Compulsory Voting DBQ

In America, many citizens choose not to vote every year. Although, The United States of America is a democracy, Americans should be required to vote. Whether the voting is for local places or for the government, citizens should be required to vote. This will give everyone a chance to speak their minds and learn more about politics. Compulsory voting is important because everyone should have a chance to vote for what they believe in.

Americans should not be required to vote, the amount of votes will go up. But since they are not aware of who they are voting for would cause chaos. If they have a problem and want to have their say in the elections they should be able to without be required to with an influence of something. They would still need more ways to higher the voting percentage. But they could do that with several ads convincing them so they have the mindset of voting. Now the odds of the least liked candidate to be voted in to win is fifty fifty.

“From 1972 to 2012, citizens 18-29 turned out at a rate 15 to 20 points lower than citizens 30 years older” from this data we can conclude that age is a demographic that affects voter turnout (What Affects Voter Turnout). Voting laws such as those of identification or registration impact voter turnout. For example, the introduction of early voting was meant to increase voter turnout, but has in fact decreased turnout (What Affects Voter Turnout). In response to the argument that the system lowers voter turnout rate, one should take the many other variables that contribute to turnout into account.

Voting is a standout amongst the most principal parts of political engagement. Numerous political researchers connect voting with the strength of the popularity based process and contend that declining voting rates might be symptomatic of a democratic deficit. Since political support can likewise impact public policy, others are worried that lower investment could bring about strategies that are not really illustrative of key voting demographics, similar to the individuals who tend to vote less. Therefore, the voter turnout rate is utilized as one pointer of political engagement. In Canada, researchers who look at voter turnout have found various

The author has used data from different researchers to support his ideas as to the contributing factors related to voter turnout. The author also uses a comparative perspective to help explain and show how factors related to an election effect voter turnout. Here in North Carolina, we had voter-ID laws for a short time frame, and I saw the effects first hand on voter turnout. Personally, I do not have a driver’s license. Even though I have a learner’s permit, I can see where someone who is in my position who does not have any form of identification decides to skip the polls altogether because he/she does not want to go through the hassle of obtaining a permit or identification card in order to vote. To me, voting is extremely important, and as a government major, I have began to witness firsthand, how having a large voter turnout can have on the result of an

Jane’s shift at the polling place was finished. She looked down in dismay at the large pile of undistributed “I Voted” stickers. Jane wondered how many people chose to stay home today, rather than cast their vote. Throughout her life, she was taught the importance of voting. It was what supported the ideals of our nation. America exists as a Democracy, meaning the government is run by the power of the people. Citizens are given the opportunity to say whom they want to run the country, by the simple task of showing up on election day, and marking their choice. However, it was evident as she was putting the unused stickers into the box that many people deviate from this civic duty.

Voter turnout is a prolific and salient topic in the fields of political science and public administration. Political actors (candidates, strategists, and campaign managers) and administrators (clerks of court, registrars of voters, and other election administrators) desire good information about who, how many, and how often voters are turning out (Leighley and Nagler, 1992).

Rationale - The presidential election is only half the battle voter engagement drops significantly after a presidential election and during state and local elections. However, these elections are arguably more important because state and local officials vote on bills to create laws that govern our country and everyday life. Therefore, It is my belief that both registered and unregistered voters will greatly benefit from increased voter engagement with their state and local elected officials and community leaders

Voting is a right to all American citizens, not just those who can only use paper ballots. The use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) are more accessible than paper ballots. They are more secure than paper ballots. EVMs are also more accurate than paper ballots.

With these falling turnout rates, I decided to visit 3 local constituencies and explore the reasons why people do not vote through conducting a questionnaire. With over 200 people undertaking this questionnaire, and 89 of these 207 saying they did not vote, my results held some authority. Around a third of those who claimed not to vote said they did not due to being disillusioned with the party system. However, the largest proportion at 54% of those questioned stated that

Compulsory voting does not prove legitimacy of a democratic government. Increasing turnout is significant statistically, but if producing high turnout mostly from random votes would put the country’s future at stake by sabotaging the government’s credibility then what we need are wise and well-informed voters than the uninterested and uninformed ones. In line with Jakee and Sun, advocating the maximization of voter turnout—by any means, including coercion—is fraught with more complications than the commonly accepted one of infringing upon the citizen’s individual rights in the electoral process: as more random voters are forced to cast ballots, the more likely the electoral outcome will approximate a coin toss. Politicians and political theorists

Political culture has been a subject of political science largely because it deals with attitudes and behavioral patterns of the population. This culture determines the relationship of the citizens with the political system . Elections, in particular, have a strong impact on these behavioral patterns and political attitudes. This covers various aspects which deal with elections and voting. People are always engaged in voting because of the perceived benefits that are obtained from balloting (McDonald 107). This means that regardless of the effect created by the outcome of an election, it may a have substantial effect on a person’s life. Citizens always participate in voting, playing the role of political actors in the political system. In order to understand this, it is critical for any political system to include the participation of its citizen. . With such a link created through voting, it legitimately serves the political system to the extent of democracy and shape policies so that they accord with the popular wishes and interest (Green, 79). In most of the parliamentary democracies in the world, for instance the U.S., the simplest and most straightforward form of political participation is

The emphasis on the voting process is a precursor to looking at voter turnout. In order to discuss voter turnout, it is quite necessary to understand, at least on a basic level, why people vote, or do not vote, in the first place. The multiple theories regarding voting offer potential explanations as to why people vote. It is almost unnecessary to pick a

Mandatory democracy can raise political interest among people. When people who are not interested in politics are forced to vote, some of them start to feel responsible for results of elections. They begin to watch political news, read journals and articles to have sufficient knowledge about politics in general and politicians, who they vote for or against. As Jake Keith and Guang-Zhen Sun describe in their article, when people are force to vote, it increases their interest about politics, so compulsory voting raises the value of individual votes (64).

As one of the most developed countries in the world, the United States fails in comparison to other developed countries in regard of voter turnout. Being a country that sees itself as “the land of the free,” how can the free be truly free if they do not express their thoughts through voting for those who share similar ideologies? Other developed countries, such as Australia, have implemented mandatory voting (Document A). With other advanced countries actualizing mandatory voting, should the US follow suit? Implementing mandatory voting would mean that those who are eligible to vote in their country, must do exactly that; if one does not vote, they will face some sort of penalty (most likely a fine). In order to create a society where everyone has a say, voting in the United States should be mandatory.