this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2024
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AskBeehaw

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it's election season, Beehaw, so — what are your thoughts on compulsory (mandatory) voting? (beehaw.org)
submitted 2 weeks ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/askbeehaw@beehaw.org
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good idea/bad idea, necessary democratic reform or authoritarian imposition? are there better or worse ways to do it?

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[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 13 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

You could still not choose. "I abstain" and "none of these" are valid votes. Submitting an empty ballot would satisfy the law while preserving the right not to choose.

That said, some have a religious prerogative to not vote, and should be eligible for an exemption.

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 14 points 2 weeks ago

Even better, it makes your rejection explicit. Someone who doesn't nake the effort to turn up to the polls isnt worth chasing their vote. Someone who turns up and says "Y'all shit" is a swing voter who can be swayed with the right policies. (Of course this all requires a healthy democracy without geremandering fuckery).

[–] alyaza@beehaw.org 5 points 2 weeks ago

That said, some have a religious prerogative to not vote, and should be eligible for an exemption.

this is, as i understand, the case in Australia—which i would consider the most compelling example of compulsory voting in practice.