# mandatory voting in USA (ed. title) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 7, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438 "2006-11-07T16:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/21 "2006-11-07T18:24:03Z")
Not voting is a right IMO. Why encourage people who don’t care and don’t follow the candidates to vote anyway. Screw 'em. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/22 "2006-11-07T18:36:58Z")
[http://www.nota.org/cbchttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2005/10/force-democracy-in-canada-part-2.htmlhttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2004/12/force-democracy-in-canada.html](http://www.nota.org/cbchttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2005/10/force-democracy-in-canada-part-2.htmlhttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2004/12/force-democracy-in-canada.html) The London Fog iCanadian enough,. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/23 "2006-11-07T18:49:26Z")
Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I can’t see that huge a divide between “Vote, or suffer the consequences,” and “Vote for Candidiate **X** , or suffer the consequences.” Once you’re forcing people to do something that they might be diametrically opposed to (like, say, lack of faith in either candidiate), why not just force them to vote for the “right” person? Like the person who is wielding the punishment system for non-voters? There’s a good Philip K. Dick story in here, somewhere … ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/24 "2006-11-07T18:59:50Z")
> [@](#): > > As our voting drops to 1 in 3 ,dont you think it is time to levy a fine against people who do not vote. No…I certainly don’t think its time for this at all. Want to get folks to vote? Then make it easier for them to vote, make it less of a hassle. Also, give them some better choices of what TO vote for. A lot of the time its a matter of holding one’s nose and voting for the lesser of two weevils. The various Dems and various luddites among us will freak, but figure out a way to allow us to vote electronically from home. Save the gas and hassle of going to a voting place and waiting in long lines by doing something similar to absentee voting but online. I really don’t see how mail in votes are all that much more secure than mailing out a one time encryption key to everyone (maybe combine it with some kind of key word, or the persons SS# or something for a two stage key) and having folks vote online. But nanditory voting? I HATE those little nanites personally, they get into everything and they will eventually make the whole world into grey sludge…! -XT ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/25 "2006-11-07T19:04:10Z")
[QUOTE=garygnu] Incentives would be more popular, like iPod raffles for voters. 😃 [/QUOTE] Let me share with you the dreck that is Arizona’s [Prop 200](http://www.azsos.gov/election/2006/Info/PubPamphlet/english/Prop200.htm): > [@](#): > > A. The people of Arizona declare our intent to create a reward system that will improve the public participation in Arizona state government by encouraging citizen participation in the political process, and particularly voting at elections. > > B. The intent of the Arizona Voter Reward Act is to increase voter turnout at the state primary and general elections. Only eligible voters who vote at an eligible election shall be eligible to participate. Only voters who consent to participate may receive a reward. The winner of the reward shall be determined by lot. > C. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, it shall be lawful for the Arizona Voter Reward Commission to offer the reward to electors as an inducement to vote. > > D. The Arizona Voter Reward is open to all Arizona qualified electors at no cost. A goddamn lottery for voters. I say let those who don’t care enough to vote without some sort of reward system stay home and let us make your decisions for you. That said, I headed to my polling station first thing this morning because I had this irrational fear that they would run out of stickers before I got there. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/26 "2006-11-07T19:11:23Z")
[http://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2004/12/force-democracy-in-canada.html](http://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2004/12/force-democracy-in-canada.html) I had 3 sources in there.They didnt come out. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/27 "2006-11-07T19:13:05Z")
[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060118/mandatory\_voting\_060118?s](http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060118/mandatory_voting_060118?s) \_name=election2006&no\_ads= It is under discussion. how loudly i dod not know. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/28 "2006-11-07T19:13:46Z")
[QUOTE=Giles] If you can’t vote on election day for religious reasons, then you can have a postal ballot – just like you do for other reasons. [/QUOTE] Some group would find a reason to bitch about it. It’s just easier to take the whole religious angle out of the equation altogether. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/29 "2006-11-07T19:14:42Z")
Wow xt noticed I typed n instead of m .Good job. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/30 "2006-11-07T19:17:17Z")
