For and against compulsory voting

Created by: emlove1975
Created on: 18-05-18 11:21


	For and against compulsory voting
	Advantages Increased participation - would automatically solve the UK's 'participation crisis' - in Australia it was a remedy to the 60% turnout in the 1922 election. Greater legitimacy - governments formed on the basis of compulsory voting would rest on a popular majority, rather than an electoral majority. This has never occurred in the UK and in 2005, Labour was elected with only 22% of popular support (35% of electoral support). Civic duty - compulsory voting would have wider educational implications by emphasising that political participation is a civic duty. The more people take part in politics, the more they will think and act as full citizens, members of a political community. Stronger social justice - the interests of the poor and lesser educated would be represented. In voluntary democracy, the interests of the elite often prevail over those who are vulnerable, as they are least likely to vote. Genuine political equality requires equality in level of participation.	Disadvantages Abuse of freedom - compulsory voting is coercive, and goes against individual freedom. The right to not vote may be just as significant as the right to vote, it may reflect an absence of choice between parties or a rejection of the political system. Cosmetic democracy - compulsory voting may address the symptom but not the cause, it would not address deeper disillusionments with modern politics, it would mask them. Worthless votes - those who do not vote often do so because they are not interested, or do not have political understanding. Forcing these people to vote could cause in a rise in random or ill-informed votes, especially if voters feel resentful towards the policy. Distorted political focus - compulsory voting may cause parties to target the more volatile would-be non-voters, rather than appeal to the mass of the electorate, distorting the political focus.
	Evaluation Compulsory voting would be inadequate in addressing the real problems that plague modern politics, such as the FPTP voting system, middle-of-the-road politics and majoritarianism.

For and against compulsory voting

Advantages

Increased participation - would automatically solve the UK's 'participation crisis' - in Australia it was a remedy to the 60% turnout in the 1922 election.
Greater legitimacy - governments formed on the basis of compulsory voting would rest on a popular majority, rather than an electoral majority. This has never occurred in the UK and in 2005, Labour was elected with only 22% of popular support (35% of electoral support).
Civic duty - compulsory voting would have wider educational implications by emphasising that political participation is a civic duty. The more people take part in politics, the more they will think and act as full citizens, members of a political community.
Stronger social justice - the interests of the poor and lesser educated would be represented. In voluntary democracy, the interests of the elite often prevail over those who are vulnerable, as they are least likely to vote. Genuine political equality requires equality in level of participation.

Disadvantages

Abuse of freedom - compulsory voting is coercive, and goes against individual freedom. The right to not vote may be just as significant as the right to vote, it may reflect an absence of choice between parties or a rejection of the political system.
Cosmetic democracy - compulsory voting may address the symptom but not the cause, it would not address deeper disillusionments with modern politics, it would mask them.
Worthless votes - those who do not vote often do so because they are not interested, or do not have political understanding. Forcing these people to vote could cause in a rise in random or ill-informed votes, especially if voters feel resentful towards the policy.
Distorted political focus - compulsory voting may cause parties to target the more volatile would-be non-voters, rather than appeal to the mass of the electorate, distorting the political focus.

Evaluation

Compulsory voting would be inadequate in addressing the real problems that plague modern politics, such as the FPTP voting system, middle-of-the-road politics and majoritarianism.

Get Revising

For and against compulsory voting

For and against compulsory voting

Advantages

Disadvantages

Evaluation

Comments

Similar Government & Politics resources: