Persuasive Essay: Why Voting Should Not Be Compulsory?

Only around fifty to sixty percent of registered voters actually go to the polls. This is a problem that the United States has been facing. Because of these low turnouts, some people say that voting should be made compulsory. Compulsory, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is, “required by a law or rule”. Voting should not be made compulsory because voting is a right, not a duty; there are alternatives that tackle the real causes of voter disengagement; and persuasion is more effective than coercion. When looking at this debate it is good to first look at this question: is voting a right or a duty? A right is, “that which is due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantees, moral principles, etc.” (dictionary.com) and

For example, when a parent tells their child to clean the dishes and for their reasoning says simply because the parent said so, the child might feel reluctant to do so and slightly rebellious, wanting instead to just go to her room. There seems to be no benefit for her effort. If the parent were to instead say that when the house is clean and the dishes aren’t in the sink that the parent feels more relaxed and like cooking great meals for her, the child would be overcome by a desire for food and a clean home as well. “Although the process of persuasion may take more time, it is less likely to lead to a cycle of retaliation or revenge” (metacenter.com). This sentence sounds quite dire but is true, if maybe a bit extreme. After hearing the parent’s reasoning, the child was persuaded by the knowledge the parent gave to her the request. In a similar manner, if people are given information, they will want to vote themselves. “We’re persuaded when we feel like we’ve understood something well enough to make up our minds” (K.C. Cole, slate.com). Persuasion is helping others reach an understanding. If an understanding is reached; they will want to make an educated vote. “If I get students to do things a certain way for fear of getting an F or in hopes of getting an A, it means I’ve influenced their behavior for the duration of the class. If I’ve managed to persuade them that my method has merit, I’ve likely made converts for life.” (K.C. Cole). If citizens are persuaded once that what they do matters and to vote; they could be influenced to do that forever. It is probable that they would also influence others they know to do the