What’s all this fuss about nanditory voting? And you typed an “i” instead of an “a”, too. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/31 "2006-11-07T19:22:46Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] [http://www.nota.org/cbchttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2005/10/force-democracy-in-canada-part-2.htmlhttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2004/12/force-democracy-in-canada.html](http://www.nota.org/cbchttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2005/10/force-democracy-in-canada-part-2.htmlhttp://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2004/12/force-democracy-in-canada.html) The London Fog iCanadian enough,. [/QUOTE] Never heard of it, but once I made it through the snarl of links, I found it. So what is it? A blog I’d never heard of before written by a bunch of people who have no role to play in government. Still, it does offer the blogger’s opinion of one Canadian senator who wants mandatory voting. Given the time since the blog’s post in question (October, 2005), the fact that the Canadian senate is where very little gets done outside of what the Commons wants it to do, and the fact that this question is not currently burning up the editorial pages of legitimate Canadian news sources, I continue to stand by my belief that the debate is not on, and we are not considering it. And you NOTA cite quotes back to a CBC News story, again just before the last general election in January 2006, and again dealing with the think tank in the CTV story. Interestingly, this story is from CBC Manitoba–it was never national news. I might believe your argument that we are considering it and “the debate is on” if you cited from some reputable and respected news sources, _and_ that your cites occured within the last six months. Here are some places to start looking: – CBC National, CTV National, Global National (all TV networks) – The Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Toronto Star, the Montreal Gazette, the Vancouver Sun (all newspapers) – Canadian Press, Broadcast News (news services) But neither blogs nor websites of special-interest groups, especially those that spoke of the matter over ten months ago _at the time of our last election_, will convince me that it is currently being considered and discussed on a national scale. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/32 "2006-11-07T19:39:42Z")
I wish it was clearer that you don’t _have_ to vote on every race on the ballot. If you don’t recognize the names, skip that race and move on!! It bothers me to think of all the people who go in with one race in mind, then just pick randomly for the others because they think they have to choose one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/33 "2006-11-07T19:48:06Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Could you imagine what some Jewish groups would do if the government suggested we vote on Saturday? [/quote] There aren’t as many of them, and I just can’t imagine them getting as upset. Even the Orthodox would be able to vote after sundown. But maybe that’s just my take. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/34 "2006-11-07T19:52:07Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] There aren’t as many of them, and I just can’t imagine them getting as upset. Even the Orthodox would be able to vote after sundown. But maybe that’s just my take. [/QUOTE] You must live in upstate NY. 🙂 The fact is, anything that disadvantages a group, especially a religious group, is going to be made a stink over. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/35 "2006-11-07T20:20:24Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] What’s all this fuss about nanditory voting? And you typed an “i” instead of an “a”, too. [/QUOTE] I knew that too. that however was a mispelling. I almost wrote nispelling to give you something to do. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/36 "2006-11-07T20:35:10Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] I knew that too. that however was a mispelling. I almost wrote nispelling to give you something to do. [/QUOTE] “Mispelling” will suffice. \*Two esses. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/37 "2006-11-07T20:43:33Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Wow xt noticed I typed n instead of m .Good job. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry! I should have put in the standard disclaimer for you! Here you go: _For the humor impaired, this is a joke_ That clarify things for ya, gonzo? 😛 FTR, my own spelling is about as bad as it gets… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/38 "2006-11-07T20:55:30Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] You must live in upstate NY. 🙂 The fact is, anything that disadvantages a group, especially a religious group, is going to be made a stink over. [/QUOTE] Born in New York City, few years in Queens, lived on Long Island for most of the last 20 years. It’s just my interpretation, obviously. Australians do have Christians and Jews, however. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/39 "2006-11-07T21:14:43Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] In Australia so I read ,you are exempt from the voting rules if you are 500 miles away fronm the neatest poll. [/QUOTE] Anyone that far from a polling booth who wanted to vote could easily arrange a postal vote anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438/40 "2006-11-07T22:03:04Z")
For a second I thought it was a pun on the nanny state – i.e. nannytory voting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-voting-in-usa-ed-title/379438.md?page=3)