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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Should voting be legally mandatory?
Should voting be legally mandatory?
Hypothetical question, since it won't happen, but just an interesting discussion topic.
Pro: You would get a better representation of the peoples' wants, since everyone would be required to give their "voice". All men (and they are talking about adding women) are legally required to register for the Draft at age 18, and all adults are required to participate in Jury Duty if called, so precedents are set.
Con: Removing freedom to not vote; how would you enforce/punish
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Posted 5/19/16 9:19 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
No, I absolutely do not feel voting should be mandatory. I strongly believe in the freedom that we have to select a candidate or to avoid participating at all.
I don't even know if we would gain a better representation of people's opinions--at least not immediately. People forced into voting might make random choices out of resentment or completely uninformed ones.
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| Posted 5/19/16 9:53 AM |
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HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!
Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
Posted by oldtimerocknroll
I don't even know if we would gain a better representation of people's opinions--at least not immediately. People forced into voting might make random choices out of resentment or completely uninformed ones.
This is exactly how I feel. Making voting mandatory would just mean that all the people who could care less about politics, or doing anything to educate themselves on the candidates or the issues going on in our country, would be making random voting choices. If we thought presidential elections are a sh!tshow now, I don't even want to think about how ridiculous it would become if voting were mandatory.
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| Posted 5/19/16 9:58 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
I know this is not an answer, but this thread reminded me of something I saw on my newsfeed this morning:
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| Posted 5/19/16 9:58 AM |
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RainyDay
LIF Adult
Member since 6/15 3999 total posts
Name:
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
Posted
This is exactly how I feel. Making voting mandatory would just mean that all the people who could care less about politics, or doing anything to educate themselves on the candidates or the issues going on in our country, would be making random voting choices. If we thought presidential elections are a sh!tshow now, I don't even want to think about how ridiculous it would become if voting were mandatory.
Exactly this
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| Posted 5/19/16 10:12 AM |
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RainyDay
LIF Adult
Member since 6/15 3999 total posts
Name:
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
Posted by NervousNell
I know this is not an answer, but this thread reminded me of something I saw on my newsfeed this morning:
IMAGE
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| Posted 5/19/16 10:12 AM |
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
NervousNell awesome!
I feel very strongly about voting. