Compulsory voting

Compulsory voting is a government requirement that all citizens vote in elections. Many countries have compulsory voting, and, in some cases, people who do not vote are punished through fines or other means. Opponents say requiring people to exercise their right to vote is undemocratic, because it takes away individuals' freedom to refrain from voting. Others believe that democracy only remains strong when a majority of citizens participate, and they feel compulsory voting is needed to increase voter turnout.

More than two dozen countries have mandatory voting laws. Of those, fewer than half enforce the laws. Australia, for example, has had compulsory voting since 1924. Those eligible to vote who do not cast their ballots may be required to appear in court and could be fined about $20.

Background

Election of government leaders is a long-standing practice in many parts of the world. Ancient people, such as the Romans, held elections, as did some religious groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church, which has elected popes for centuries. However, voting was usually limited to free men or men who owned property. In some countries, such as Britain, government bodies represented estates and other group interests rather than individual constituents. Those in power had access to elections and had a say in who led the country. This changed during the nineteenth century with the notion that the people in power led with the consent of the governed. Suffrage for adult males expanded in Western Europe and North America, and suffrage for adult women followed in the twentieth century.

Although many countries claim they hold democratic elections, some races are not truly competitive. For example, some countries hold elections with only one candidate on the ballot. This candidate's inevitable win is touted as the will of the people, and leaders often use this tactic to legitimize their roles. Many elections are influenced by campaigns of fear and intimidation, so voters will choose not to vote or vote for the official candidate. Opposition candidates may be pressured to withdraw. Other elections are hijacked by fraud, such as stealing ballots or filling ballot boxes with fake ballots.

Countries without compulsory voting often have low voter turnout, especially during state or local elections. In the United States and other countries, some people have suggested mandatory voting laws as a way to increase participation. Critics counter that a true democracy gives individuals the freedom to refrain from voting. They believe that compulsory voting takes away this freedom by punishing those who do not vote. For instance, Bolivians who do not get their voter ID cards stamped may have their wages frozen. Greek citizens may be denied driver's licenses and passports if they fail to vote.

Some people believe that compulsory voting increases representation among minorities and low-income communities. Others note that some individuals and populations face hardships associated with voting, such as difficulty traveling to polling places, and feel they should not be punished for not voting. Many countries, including those with compulsory voting, hold elections on weekends or establish Election Day as a national holiday.

Overview

Some people argue that compulsory voting levels the playing field. By requiring people of all social and economic backgrounds to vote, everyone's voice carries equal weight. Politicians can then focus on the issues and address voters' concerns during the campaign rather than try to encourage citizens to vote. They believe that voters will be informed because they will take the time to read and listen to the platforms and discuss the issues so they will be prepared on Election Day.

Some activists point to studies that examine voting trends in countries without compulsory voting. They contend that poor people and the disenfranchised are least likely to vote, and mandatory voting laws increase voter participation across the economic spectrum.

Proponents of compulsory voting say that time spent voting is not a hardship. The benefits of requiring minimal participation far outweigh any minor inconvenience because citizens have a voice. Australia, which has compulsory voting, frequently reports voter turnout in federal elections greater than 90 percent. Whereas voter turnout in the United States has ranged from about 53 percent to nearly 64 percent in federal elections from 1996 to 2016. On average, slightly more than half of eligible voters go to the polls. The 2020 US presidential election saw a turnout of nearly 66 percent of eligible voters, the highest amount since 1900.

Supporters of compulsory voting believe it prevents the wealthy from having too much control over the government. They feel legislators will not feel pressure to accept or solicit donations because voter turnout will be high. Candidates can also focus on a greater swath of the community rather than only addressing issues that appeal to the people most likely to vote. Mandatory voting, many believe, prevents a social chasm between those who are involved and interested and those who feel their votes do not count and would likely not vote if they were not required to do so.

According to the World Economic Forum, countries with compulsory voting have higher voter turnout overall. Chile had compulsory voting until 2012, when the laws changed. In 2010, 87 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the presidential election. In 2013, without compulsory voting, the presidential election drew just 42 percent of voters.

Some critics counter that a forced electorate is not an engaged electorate. People may vote to avoid a penalty, but they may not be informed about the candidates or their positions on issues. Australian election authorities have found that many people between age eighteen and twenty-four do not register to vote. Many Australian voters also cast spoilt ballots, which are blank or incorrectly completed, both by accident and deliberately. Spoilt or informal ballots cannot be counted. When the number of unregistered voters and those who cast spoilt ballots is combined, voter turnout in Australia is less than 85 percent.

Critics contend that while voting is a right, it is not a duty of citizenship. They believe that refusing to vote may be a statement in itself and that individuals should be free to make that choice.

In addition, many opponents argue that forcing people to vote may violate their rights to express their religious beliefs. Some faiths discourage members from participating in outside business, including government. If voting is compulsory, then some citizens could be forced to either break the law or go against their religious teachings.

While some people feel that compulsory voting leads to greater citizen involvement, others argue that people who only vote to avoid punishment have no interest in becoming educated. They may simply vote for random candidates, and their disinterest could prevent deserving candidates from winning office.

Bibliography

Beck, Katie. "Australia Election: Why Is Voting Compulsory?" BBC, 27 Aug. 2013, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23810381. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

Gilsinan, Kathy. "Why Is It Illegal to Not Vote in Most of Latin America?" The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2014, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/why-is-it-illegal-not-to-vote-in-most-of-latin-america/381936/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

Hartig, Hannah, et al. "Voter Turnout, 2018-2022." Pew Research Center, 12 July 2023, www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/07/12/voter-turnout-2018-2022/. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Jaffe-Geffner, Nina. "The Pros and Cons of Requiring Citizens to Vote." Fair Vote, 23 Oct. 2015, www.fairvote.org/the‗pros‗and‗cons‗of‗requiring‗citizens‗to‗vote. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

Khosla, Simran. "This Map Shows All the Countries Where Voting Is Mandatory." Public Radio International, 14 Oct. 2014, www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-14/map-shows-all-countries-where-voting-mandatory. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

MacLeod, Peter, and Lyndsay Poaps. "Is Mandatory Voting Coming to Canada? Let's Hope Not." Toronto Star, 25 July 2016, www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/07/25/is-mandatory-voting-coming-to-canada-lets-hope-not.html. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

"On U.S. Election Day, a Look at How Others Vote." National Public Radio, 4 Nov. 2008, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96588530. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

"Pros and Cons of Mandatory Voting." Vote Better, 22 Aug. 2016, www.votebetter.ca/mandatoryvoting/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

Santiago, José. "Which Countries Make Voting Compulsory?" World Economic Forum, 26 Oct. 2015, www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/which-countries-make-voting-compulsory/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

Singh, Shane P. "Beyond Turnout: The Consequences of Compulsory Voting." Political Studies Association, www.psa.ac.uk/insight-plus/beyond-turnout-consequences-compulsory-voting. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

Varnham O'Regan, Sylvia. "Why Does Australia Have Compulsory Voting?" SBS News, 22 June 2016, www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/06/20/why-does-australia-have-compulsory-voting. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.