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it's election season, Beehaw, so — what are your thoughts on compulsory (mandatory) voting? (beehaw.org)

submitted 2 months ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/askbeehaw@beehaw.org

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good idea/bad idea, necessary democratic reform or authoritarian imposition? are there better or worse ways to do it?

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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 8 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Being able to not choose is, to me, as valid as actually making a choice. So while I do think it could be beneficial, I also hate the idea of losing even just that little bit of freedom. I never like the removal of options.

[–] Nemo 14 points 2 months ago (2 children)

You could still not choose. "I abstain" and "none of these" are valid votes. Submitting an empty ballot would satisfy the law while preserving the right not to choose.

That said, some have a religious prerogative to not vote, and should be eligible for an exemption.

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 14 points 2 months ago

Even better, it makes your rejection explicit. Someone who doesn't nake the effort to turn up to the polls isnt worth chasing their vote. Someone who turns up and says "Y'all shit" is a swing voter who can be swayed with the right policies. (Of course this all requires a healthy democracy without geremandering fuckery).

[–] alyaza@beehaw.org 6 points 2 months ago

That said, some have a religious prerogative to not vote, and should be eligible for an exemption.

this is, as i understand, the case in Australia—which i would consider the most compelling example of compulsory voting in practice.

[–] henfredemars@infosec.pub 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

How would you feel about compulsory voting with an explicit option to decline both candidates?

It would certainly make the choice extremely deliberate.

[–] Butterbee@beehaw.org 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

In Canada we vote with a pencil on a piece of paper so I have spoiled my ballot in the past by not selecting a candidate and writing "NO" on the ballot

[–] Breve@pawb.social 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I would suggest in the future that instead of spoiling your ballot you can decline your ballot instead. Spoiled ballots are considered rejected because it's not clear if you meant to vote for someone but messed up versus not wanting to vote. Declined ballots are separately counted and will show political parties that there are eligible voters who went through the work to show up but intentionally did not want to support any candidates on the ballot.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/ontario-votes-2022-declined-ballots-rise-1.6466308

[–] Butterbee@beehaw.org 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Thank you! I didn't know you could just do that! Though it's been a long time since I spoiled the ballot and I do actually just vote now. But if things are that bad again I'll know what to do.

Edit: No I can't. The option is only available in provincial elections and only available in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. If you live in one of those provinces though, it's a good option!