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Revision as of 05:31, 15 April 2005
Compulsory voting is a practice that requires citizens to vote in elections. If an eligible voter does not attend a polling place, they may be subject to punitive measures such as expiation or even imprisonment.
Arguments in favour of compulsory voting
There are a number of reasons why countries decide to make voting mandatory.
The most important is that compulsory voting ensures that the government does indeed represent the will of the whole population, not merely the sections of the population that decide to express their opinions. This ensures that governments cannot neglect sections of society that are less politically active.
It is also argued that voting is a "civic duty" in the same way that paying taxes is - it is important for the continued functioning of the nation. People have to pay taxes for the good of society, and people should have to vote for the same reason.
The increased voter turnout reduces the cost of campaigning, therefore reducing the influence of those who donate money to political parties.
Declining voter turnout in much of the western world has led to an increasing interest in compulsory voting to overcome the apathy of the electorate. Apathy presents a real danger to democracy, and governmental instability may result. It has been said that the Holocaust happened because of the apathy of the international community. This, albeit an extreme comparison, shows how inactivity can lead to tragedy.
In Australia, the initial reasons for instituting compulsory voting were because of the immense loses suffered during World War I. Since 60,000 Australians had died in the First World War (per capita, the highest of any nation) defending freedom, it was argued that Australians had a duty to use the freedoms so dearly bought. Voter turnout has not dropped below 94% since the general election in 1955 (when it was about 88%).
Arguments against compulsory voting
Most countries do not have compulsory voting laws, and there are many people who object to them.
Some individuals resent the idea of being "forced" to vote, particularly if they have no interest in politics or have no knowledge of the individual candidates. Others may be well-informed, but do not have a true preference for any particular candidate. According to some commentators, such apathetic voters may vote at random simply to fulfill their obligation, with results not significantly different from the outcome under a voluntary (non-compulsory) system.
Libertarians and others often argue that compulsory voting is a violation of personal liberties, and that individuals should be free to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to vote. Some groups insist that low voter participation in a voluntary election shows widespread dissatisfaction with the political establishment in a country, a message that cannot be accurately conveyed when all citizens are required to cast a ballot.
Recently, political commentators have suggested that compulsory voting may skew the focus of a campaign towards swing voters, with candidates and political parties trying to win the votes of the undecided, rather than motivating their "base" supporters to the polls.
Countries with compulsory voting
Countries that have some form of compulsory voting:
- Argentina
- Australia (see the Australian electoral system)
- Belgium (see the Belgian electoral system)
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Cyprus
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Fiji
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Lebanon (compulsory for men only)
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Panama
- Philippines
- Peru
- Singapore
- Some parts of Switzerland
- Turkey
- Uruguay
Countries that have ended compulsory voting:
In New Zealand (Aotearoa) eligible voters are required to register, but voting itself is voluntary.
Although voting in a country may be compulsory, penalties for failing to vote are not always strictly enforced. Sometimes this lack of enforcement is due to insufficient resources, as is the case in Argentina. In Australia, providing a legitimate reason for not voting may prevent the levying of a fine. If a non-voter is sanctioned with a fine, the amount is often small.
Penalties for failing to vote are not limited to fines and legal sanctions. Belgian voters who repeatedly fail to vote in elections may subject to disenfranchising. Goods and services provided by public offices may be denied to those failing to vote in Peru and Greece. If a Bolivian voter fails to participate in an election, the citizen may be denied their salary for three months.
Compulsory voting in non-democracies
Compulsory voting is common in states that try to create the illusion of democracy while not actually being representative. Nations like Saddam Hussein's Iraq or the communist regimes of Eastern Europe, during the Cold War Era, would hold elections and plebiscites and mandate voting by the populace. These states would normally advertise near 100% turnout in these elections.
See also
External links
Administration and Cost of Elections Project paper on compulsory voting considerations
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance - Compulsory Voting information
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