In 2012, there were 241 million Americans eligible to vote but only 130 million Americans casted their vote at the ballots, which is a startling 58.6%. Why are so many eligible voters choosing not to vote in elections? Voting is a very crucial part of what makes America the country it is today. Without it, America’s voice would never be heard. Although voting requirements have changed immensely throughout the years, it has stayed as one of the most important rights a U.S. citizen has. Even though many Americans believe voting is a precious privilege, every citizen should not be forced to vote because of their choice to be educated on the topic or not.
Voting has changed drastically throughout the years in the United States. There have been many requirements to who could vote and who could not. When the United States was first becoming its own country, the only people who were qualified to vote were wealthy, white men who owned property, which was
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Roosevelt, once said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of their right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by choosing not to vote.” All citizens should not be required to vote for many reasons. Many Americans willingly choose to stay uninformed about politics and issues, for various reasons. They should not be forced to vote for a candidate that they do not agree with or see as a future leader. Since America is a democracy, forcing all citizens to make an uneducated or forced vote would be taking away the people’s liberty. Forcing citizens to choose a candidate would cause many problems. Uninformed voters would make uneducated decisions, resulting in the worse candidate having a much higher chance of winning. Not to mention, the candidates elected would be more unfit since the voters would be making a careless decision. Thus, forcing citizens to vote would cause endless issues, including electing an unfit
Should America have compulsory voting? In my opinion, compulsory voting is a good way to increase the voting turnout. People currently don't like to vote because they don't have the time, or are just too lazy. If the government gives them an incentive then they will be happy to take time off to vote. Also, a reason to fear not to vote should be installed, like an annoying fine. When only a few people vote, the voter satisfaction is low. But when everyone puts their idea in, the satisfaction rises because the actual majority will win.
Firstly, the idea of compulsory voting that involves every citizen having a civic duty, rather then a right to vote, which has been introduced in over 20 countries worldwide, a good example being Australia. In Australia, the system has been a success, producing an impressive turnout of 94% in the 2013 election, which therefore means that the Australian government will have a much higher level of legitimacy compared to the UK. However, critics of compulsory voting argue that such a system is undemocratic by itself as it does not provide a citizen with a choice on whether to vote or not, resulting in a serious debate around the issue. However, I must agree with the critics of the system, as the people voting because they have to, are likely to be less passionate and well informed about the person they have to
First, one reason why Americans should be required to vote is that it will educate the citizens. Evidence supporting this reason is in “Unequal Participation: Democracy’s Unresolved Dilemma, American Political Science Review” Aaron Lijphart stated that “By compelling people to vote, we are likely to arouse in them an intelligent interest and to give them a political knowledge that do not at present possess.” This evidence helps explain why Americans should be required to vote because when citizens are required to vote it gives them a political understanding that they didn't have before voting. Most citizens will research
According to a study done by Nonprofit Vote only “an estimated 58.7% of eligible voters turned out to vote” ("Voter Turnout" ) in 2012’s presidential election, which is below the 62% that was achieved in 2008. (Ginsberg 306). According to the United States Census Bureau in 2012 71.2 percent of Americans reported that they were registered to vote, but only 61.8 reported that they actually did so. ("Voting and Registration"). While each source didn’t report the exact same statistics in America these percentages are considered highs in political participation. Even worse, in midterm elections voter turnout is normally closer to 33% and even lower for any local elections. (Ginsberg 306). While we may consider any of those statistics good for America, looking at world democracies we are trailing far behind, in many “European countries and other western democracies [the] national voter turnout is usually between 70 to 90 percent.”(Ginsberg 306). The question is then asked why don’t American’s vote, which is then an...
To enforce voting to be mandatory , this will prompt more Americans to pay attention to the choices for their representatives. Mandating would stimulate the demand side, motivating voters to understand and acknowledge who they are voting for. Therefore , voting is to be a responsibility than a option.
Recently, only 60% of registered voters have actually voted in presidential elections. This brings up the question: should Americans be required to vote? This question receives very mixed answers. Many Americans believe that they should have the choice and the freedom to vote or not; many Americans also believe that mandatory, or required, voting is simply a civic duty. Currently, American citizens are not required to vote. Citizens seem to like this system, but because voting is not mandatory, the amount of citizens that vote in elections is rather low. Americans should not be required to vote because it forces people to vote that are uninterested, makes citizens unhappy, and damages other people’s votes.
