Compulsory Voting For Embassies And Balloting - Arguments For And Against

Arguments for Compulsory Voting

Discuss about the Compulsory Voting for Embassies and Balloting.

In Australia, it is necessary for all voters to vote this is according to an Electoral Act which states that it is the responsibility of the constituent is to show up at a polling center, have tomake sure that their names are ticked off the official list. Thenobtain a voting paper and move to aprivatepolling booth, vote and place it in the designated ballot box.It is likewise a crime in the Electoral Act to take out an election paper from a voting center. Aspolling is compulsory, constituents are allocatedvariousmanners to vote at balloting, comprising balloting through the mail, voting before the polls, far away polling. Alsocasting votes at Australian foreign embassies and balloting at portable centers at sanatoriums and other areas accessed by many people and in isolated places, alsoregular pollinga selected polling center in their constituency.The important point for mandatory balloting at national polling seemed to be when there was a decrease in turnout of electors from 71% in 1919 voting to fewer than 60% in1922.A bill was pushed through to alter the electoral act to ensure that voting was mandatory the effect was instant, the attendance at the 1925 voting rose to over 91%. Thus compulsory voting was introduced to increase the number of voters turning up (Lundell 2007, May).

The first positive of this institution is taking part in elections is a civic duty just as important as taxpaying. Thus it is necessary for all citizens to turn up to vote because it is law and will be breaking it if they go against. Also, they will be bad citizens as they will not have fulfilled their civic duty. Obligatory voting and registration tend to boost the validity of elected leaders. Aspirants who are successful in their bid for a place in parliament honestly do earn a bulk of the citizen’s votes. In nations like the United States in which voter turnout tends to be low, these aspirants who win do so by at times winning with much less than a greater part of the eligible vote (Louth and Hill 2005).

Some individuals emphasize that compulsory voting shall eventually assist and make it simpler for them to take part in an election. If a country lawfully requires its electorate to participate in elections, the encumbrance moves from the person to the government to make sure every Tom, Dick, and Harry possess the ways to be able to participate in polls. An instance of this change has been observed in Australia’s putting to use of portable voting centers in sanatoriums, homes for the elderly, penitentiaries and isolated Indigenous societies to make sure that those who will not be able to get to balloting centers have access to one comfortably (Jakee and Sun 2006).

Arguments Against Compulsory Voting

It also keeps the political parties on their toes since they will have to keep the people who voted them in happy hence they work harder to impress them. It also reduces the costs incurred by political parties to mobilize people to turn out to vote because it's already mandatory. Instead, they focus on convincing people to follow their party ideologies and vote them in. Then it also boosts how politically educated the citizens are because they will research on issues being mentioned by the political parties in campaigns so they can make the most informed decision (Dalton 2008).

Finally, it results insignificantly increased elector attendance numbers. Australia functions as a key illustration of this influence. Before Australia put into practice mandatory voting in 1924, 47% of the voters were only turning up for elections to vote in leaders. Once compulsory voting was put into practice, the number of voter turnout increased significantly, for now, most of the eligible voters do turnout and vote (Engelen 2007).

 It goes against people’s freedom of choice.A freekind of regimeis created on the foundationofregardingrudimentarypeople rights and freedoms, predominantlyfreedom of choosing. Conversely, it may be encroached upon if pollingbecomes obligatorysincecitizens would not have the libertyto make a decision and express themselves (Evans 2006).

It leads to a reduction in voting appeal. It mightpull away from the interest peoplewho do not see theappeal in part taking infosteringthe formation of a government for the populace to poll. Even though it mayforce the peoples to edify themselves, there is likewise the likelihood that individualsthat are genuinely not attractedshall be compelled to cast a ballot. Itmayforcepeople to vote foraspirantshaphazardly, defeating the reasonforvoting, that is to putthe rightfolks in office. All in all, polls and subsequently the fundsused for the elections will be wasted (Fowler 2013).

It may reduce people's liberty of worship and religion.It may take individuals right to articulateand practice their faith away. Some religious divisionsdissuade their followers from partaking in partisanproceedings. Hence, compelling them to take part in electionsclearlyinfringeson their right to observe their faith(Fischer 2011).

It is also not right to penalize persons who decline to participate in elections. It isintolerable and illegal to reprimandpeople who would choose not to vote. It would be a defilement of significant rights to chastise people who refuse to partaketheir liberty to suffrage. Also, casting your vote is a right, which has the meaning that peoplesmustbe allowedthe choice to make a decision whether or not to take part in. Moreover, givingfines and sentences to residents who lack to see the desirabilityin legislations should be illegal sincethey have brought no danger to anyone or break any legislation (Fischer 2011).

