Compulsory Voting Essay

Compulsory Voting

In many national elections, only a fraction of eligible voters actually cast ballots. For local elections, the voter turnout is often even smaller. To prevent this state of affairs, some countries, such as Australia, making voting compulsory for all adults. Even though the government believes this is going to solve this issue, there are many drawbacks to this approach. Compulsory voting is unconstitutional, some citizens are put in an uncomfortable situation, and the results of the elections can be dangerously skewed.

Although voting is a right, it should not be an obligation. Within the United States Constitution lies the right for all US citizens to vote for representatives in their government. Nowhere in this Constitution does it state that each person is obligated to vote. People should not be forced to cast a ballot if they decide to not participate. People usually have justified reasoning behind their choice not to vote. They might not approve of either candidate running for a certain position, they might not be interested in the election, or they may simply not be educated enough on the candidates to make a decision. Whichever the reason may be, civilians posses the freedom and alternative to not vote. If someone votes without being educated on the candidates, the government is not really receiving a true representation of what their people want. The government should not be authorized to enforce compulsory voting, on basis that this act is unconstitutional.

Enforcing compulsory voting could also put some people in danger. With all the extra votes that are needed to be casted, this gives the extremists of certain parties a better opportunity to influence society. Such organizations could intimidate the public in order to make them vote for who they want. By doing this, the government shifts from being controlled by the people to the hands of delinquent groups. This could lead to corrupt candidates affiliating with...