Submitted by Alan Harvard on Mon, 06/05/2006 - 11:31am.
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.
Submitted by RMC2000 on Mon, 06/05/2006 - 12:38pm.
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.
Submitted by RMC2000 on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 12:22pm.
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?
Submitted by DrewTappan on Mon, 06/05/2006 - 1:06pm.
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
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?
---------
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: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