Should voting be mandatory

Bullseye1

Should our citizens who are eligible to vote be made vote? I'm aware that most GE do not suit college students (so maybe in future they could be held over two days Fridays and Saturday).

MazG

I'd be happy for voting to be compulsory. This is the case in Australia

http://www.aec.gov.au/faqs/voting_australia.htm#201

I think that being a citizen of a democracy brings responsibilities as well as rights and one of those responsibilities to to take part in the democratic process.

I agree that weekend elections would be more suitable for those who work or study away from home during the week. I can't see any good reason for restricting the elections to a week day.

Tiddlers

It would be a great idea I think but I'm not sure how much of a difference it could make to an outcome.You could make people vote but not necessarily make them care about what they are voting for or what they put down on their polling card.

As said above, the more positively effective thing to do would be to hold a vote over the weekend or a weekday and a weekend.I was thrilled to final have my chance after the past few years to have my vote and my say but like many people I won't be able to vote because the hours I'm working that day and the location prohibit me from making it to my polling station.

MazG

Tiddlers wrote: »

It would be a great idea I think but I'm not sure how much of a difference it could make to an outcome.You could make people vote but not necessarily make them care about what they are voting for or what they put down on their polling card.

You make a very interesting point. But it could also be the case that if citizens are compelled to vote, then at least some of those who wouldn't have otherwise voted will put some thought and effort into selecting their preferred candidate(s)

johnmcdnl

Yes - because then all the people who usually wouldn't bother voting would come out and vote for everyone bar FF and this would help eradicate them for good..

lets take the scenario though that FF were actually a half decent party... - well then you'd have way too many people voting and not knowing what they were voting for - which is a bad thing - a very bad thing...

I'd rather a 50% turnout if they all voted sensibly and knew what they were voting for rather than 100% turnout and 50% of these voting for anyone under the sun because they had to turn up and vote..

Tiddlers

I absolutely agree. Some people just need a nudge and a push out of apathy but I'm constantly surprised by how many people genuinely don't believe voting and politics effects their lives.

PeterIanStaker

Once you turn 18 or become an Irish citizen you should automatically go on the register.

I know the country is f*cked and that it'll be a hard fix, and a new govt will be hard pushed to even take it off life support, but at the same time people must take ownership of their vote and use it.

No point in sitting on your arse ringing up Joe Duffy to complain if you don't use your vote, your constitutional right.

Tiddlers

But being on the register isn't the same as casting a vote.

PeterIanStaker

Tiddlers wrote: »

But being on the register isn't the same as casting a vote.

I know that, but if people automatically went on it, it would streamline the process somewhat, or so you'd hope, and support people more in exercising their democratic right. My 2c anyway.