Compulsory voting essay

Compulsory voting essay

And the last question was why they do not want or why they want compulsory voting. Countries compulsory voting essay compulsory voting A. Compulsory Voting. It can reduce interest in local elections. The majority of people go to elections.

Popular Topics

In practice, it is assumed that democracies have ways of ensuring that public policy always reflects the popular will. The incorporation of compulsory voting essay demands of the people is done through a number of approaches although the most inclusive one is through voting. However, elections only achieve the objective if the outcomes accurately reflect the larger populations views. Concerns also persist regarding the proportion of the population that participates in voting. Voter apathy can contribute to a scenario where only a small percentage of people take part in polls. As a result, the popular ill is not always reflected in voting outcomes. Owing to the realization, some scholars such as Birch have assessed the pros and cons of compulsory voting. The paper uses Birchs outline to argue for and against compulsory voting leading to the conclusion that it does compulsory voting essay achieve the objectives of legitimacy and representativeness because it undermines the freedom of choice.

Compulsory voting essay primary role of voting is to improve representativeness. Such is achievable compulsory voting essay on the idea that people will vote their preferred candidates into office. If the voting patterns are influenced by interested, the result is that the interests of people prevail at the elections. Given that the poll participation ratios have been on the decline, compulsory voting essay, forcing every adult to vote would ensure that the voice of the people is heard. In other words, the representation levels of people would rise based on a decision to introduce compulsory voting. Legitimacy reflects that leaders of a country have the support of the masses to lead. Unlike in a case where only fifty percent of the population participate, in instances where the participation level is hundred percent, because of compulsory voting, leadership can claim legitimacy.

In essence, legitimacy is gained from people. The smaller the number of people, that takes part in an election, the higher the chances of disputed compulsory voting essay, and vice versa. Thus, the introduction of compulsory voting would lead to the increase in legitimacy given that leadership that is elected is content that it reflects the popular will. In addition, the citizenry ill also feel obliged to support the government based on the perception that they elected it into office. The issue of legitimacy is also linked to a developing culture in many countries.

Individuals are influenced by their parents or elderly people. If one comes from a family that rarely participates in election, such persons are less likely to vote. Thus, non-participation is viewed as a culture that is passed from one generation to another. In order to address the problem, introducing compulsory voting would be ideal. This will add to the legitimacy of governments owing to the compulsory voting essay of full participation. The population will become more engaged politically. Presently, voters do not see political leaders as responsive to their needs.

Although the allegation is debatable, it seems true in many instances, compulsory voting essay. Often, politicians compulsory voting essay no incentives to address the needs of common citizens. Such creates a cycle of dissatisfaction which compulsory voting essay underrepresentation that might only be broken by the adoption of radical methods, compulsory voting essay. In this regard, a form of compulsion is required. The adoption of compulsory voting is likely to lead to a truly representative government. From the introduction, it was highlighted that one of the objectives of a democratic form of government is to enhance citizen involvement in public affairs.

Given that public disinterest in political processes is on the rise, a method needs to be found to reverse the trend. In this regard, compulsory voting essay, pushing adult citizens to take part in elections would be a timely idea that is likely to an increase the representativeness of government. In a nutshell, compulsory voting essay, the elected government will be reflective of the composition of the population. One of the perceptions held by Birch is that when citizens are required to vote they will take the exercise more seriously. Without any doubt, people will become more seriously. However, individuals who are already apolitical are likely to become more antagonized against politics. Thus, compulsory voting essay, it is hypothesized that compulsory voting would not be the appropriate step.

The essence of voting is to influence policy-making. In other words, compulsory voting essay, there is a danger of having uneducated persons influencing public policy yet they doo not understand the ramifications of their decisions. In such a case, elections would cease to serve their primary purpose which is to find individuals who are best suited to solve a societys problems. In brief, uneducated voting which is likely to result from compulsory voting would not have served the representative function. One of the arguments in support of compulsory voting was to enhance legitimacy. However, legitimacy must be gained based on free will. Under a system that forces people to vote, the freedom to choose would be impeded. In other words, if people are not free to decide on voting, results will not reflect choices.

