• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • WORLD DEMOCRACY
  • POLITICAL ART
  • more
    • election technology
    • money politics
    • political dissidents
    • THIRD PARTY
      • third party central
      • green party
      • justice party
      • libertarian party
    • voting methods
  • DC INFO
    • author central
    • about
    • advertise with DC
    • contact
    • privacy policy

Democracy Chronicles

On Compulsory Voting: A Roadmap to Political Legitimacy

By Abbie Hallinan - March 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

FacebookTweetLinkedInPin

On Compulsory Voting

The freedom to vote is largely boasted within America yet induces results inconsistent with that of a transparent democracy.

Voting is a fundamental, but forsaken civil liberty. It is a privilege, a responsibility and a basic human right. It grants us the opportunity to voice and exercise our entitlements as citizens of a democracy. The power to transform the nation rests in our hands, yet it is no longer grasped with the sense of eagerness that it once was.

Women faced abuse and criminalisation to be able to vote. African Americans faced murder and violence. Indigenous Australians faced hostility and ridicule. Minority groups across the globe risked their lives for universal suffrage. But after such a long, strenuous battle, so many citizens of America have become inactive and idle in their responses to elections. Should the existing freedom to vote consequently become a mandatory obligation nation-wide?

This is largely dependent on your concept of the political legitimacy of a government. Australia, for example, is one of the few democratic governments in the world legally enforcing the voting of all citizens. The law – active since 1912 – has resulted in Australia having one of the most politically engaged societies in the world. Perhaps this is a repercussion of consequential fines for the politically disengaged; however, would a $20 fine really coerce you into voting once every few years? I would be inclined to think not.

On Compulsory VotingAmerica, on the other hand, prides itself and operates on a free choice mentality. To the surprise of many Americans, in the last national election in 2012, voting participation in America ranked 31st out of 34 other largely developed, democratic societies. This seems like a pitiful effort for a nation constructed upon a ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’. If only 54% of the entire American population are deciding on the president, can America justifiably claim it operates within a democratic political system? Is the government truly ‘by the people’ and ‘for the people’?

You would think a government claiming to represent ‘the people’ would unequivocally aspire to include the opinions, values and needs of every citizen, despite differing socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and genders. But with majority of votes coming from individuals with higher education degrees and household earnings over $150,000, the intentions of the government have indeed become questionable. With the highly educated and wealthy determining majority of the votes, the voices of the disadvantaged and uneducated are silenced.

America’s dignified personal freedom to vote remains inherently intact, but the ‘choice’ to vote that is simultaneously taken away from the poor is unheard of. The polling location ‘downtown’ in Lafayette, Louisiana, for example, was shut down due to economical cuts and moved to the more central, wealthy side of town. With polling locations out of reach for low socioeconomic and minority communities, voices of American citizens are silenced. The consequences of these ‘economic cuts’ are stipulating greater divides between the poor and the privileged and giving preference to the opinions and needs of citizens living ‘The American Dream’.

Whilst this is undoubtedly beneficial for middle and upper class populations, does it not imply a specific intention of the government?  When will the voices of the working class be heard? Or will politicians with large sums of money repeatedly silence them with payouts?  The freedom to vote heightens the manipulation of disadvantaged peoples by bribing them with money and feeding on their weaknesses. Silencing those who restrain the wealthy is becoming a growing threat within America, and optional voting is certainly not contributing to the resolution of this issue. The supposed ‘American Dream’ that has for decades been sought after by the thousands, is beginning to look rather inconceivable.

Compulsory voting has the capacity to develop a broad and egalitarian approach to society. So, would it improve our quality of life? Well, Australia manages to maintain a relatively equal spread of wealth and income, with free health care being provided for citizens. Brazil, one of several other countries enforcing compulsory voting, has managed to acquire free higher education.

Has America become too preoccupied with its nationalism, statehood and the benefits of freedoms to recognise the consequences it may entail? Has America become too similar to that of a dictatorship that it no longer has the option of converting to an egalitarian lifestyle? With its current dire state, this could possibly be the case.

Striving for equality and individual freedoms are largely shared values of every democracy worldwide. Nonetheless, as a citizen of a nation, you become part of the collective. You are a collective individual. When do you draw a boundary between your individual freedom, and the benefits for the larger society as a whole? Or has that become non-existent?

Every nation has their weaknesses, downfalls, and strengths; however, there comes a point when the strengths of a nation can no longer supersede the voices of citizens, whether they be privileged or deprived.

After all, American stands for ‘liberty and justice for all’.

