Cumpulsory voting in Americas

Quote: terapined

Does it work?

What kind of question is this? What is your definition of "work"?

Get people to the polls under the threat of financial hardship and imprisonment?

What's next? Demand I exercise my freedom of religion? Demand gun ownership?

GMAFB. The only reason for conceiving of such a law is as a power play. What said play is, I dunno, and I don't care. I'm not playing their games.

I don't vote. Never have, and I unfortunately don't see that changing anytime soon. "For the People" ended sometime in the 1800's. "For the Union" ended after WWII. Now it's nothing but career politicians and special interests grabbing all they can for their personal benefit at the expense of the common citizen. I'll not be a party to justifying their actions through use of forced participation.

Its a great tool for Australian immigration agents to question those trying to re-enter Australia on a Gap Year Visa. Many such immigrants don't know that voting is mandatory and don't have prepared answers for some questions concerning their utterly imaginary prior trip.

It is a law that is enforced.

Quote: Fleastiff

It is a law that is enforced.

It's a country with half the population
of Calif. It's a blip on the map.

Quote: Pacomartin

Did everyone know that cumpulsory voting was a law in many countries?

Thank god we don't have that here! We've got too many LIVs voting as it is.

LIVs?

I would think that most people know many countries make it a requirement to attend the polls on election day though I doubt its an issue of major concern.

Quote: Fleastiff

LIVs

Low Information Voters.

I'm still not convinced it requires a constitutional amendment, but I don't think any politician is going to propose a bill.

Quote:

Australia undertook in the mid-1980s significant economic reforms – faith in markets, deregulation, a reduced role for government, low protection and the creation of a new cooperative enterprise culture

Compulsory voting supposedly favors something or other. I don't think so.

However, I don't really care about the issue as a cause worth doing something about.

Quote: Pacomartin

Low Information Voters.

Washington knew enough to buy elections with alcohol but in those days a gallon of whiskey went for sixty cents. LIVs seem to be the only Vs there are.

Quote: Pacomartin

Low Information Voters.

I'm still not convinced it requires a constitutional amendment, but I don't think any politician is going to propose a bill.

I thought we were talking about this because Obama floated the idea earlier this week.

Quote: Evenbob

It's a country with half the population
of Calif. It's a blip on the map.

Australia is about the size of the continental USA. If population is the criteria than by your reasoning the US is a blip on on the map compared to China.