Transforming voting from a free exercise to a mandatory one equates to the creation of obligations. In such a scenario, loss of interest and emergence of disillusionment would follow. Instead of forcing citizens to vote, exploring other mechanisms would be preferable. Such approaches should lobby people to see the value of participation. Going further, the use of incentives to encourage voting should be explored to mitigate the problem associated with voter apathy. An attempt to force citizens to vote will generate disillusionment and disinterest. Voting suffers loss of meaning. Election outcomes are as important as the process itself. If the process is compulsory voting essay, the outcome compulsory voting essay also questionable.

The position is that, introducing compulsory voting creates an impression that the process is punitive because it denies citizens the free will to make decisions, compulsory voting essay. Fundamentally, people have rights. One of the rights is the right to choose whether to vote, or not to vote. In this regard, any attempt to introduce compulsory voting would be against a fundamental human right that borders on the freedom of choice. Essentially, instituting compulsory voting old negate a citizens right to decide. The move will lead to a scenario where people vote as a formality owing to its obligatory nature. It is also noted that voting should be a choice itself. Removing such a choice would undermine the very attribute that the move intends to foster, compulsory voting essay.

Voter apathy is on the rise globally. In order to redress the situation, some countries have adopted compulsory voting. Other countries such as the Compulsory voting essay have debated the merits and demerits of adopting such a system. Those who support compulsory voting cite legitimacy and representativeness as reasons for supporting the change. However, compulsory voting essay, opponents of the system also cite the same as justification for rejecting the system. Although compulsory voting would increase the number compulsory voting essay individuals who vote, the system might not achieve the legitimacy and representativeness objectives given that the system would have undermined the freedom to exercise free will.

Finally, it is held that increased voter turnout is not a sufficient reason for the introduction of compulsory voting. Then be quick! Be smiling! Feb 5, in Politics. Type of assignment. Writer level. Number of pages. Total price:, compulsory voting essay. You may also be interested in our article Marketing Plan Assignment Help from the Reputed Professionals. FedEx Corporation. Time Traps: Proven Strategies for Swamped Salespeople. Related Immigration Reform Counterinsurgency and the Human Terrain in Afghanistan Confederation and Constitution The Role of Media Should Canada Abolish the Senate? Why or Why not?

We have a hot deal for you! Place an order.

essay patriotism

Engelen analyzed the data from in European Union and the result was very clearly readable. In , there were only two countries in EU using mandatory voting. Compulsory system of voting can solve the problem of political legitimacy. Political legitimacy is a very discussed issue currently, because voting turnouts are very small and some people claim that their political leaders are not legitimate. Arend Lijphart from University of California in San Diego uses as an example of non-legitimate leader presidency of Bill Clinton. Lijphart claims that the only way how to reach political legitimacy is to maximize the voting turnouts and it can only be reached by mandatory democracy.

Mandatory democracy can raise political interest among people. When people who are not interested in politics are forced to vote, some of them start to feel responsible for results of elections. They begin to watch political news, read journals and articles to have sufficient knowledge about politics in general and politicians, who they vote for or against. As Jake Keith and Guang-Zhen Sun describe in their article, when people are force to vote, it increases their interest about politics, so compulsory voting raises the value of individual votes Compulsory voting can achieve higher efficiency in politics, especially on local level.

As mandatory voting reaches higher voting turnout, more groups sensitive about specific topic are included in the voting. This fact can compel local politicians to care about small, but very important issues for some people. Such issues are for example public transportation, water supply, sanitation etc. Disadvantages of compulsory voting The most common argument against mandatory voting is individual freedom. Countries using compulsory voting force people to vote, but it can definitely be considered as a step against freedom of individuals.

Even Lijphart, who is known as a propagator of compulsory voting, argues that mandatory voting has a very strong disadvantage, which is individual freedom. In case of compulsory voting, individual freedom represents freedom not to vote, which is denied by mandatory voting. Annabelle Lever, professor of University of Geneva in Switzerland, points out that people are not always the best judges of specific fields; therefore, they may decide not to go to vote. If these people are forced to go to vote, it is against their freedom, but it is also illogical Freedom of speech, one of the most important principals of a modern democracy, includes also freedom not to speak. It means that we do not have to express our opinion if we do not want to.