Recommendations

Itinspires unofficial votes, which is whereelection papers withoutofficialpatterns of pollinginstructionsmay be utilized to providefor theconsiderableamount of electors inall balloting. It finally raises the amount of money used by police officers and local authorities to implement laws. If casting your voteismandatory, the local authorities will be forced to penalizethe ones who have broken the law.Thus due to this massive amounts of money will be used to implement these penalties even if people pay fines, a lot of money is required to run the punishment centers(Evans 2006).

I would recommend that the government should carry out more research and investigations among all it citizens in all areas no matter how long it takes so that they may know what is affecting them and what can be done better to improve the experience while voting. Also, the governmentshould provide publiceducation classes so that they can avoid cases of uneducated electors who are lied to by politicians because they are uninformed hence when they vote they know what is happening and can vote correctly(Qvortrup 2006).

The government should also increase the number of voting centers, especially in remote areas so that it can be accessed by most citizens hence they can practice their civic duty and take part in elections with ease. People tend to break laws if they are not comfortable when doing the right thing. Another recommendation is that the government in conjunction with local authorities should educate the people on the penalties they receive when they do not partake in elections with good reason. When people are aware of these consequences, they may weigh their options on whether or not they participate and when they are fined, they will not claim ignorance (Loewen Milner and Hicks 2008).

Another improvement that can be made to this institution is that the government should hold a referendum on whether or not the mandatory voting should continue and if people are comfortable with it. Since all individuals will take part in this poll, the voices of all will be heard and addressedreasonably. They should also consider the ethical implication of mandatory voting, and how it affects the Australian citizens, people have a right to be free to make a choice on what they want to do so they should decide what important people's liberties or voter turnout (Birch 2013).

Another recommendation is that the penalties nad fines should be made harsher so that people cannot just opt to miss voting because they can afford to pay their fine hence it will be just zero work hence tougher and stricter ones should be formulated, so people are afraid of consequences. They should also ensure that there is integrity when registering voters before elections so that all citizensare represented and one recorded twice. It will increase the trust of people in the electoralcommission that their voting will count. They should also carry out studies to show the changes in voter turnout when the representation shows an increase it will encourage its citizens that this institution is functioning properly hence have trust in the working of compulsory voting(Quintelier Hooghe and Marien 2011).

 I would also suggest that the government utilize the social and other medias to pass on the information about compulsory voting and give knowledge to this institution. Hence by suing these platforms, they will ensure that they reach more people in the country with ease. Finally, I would just say that this institution is functioning well given some opposition it was facing, and they have achieved their objectives that were set (Qvortrup 2006). 

References

Birch, S., 2013. Full participation: A comparative study of compulsory voting. Manchester University Press.

Engelen, B., 2007. Why compulsory voting can enhance democracy. Acta Politica, 42(1), pp.23-39.

Evans, T., 2006. Compulsory voting in Australia. Australian Electoral Commission Report.

Dalton, R.J., 2008. The quantity and the quality of party systems Party system polarization, its measurement, and its consequences. Comparative Political Studies, 41(7), pp.899-920.

Fischer, C., 2011. Compulsory Voting and Inclusion: A Response to Saunders. Politics, 31(1), pp.37-41.

Fowler, A., 2013. Electoral and policy consequences of voter turnout: Evidence from Compulsory voting in Australia.

Jakee, K. and Sun, G.Z., 2006. Is compulsory voting more democratic?.Public Choice, 129(1), pp.61-75.

Loewen, P.J., Milner, H. and Hicks, B.M., 2008. Does compulsory voting lead to more informed and engaged citizens? An experimental test. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 41(03), pp.655-672.

Louth, J. and Hill, L., 2005. Compulsory voting in Australia: Turnout with and without it. Australian Review of Public Affairs, 6(1), pp.25-37.

Lundell, K., 2007, May. Partisanship and Political Support: The Impact of Compulsory Voting. In Paper delivered at the European Consortium for Political Research workshop on Compulsory Voting: Principles and Practice, Helsinki (pp. 7-12).

Quintelier, E., Hooghe, M. and Marien, S., 2011. The Effect of Compulsory Voting on Turnout Stratification Patterns:: A Cross-National Analysis.International Political Science Review, p.0192512110382016.

Qvortrup, M., 2006. Absentee voting in a comparative perspective: A preliminary assessment of the experiences with postal voting. Submission for The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Australian Federal Parliament, tekst dost?pny w bazie academia. edu.