Mandatory Voting

[ECA]

How would people feel about mandatory voting if it was introduced?
With say a £20 fine if you don't vote. ( or a ban on buying buckfast or irn-bru for 6 months if you're scottish ).

Coupled with a bank holiday on election days ( to be held on fridays ) for a long weekend.


Australia and Belgium both have enforced mandatory voting and it seems to be fairly popular ( 70-80% approval in aus ).

Tea, crumpets and barbeques on voting day for all?

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I think it could only work on a bank holiday, and one would have to be created for that purpose.Only I can't see that happening, because of the different times of years that votes can be held.

Also, if a system were to be implemented, the ease of voting should be increased. It's currently too hard for some people to vote or be given the information on how to vote.

If voting were to be made mandatory, then the politcal parties, existing MPs and voting system would need to be explicitly available and pushed into everyone's faces, otherwise you end up with lots of clueless people angry about being forced into vote spoiling papers for no reason other than frustration. The problem with this is it would cost a hell of a lot more money for the government and political parties.

If you're going to force people to vote you need to hold their hand through the process a little.

 

[tris-]

I would of voted but for some reason I am not registered and didnt recieve my voting cards.

 

[Ch3tan]

It is scary how many poeple I met in the gym today who did not know they had the cahnce to vote today.

I would say that mandatory voting is a last resort, to be used after everything else has been tried. Voting should be mentioned on TV, Radio, in schools, at work places. With the media they need to glamorise voting and get it mentioned on shows people watch, not party broadcasts or late night debates that only people already intending to vote will watch.

 

[Mey]

Forced Democracy LOL!?

 

[ECA]

The POV is that voting is a responsibility as well as a right, given how hard we've fought ( not just women ) but for those who died in wars defending our country so we have the opportunity to vote.

People who dont vote make me angry

 

[Wij]

Fuck that. I'll vote when I want like a free man

 

[Dukat]

I think the ability to decide we don't want to vote, for whatever reason, is important.

eg. what Wij said.

I think that side of things is a more fundamental part of what "we" have fought for than the vote itself, its a basic freedom. Do you really think "we" have "died in wars defending out country" just so we can turn around and start forcing people to do things?? Part of what was fought for was the freedom choose, not the fallacy of choice represented by certain voting systems.

 

[ramathorn]

i didnt vote because there is not one politician in this shit hole (northern ireland) that i believe in, if there had been mandatory voting i still wouldnt have voted and my 20 quid would go towards an MP's mortgage payment.

 

[Zenith.UK]

I think you'll find that there is a final option of "None of the above" in some countries.

If compulsory voting was brought in for the UK, I'd personally want the "None of the above" option available. I wouldn't necessarily USE it, but at least the option would be there.

 

[cHodAX]

Come the relvolution I shall line all you freedom loving hippy bastards up against the way and shoot you with my man cannon!

 

[Sparx]

The POV is that voting is a responsibility as well as a right, given how hard we've fought ( not just women ) but for those who died in wars defending our country so we have the opportunity to vote.

People who dont vote make me angry

I didnt vote. But i served my country in other ways, ok i didnt die luckily


It doesnt matter who you vote for, us plebians will still be shat on while the rich get richer

 

[dysfunction]

Also, if a system were to be implemented, the ease of voting should be increased. It's currently too hard for some people to vote or be given the information on how to vote.

Um What is so hard about voting? Its one of the easiest most convenient things around. There is usually a polling station a stones throw away from where you live or you can do a postal vote...how hard is that??

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

It is scary how many poeple I met in the gym today who did not know they had the cahnce to vote today.

the beautiful people do not need to vote..................

fucking gym, the only Jim i know lives 2 doors up from me, plus its obvious the gym makes spelling skills unleet

 

[Jaberwocky]

People want all the advantages of a democratic system with none of the responsibility.

Perhaps if we removed peoples automatic right to vote and replaced it with a system where they have to earn the right to vote we might see more of an interest.


To paraphrase on conversation I had yesterday.