On Compulsory Voting

LINKS:

http://www.aec.gov.au/voting/Compulsory_Voting.htm

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/05/06/u-s-voter-turnout-trails-most-developed-countries/

https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p20-577.pdf

FacebookTweetLinkedInPin

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Australia, Compulsory Voting, Minority Voting Rights, Voter Access, Voter Registration

About Abbie Hallinan

Abbie Hallinan writes for the Democracy Chronicles from Melbourne, Australia. Having lived in Australia, America and New Zealand, she has developed a broad perspective on international relations and politics. She is currently at the University of Melbourne studying a Bachelor of Arts (Politics & International Relations and Anthropology) and a Diploma of Languages (French).

Some highlighted Democracy Chronicles topics

Africa American Corruption American Local Elections American State Elections Asia Capitalism and Big Business Celebrity Politics China Democracy Charity Democracy Protests Democrats Dictatorships Education Election History Election Methods Election Security Election Transparency Europe Internet and Democracy Journalism and Free Speech Middle East Minority Voting Rights Money Politics New York City and State Elections Political Artwork Political Dissidents Political Lobbying Redistricting Republicans Russia Socialism and Labor Social Media and Democracy South America Spying and Privacy Supreme Court Third Party Voter Access Voter ID Voter Registration Voter Suppression Voter Turnout Voting Technology Women Voting Rights Worldwide Worldwide Corruption

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Home | DC AUTHORS | On Compulsory Voting: A Roadmap to Political Legitimacy

Primary Sidebar

Advertise button

There Are Two Competing Narratives About The 2020 Election

By Steve Schneider March 7, 2021

Unless all of our presidential elections have been rigged to varying degrees, narratives of rigged and stable elections are false.

There Won’t be Another Chance to Hold Biden’s Feet to the Fire

By Jack Jones March 4, 2021

If we want to live in a somewhat decent country we must start to hold our president’s feet to the fire. We just can’t go along and complain.

democracy chronicles newsletter

DC AUTHORS

Podcast: Anne Applebaum On Why Democracy Is Not Inevitable

By Jenna Spinelle March 4, 2021

Journalist, author, and historian Anne Applebaum says that democracy is not like running water — something that we know will always be there.

On the Attitudes of Our Leaders

By Jack Jones February 22, 2021

Donald Trump Jr. standing in front of a wall of handguns with scopes is a clear threat that should not be tolerated.

Cruz Flies to Mexico While Abbott Spreads False Information

By Steve Schneider February 19, 2021

Where were Texas leaders when an Arctic chill spread across Texas, depriving power to millions? Senator Ted Cruz got on a plane for Mexico.

I made it to 77

By Julio César Guerrero February 14, 2021

We learned a lot from him. Perhaps the best lesson was that while there is life there is hope. Constantino Coronel inspires new generations of activists.

Parkland School Shooting Widow Speaks About Rep. Greene

By Steve Schneider February 13, 2021

Sunday is the 3rd anniversary of the Parkland school shooting. Debbi Hixon who lost her husband Chris in the shooting speaks about Rep. Greene.

Trickling Down to Right-Wing Fascism

By Jack Jones February 9, 2021

The Rich and greedy have always wanted more and they won’t stop. That’s why they hate it when we regulate anything for the good of the country.

Court Rules Therapists Have Right to Offer Conversion Therapy

By Steve Schneider February 3, 2021

A three-judge federal panel recently green-lighted a controversial form of treatment for minors despite opposition.

MORE FROM OUR AUTHORS

VISIT OUR POLITICAL ART SECTION:

dc political art

DEMOCRACY CULTURE

Artists Unite to Support Human Rights Watch

Artists Unite to Support Human Rights Watch

March 6, 2021

Today, a collective of contemporary artists whose works address contemporary issues announced an auction to support Human Rights Watch.

LeBron James Promotes Voting Rights at the N.B.A. All-Star Game

LeBron James Promotes Voting Rights at the N.B.A. All-Star Game

March 5, 2021

During this weekend’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, the NBA is partnering with an organization formed by LeBron James to vitalize voting rights.

Rapper Common To Produce Biopic On Voting Activist Fannie Lou Hamer

Rapper Common To Produce Biopic On Voting Activist Fannie Lou Hamer

March 1, 2021

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, who is known by his stage name Common is set to produce a biopic on civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer.

Study: Nature’s Power To Awe Might Reduce Political Polarization

Study: Nature’s Power To Awe Might Reduce Political Polarization

February 28, 2021

According to new findings in psychology, by using nature’s scenes to induce a sense of awe we can reduce political polarization.

Formula 1's Lewis Hamilton Stand for Saudi Rights

Will Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton Stand for Saudi Rights?

February 27, 2021

Lewis Hamilton asked to reconsider participation in the upcoming race being hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2021.

MORE CULTURE

VISIT OUR US DEMOCRACY SECTION:

American Democracy