a fully fledged active influential Member of the Greens in Bundaberg, did you not vote for them?

So, you demur from the capacity of Government to require something of you, yet, if I have been reading you correctly for years, you have no hesitation taking social payments from that same Government.

Nice one, Rambo.

[mellie]

SMH poll.




http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political ... .html#poll

[Outlaw Yogi]

If there was someone I thought worth supporting I'd enroll and vote for them, but I don't, so won't.
And I refuse to acknowledge anyone's so called authority to penalise me for taking such a position.
I don't really believe in compulsory anything.

When you were a fully fledged active influential Member of the Greens in Bundaberg, did you not vote for them?

So, you demur from the capacity of Government to require something of you, yet, if I have been reading you correctly for years, you have no hesitation taking social payments from that same Government.

Nice one, Rambo.

No you do not read me correctly, but then misrepresentation is a common ploy of yours.

[Aussie]

but then misrepresentation is a common ploy of yours.

Easy to allege Rambo.....less easy to prove.......but that is a common ploy of yours.

You did not respond to this:

When you were a fully fledged active influential Member of the Greens in Bundaberg, did you not vote for them?

Any reason, Rambo?