However, mandatory voting is definitely against this principle, because it forces us to go to vote, to express our opinion. Therefore, compulsory voting could be, in my opinion, considered as non-democratic. If we look at the First Amendment of U. In my opinion, establishment of mandatory voting in U. would be unconstitutional. Compulsory voting is in a conflict with religious people. Some of religious people tend not to go to vote, because politics in general is in conflict with their belief. If these people are force to go to vote, it causes them self-dispute which of the rules should they follow; their belief or laws of a certain country. Elections can be influenced by people with lack of knowledge or interest about politics.

Mandatory voting forces people to go to vote, but some people simply do not care about politics. They do not feel influenced by politics or they do not have a need to vote, because one single vote is only small fraction of the whole count. But if these are forced to go to vote, they can influence the result very easily by using a recession method. Recession means that people, who do not care about the result that much, vote for a politician or a party, which usually differs from others. In Czech Republic, Vladimir Franz, the tattooed candidate for a president, and Czech Pirate Party, the party supporting illegal downloading, they take an advantage of recession even though the voting is not mandatory in Czech Republic. If it was mandatory, these candidates would have much more votes.

Lijphart uses an example of Australia, one of the strictest punishers of non-voters, to support this claim. In Belgium, only about 0. Personal survey. I have made a little personal survey and its results support my thesis. It makes it easier for citizens to cast their ballots. Advocates for mandatory voting typically use Australia as a model. There, voting is made easy. Voters complete their voter registration online, voters vote on a certain Saturday, and they can go to any voting station in their area to vote. In Australia, the experience is a community event and part of the culture. By comparison, anyone who has tried to vote in the United States knows there can be confusion about getting registered, when to vote, and where to vote.

Making voting mandatory would shift the burden from the individual in figuring out how to get it done, to the state in making it easy and accessible. Right now, in the USA, it is a civic duty, but generally not a celebratory experience. It makes voter suppression less of an issue. In the American Presidential election, the Republican Party took a number of actions in the name of ensuring integrity to the voting process and reducing or eliminating fraudulent voting. The Democratic Party interpreted these actions as voter suppression tactics. If voting were clear and easy, as it is in Australia under its mandatory voting system, the question of fraud would be much less of an issue.

That would reduce the need to take actions to ensure integrity which others see as voter suppression. It combats the influence and power of the uber wealthy in politics. In a speech given in March , Barack Obama expressed support for mandatory voting because he said that it would bring in the voice of people who tend to vote less. These people are generally young, lower income, and skewed more heavily toward immigrant groups and minorities. With these currently underrepresented segments of society voting, the money spent by powerful lobbyists and rich donors would have less impact on election results.

It contributes to the stability of democracy. A fundamental benefit of mandatory voting is that it supports democracy, which exists through and by participation from the people. The less people vote, the less decisions made by government will be seen as legitimate and representative of the desires of the people it governs. It eliminates the concept of having freedom. The biggest compulsory voting con is perhaps that it eliminates the concept of having the freedom whether or not to cast your vote. Voting is certainly a privilege. It is a vote that says the voter rejects all candidates, the structure of the government, or other personal reasons. The choice to not vote speaks of more freedom than the requirement to vote or pay a fine. It can reduce interest in local elections.

Many voters do educate themselves on core local issues to make informed votes when an election day rolls around. Compelling citizens to vote is not a guarantee that a voter will decide to be actively involved in an election. Voters could choose candidates randomly. They could purposely vote against certain proposals or candidates to be disruptive. For these people, the funds spent on issue awareness are basically wasted. It forces people to pay penalties for following their religious beliefs. An important compulsory voting con is the consideration of certain religious groups and their religious freedoms.

Moyo asserts that mandatory voting would increase political participation from minority groups. In Jamaica, the youth are more likely to experience voter apathy. By making voting mandatory, more youth would participate in the voting process Carter. This would result in a change in the type of political leaders that are elected which would be beneficial for addressing the concerns of the minority groups such as the youth Moyo. Therefore, mandatory voting would promote equal parliamentary representation for minority groups. Compulsory voting would force the people who want to vote to plan for it in advance and commit to it.

For the people that are not interested in voting, it would nudge them to develop an interest in observing politics which would increase the surveillance on political decisions. It would also help increase the minority representation in the voting process thus ensuring that their concerns are addressed. Works Cited Elliott, Kevin. Accessed June 14, Carter, Jediael.