Voting is an opportunity given to Americans. As Americans we live in a democracy. Americans live in a democracy that is subjected to vote; a democracy where people have fought for the right to vote on many situations and for the rights of Americans to not be infringed. However, sometimes people just do not vote. Perhaps, reason being is some Americans are not familiar with the background of America and where voting all started. Maybe, some Americans think it all boils down to the electoral votes and their vote simply is not significant. Maybe, it could be that they possibly do not care for politics and do not intend on involving themselves around something they do not understand. There are many reasons why Americans choose to vote and many reasons why Americans choose not to vote.
American citizens over the age of 18 have had the opportunity to vote since 1790, but not everyone has gone and voted for a new leader to be. Right after WWII the percentage of voters decreased. So the people of America should have compulsory voting, because of proper punishment, voter turnout, and it is the citizens civic duty.
Without mandatory voting, some people chose not to vote because they do not care, or are uninformed. Forcing these people to vote could lead to random choices when voters do not take responsibility to study the candidate's position on specific topics. "It may increase the number of informal votes, ballot papers which are not marked according to the rules for voting," _ Matt Rosenberg_. Compulsory voting may lead many people to not truly vote, but to put their name on a ballot and turn it in. While this is possible, a greater number of potentially interested people would also vote. If people are required to vote, the country will obtain every eligible voters’ opinions. Some of the citizens may not care who is elected, but they still can have a say if they want to. Without mandatory voting, the people who do not want to vote, do not and went about with their life. "Because a majority of the voters are turning out to cast ballots, the formation of the government can be a more accurate reflection of what the population of any nation wants," _Asia-Pacific Economics_. In a government with two different parties, the majority of the citizens decide how they want the government to be formed till the next election.
Today in America, less than half of young voters between the ages of 18 and 24 vote (TheBestColleges.org). What most of these new adults fail to realize, is that their government depends on them to vote and elect new leaders to represent their country. Many of them make excuses to avoid voting, when really, they benefit most from voting.
During the year of 1870, on the 3rd day in the month of February, the 15th amendment was ratified. The 15th amendment prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Basically, giving all United States citizens the equal right to vote. Thousands of brave men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the United States constitution that holds our rights. Not to mention all the hard work from several people it took to pass congress. So why not make voting mandatory? Mandatory voting will benefit the United States citizens by allowing everyone to exercise their rights, therefore, entitling us to have a say in the electoral process, possibly making a change to improve our country.
Did you know that only 58.5% of people from the ages of 18 through 24 are registered to vote? What happened to the other 41.5%? Did they forget to register? In some cases that may be it, but most of the time it is that people believe that their vote does not matter. These low registration numbers are important because they show how the citizens of the United States feel towards our government and feel towards our democratic voting system.
According to the U.S. census, only 61.8% of registered voters cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election. This is a very poor statistic compared to Uruguay's 96.1 percent voter turnout in 2009 or Rwanda's 89.2 percent in 2010. Where were the other 38.2 percent in 2012? Some couldn't find their polling station, some were out of town, and others were merely too busy (Weil). Bill Vaughan once said, "A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote in a national election.
Lisa Hill a professor at the University of Adelaide who spreads the yes, in mandatory voting, “If voting were mandatory in the U.S., people would be inspired to pay more attention to campaigns... ” (Junior Scholastic). Many might think their vote doesn't count, so government should express how it does and not make it a unpleasurable activity by making it mandatory. However much, there is truth in that point, an election simplifies down to one person over another other. My point still stands that unwanted force is never good and America should not accept that. It is human nature to show displeasure to forced activities that weren't done by will before hand. It isn't convenient for some citizens, and if registering for voting was much easier that there might be a higher voter turnout (Scholastic Magazine).If the government wants a higher turnout, than people shouldn't be making time for the government, the government should make more time for the people and not stripping us of our freedom.
There has been much debate about the legalisation of compulsory voting throughout political history and more importantly its place in a democratic society. Compulsory voting at a Commonwealth level was recognised in Australia in 1924 under section 245(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act as stated: “It shall be the duty of every elector to vote at each election” (Australian Electoral Commission, 2011). Since the introduction of compulsory voting there has been both strong advocacy and opposition in terms of its legitimacy in society, which this essay will highlight through the concept of its consistency with representative democracy and its ability to ensure parties reflect the will of all people. On the contrary, opponents argue that it increases the number of safe seat electorates as well as forcing the ill informed to vote.