New Law makes not voting a jailable offense.


Alan Harvard - Posted on 05 June 2006

I propose a law that would require all citizens of voting age to vote, just like paying taxes.   

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Even better  - we should put this issue on the ballot - so we would trick all the people who don't vote into doing it - or they go to jail and we don't have to worry about them anyway. 

i've never understood the desire for increased voter participation.  party gotv, i can see, but in general?  if someone isn't interested enough to vote, i don't want their uninformed finger on the lever.  i'm casting my vote for voter intelligence exams. 

You just said you supported voter supression.

 

i just don't see why it's desirable to force (or persuade) people who don't want to vote to make an uninformed decision.  because if they were informed, i'm sure they would vote.  it's like asking a guy who doesn't watch movies to vote for the oscars.  do you really want corky romano to win best picture?   

you watch it.
Australia, I believe, has a similar law. I've known my ex-pat Aussie friends to have to trek down to the consulate to figure out how to cast their ballots - but maybe they're just the good citizen types.

---------
Drew Tappan
Campaign Manager - Neuhardt for Congress
http://www.NeuhardtForCongress.com

requires everyone of voting age to cast a ballot -- and one option is casting a blank or none of the above ballot. 

failure to vote is punishable by a stiff fine.

I knew I would love Peru.

Suffrage:

Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - members of the military and national police may not vote

 

I've got a buddy who doesn't vote, so I showed him this post, and I talked to him last night, and this is all really his idea.  There Fully Disclosed. 

"I never heard a good idea I didn't steal" - Alan Harvard

He got online this morning and found SEVERAL countries that require citizens to vote. 

Argentina 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Australia 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Belgium 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Bolivia 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single)

Brazil voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote

Chile 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Costa Rica 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Dominican Republic 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age

Egypt 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Greece 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Libya 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Luxembourg 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Mexico 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Nauru 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Panama 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Paraguay 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Singapore 21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Thailand 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Uruguay 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

you're a silly goose!

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