L5730
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Watching the newcasters paint a picture of fiasco over the US elections, I started thinking about something I've pondered before.
Should elections be compulsory?
I'm thinking that all eligible voters should be obliged to submit a ballot paper. But they should have the option on said ballot to abstain.
In the current situation we find ourselves in globally, I'm not so sure that turning up to a polling station in person is such a great idea, but in normal socially acceptable time, I think that would be fare, providing stations are sensibly placed and accessible to all.
It'd remove the argument from politicians about voter apathy and laziness to not bother to vote. Poor weather and odd-ball timing (like the last UK one) wouldn't be factors. That said, it's still a 60%+ turnout historically in my country(s).
Should there be some kind of demonstration of understanding cover sheet questionnaire?
Something I see as a problem with politics is that it's largely a popularity contest. The charismatic or funny poster boy (or girl) draws a lot of votes in, regardless of actual policies of the party. A voter doesn't have to spend any time listening or understanding policies to be able to cast a vote for a particular party/person.
Having some kind of multiple choice cover sheet which would demonstrate that the anonymous voter who has marked the attached ballot has a basic understanding of the policies.
It'd be hard to make such a cover sheet of questions, as it can't segregate against people on an academic or language level. Voters shouldn't have to be fluent in Latin, understand world economic theories, or be a mathematician to be able to answer the questions.
Combing these two things, a compulsory turnout to vote (but the option to abstain) as well as a 'capacity to vote' validation test would clear up a lot of excuses that politicians make after the results are in. It'd also more likely focus them on actually providing something decent for the people. Votes cast because other family members/friends/community leaders said to vote for this person would likely be reduced. Joke votes, random votes and 'I like this guys hair'/'she has nice shoes' votes would be reduced to a bare minimum.
This topic won't change anything, but what do you guys think?
Should elections be compulsory?
I'm thinking that all eligible voters should be obliged to submit a ballot paper. But they should have the option on said ballot to abstain.
In the current situation we find ourselves in globally, I'm not so sure that turning up to a polling station in person is such a great idea, but in normal socially acceptable time, I think that would be fare, providing stations are sensibly placed and accessible to all.
It'd remove the argument from politicians about voter apathy and laziness to not bother to vote. Poor weather and odd-ball timing (like the last UK one) wouldn't be factors. That said, it's still a 60%+ turnout historically in my country(s).
Should there be some kind of demonstration of understanding cover sheet questionnaire?
Something I see as a problem with politics is that it's largely a popularity contest. The charismatic or funny poster boy (or girl) draws a lot of votes in, regardless of actual policies of the party. A voter doesn't have to spend any time listening or understanding policies to be able to cast a vote for a particular party/person.
Having some kind of multiple choice cover sheet which would demonstrate that the anonymous voter who has marked the attached ballot has a basic understanding of the policies.
It'd be hard to make such a cover sheet of questions, as it can't segregate against people on an academic or language level. Voters shouldn't have to be fluent in Latin, understand world economic theories, or be a mathematician to be able to answer the questions.
Combing these two things, a compulsory turnout to vote (but the option to abstain) as well as a 'capacity to vote' validation test would clear up a lot of excuses that politicians make after the results are in. It'd also more likely focus them on actually providing something decent for the people. Votes cast because other family members/friends/community leaders said to vote for this person would likely be reduced. Joke votes, random votes and 'I like this guys hair'/'she has nice shoes' votes would be reduced to a bare minimum.
This topic won't change anything, but what do you guys think?