Comments on: Voting: Always a good idea? http://elizabethslittleblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/voting-always-a-good-idea/ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:25:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Stentor http://elizabethslittleblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/voting-always-a-good-idea/#comment-11118 Stentor Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:45:44 +0000 http://elizabethslittleblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/voting-always-a-good-idea/#comment-11118 I think these situations are a good reason not to institute Australia-style compulsory voting. Democracy works based on *meaningful citizen choices,* not *ticking boxes.* If I make it to election day without having learned enough to have an opinion as to which candidate is better, it strikes me as irresponsible to give one of them a vote anyway, thereby dilutinng the votes of the people who do have a real preference. As for situations where you know about the candidates and they're both just as bad, I would support a "none of the above" option that would trigger a re-election with all new candidates if it won. I think these situations are a good reason not to institute Australia-style compulsory voting. Democracy works based on *meaningful citizen choices,* not *ticking boxes.* If I make it to election day without having learned enough to have an opinion as to which candidate is better, it strikes me as irresponsible to give one of them a vote anyway, thereby dilutinng the votes of the people who do have a real preference. As for situations where you know about the candidates and they’re both just as bad, I would support a “none of the above” option that would trigger a re-election with all new candidates if it won.

]]> By: bronislava http://elizabethslittleblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/voting-always-a-good-idea/#comment-10656 bronislava Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:13:04 +0000 http://elizabethslittleblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/voting-always-a-good-idea/#comment-10656 as an (australian, to declare what might be my biases) supporter of compulsory voting, i would say that it is better to vote even if you don't have a good reason or really know what you're doing. but that's because i think we need as many people to vote as possible for democracy to work. i guess if you go on the assumption that voting is optional, maybe you come to different conclusions? but if it was optional i'd be campaigning for it to be compulsory, so i'd still argue that you should vote regardless. (hi, by the way - i think i left a note here ages ago when i first found your journal, don't know if you saw it though.) as an (australian, to declare what might be my biases) supporter of compulsory voting, i would say that it is better to vote even if you don’t have a good reason or really know what you’re doing. but that’s because i think we need as many people to vote as possible for democracy to work. i guess if you go on the assumption that voting is optional, maybe you come to different conclusions? but if it was optional i’d be campaigning for it to be compulsory, so i’d still argue that you should vote regardless.

(hi, by the way - i think i left a note here ages ago when i first found your journal, don’t know if you saw it though.)

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