Random acquaintance: The counties in a right state
Me: Did you vote?
Random acquaintance: No.
Me: Then shut the fuck up!!

 

[Sparx]

People want all the advantages of a democratic system with none of the responsibility.

Perhaps if we removed peoples automatic right to vote and replaced it with a system where they have to earn the right to vote we might see more of an interest.


To paraphrase on conversation I had yesterday.

Random acquaintance: The counties in a right state
Me: Did you vote?
Random acquaintance: No.
Me: Then shut the fuck up!!

So making it even harder to vote will suddenly make people who cant be arsed want to take more interest?

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

people are lazy fucks who cba gonig to the polling station, IF the id cards come in there will be lots of voting stationss all over the place and they would know where you live and therefore who the candidates are, sounds too simples doesnt it, but all the best ideas are.

ill let duckman tell you all about it

YouTube - Duckman (best) rant

 

[DaGaffer]

Replace the House of Lords with a members of the public chosen for 3 year terms by lottery; with a salary and proper expenses and a guarantee your old job will be available at the end of the term. If we have to live in the world created by Endemol, let it do some good.

 

[rynnor]

Replace the House of Lords with a members of the public chosen for 3 year terms by lottery; with a salary and proper expenses and a guarantee your old job will be available at the end of the term. If we have to live in the world created by Endemol, let it do some good.

Sounds good to me?

 

[Jaberwocky]

So making it even harder to vote will suddenly make people who cant be arsed want to take more interest?

Currently it seems that nearly the majority of the electorate simply can't be bothered to vote, remove their automatic right and perhaps it might suddenly have some value.
Throw in a set amount of time of community service as the qualifier, or perhaps restrict access to the nhs, local and council services and the benefit system to voters only.

 

[tris-]

Surely having freedom to vote for who you want will also coem with the freedom to choose not to vote?

 

[Zenith.UK]

Starship Troopers has some merit to their fascist democracy...
"Service Guarantees Citizenship"

You can't vote, have children or engage in politics unless you're a fully enfranchised citizen. The simplest way to become a citizen is to serve in the military. Ofc in the film, the military life is a perilous one.

YouTube - Starship Troopers - I'm Doing My Part

 

[Dukat]

Currently it seems that nearly the majority of the electorate simply can't be bothered to vote, remove their automatic right and perhaps it might suddenly have some value.
Throw in a set amount of time of community service as the qualifier, or perhaps restrict access to the nhs, local and council services and the benefit system to voters only.

uke:

 

[Bugz]

Labour have lost a lot of seats

 

[Bugz]

Currently it seems that nearly the majority of the electorate simply can't be bothered to vote, remove their automatic right and perhaps it might suddenly have some value.
Throw in a set amount of time of community service as the qualifier, or perhaps restrict access to the nhs, local and council services and the benefit system to voters only.

That was the most idiotic thing I've read all day.

 

[rynnor]

If people arent voting you need to reform the system - mandatory voting would just prop up the failed system.

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

when are the results out for the elections, stupid euro sites full of bollox i can't understand

 

[ECA]

Council election results will be coming out today, european results on sunday.

 

[Jaberwocky]

That was the most idiotic thing I've read all day.

The most idiotic thing I've read all day was a UKIP promotional leaflet, but by all means throw you're own ideas into the mix.

Council election results will be coming out today, european results on sunday.

I felt a wave of sadness when I saw at the top of the voting slip a nice large box for the BNP.

 

[Ctuchik]

How would people feel about mandatory voting if it was introduced?
With say a £20 fine if you don't vote. ( or a ban on buying buckfast or irn-bru for 6 months if you're scottish ).

Coupled with a bank holiday on election days ( to be held on fridays ) for a long weekend.


Australia and Belgium both have enforced mandatory voting and it seems to be fairly popular ( 70-80% approval in aus ).

Tea, crumpets and barbeques on voting day for all?

mandatory voting isnt that democratic tho is it?

but if it came to that i'd rather pay the fine then vote for something that really isnt that much better then the other, its gonna end up being shit no matter who wins