Desperate times demand desperate measures.
Desperation: Obama Surrogate Calls to Make Voting Mandatory
Desperation: Obama Surrogate Calls to Make Voting Mandatory
You WILL vote
- Thread starter LDB
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tryhours3191
Seasoned Expediter
Shirt should say "Vote or you will have to get a job.
Sent from my DROID RAZR
Sent from my DROID RAZR
Compulsory voting is not a new idea. The original 1777 constitution of the State of Georgia included compulsory voting and a fine of 5 pounds for not voting. 23 countries have compulsory voting, but only 10 enforce it. In Australia the fine is $20 if you fail to show up at the polling place on election day (you don't have to actually vote, but you have to show up).
Mandatory voting is not likely to ever happen in the US, for a couple of reasons. Mandatory voting does tend to benefit the liberal parties by 2-3 percentage points, which is why Democrats want it. But even at that, historically US citizens oppose it by 72 percent (a 2004 poll, a 1964 poll, and a 1939 poll all showed the 72 percent number against compulsory voting, so it's been amazingly consistent despite the waving winds of political change). So, one big reason is Americans view voting as a right, not a duty, and it's a position that's been rock solid for a long time, and one that isn't likely to change because of some political will of the left.
The other big reason is that it will be challenged, almost certainly successfully, as an infringement of Freedom of Speech. The freedom to speak necessarily includes the freedom not to speak, and compulsory voting is an act of "compelled speech". The Supreme Court has ruled many times against compelled speech ("There is certainly some difference between compelled speech and compelled silence, but in the context of protected speech, the difference is without constitutional significance, for the First Amendment guarantees “freedom of speech,” a term necessarily comprising the decision of both what to say and what not to say." - 487 U.S. 781, 796-97 (1988)).
About the only type of compelled speech that is allowed is in the context of commercial speech, where advertisers must state factual information about their products.
Mandatory voting is not likely to ever happen in the US, for a couple of reasons. Mandatory voting does tend to benefit the liberal parties by 2-3 percentage points, which is why Democrats want it. But even at that, historically US citizens oppose it by 72 percent (a 2004 poll, a 1964 poll, and a 1939 poll all showed the 72 percent number against compulsory voting, so it's been amazingly consistent despite the waving winds of political change). So, one big reason is Americans view voting as a right, not a duty, and it's a position that's been rock solid for a long time, and one that isn't likely to change because of some political will of the left.
The other big reason is that it will be challenged, almost certainly successfully, as an infringement of Freedom of Speech. The freedom to speak necessarily includes the freedom not to speak, and compulsory voting is an act of "compelled speech". The Supreme Court has ruled many times against compelled speech ("There is certainly some difference between compelled speech and compelled silence, but in the context of protected speech, the difference is without constitutional significance, for the First Amendment guarantees “freedom of speech,” a term necessarily comprising the decision of both what to say and what not to say." - 487 U.S. 781, 796-97 (1988)).
About the only type of compelled speech that is allowed is in the context of commercial speech, where advertisers must state factual information about their products.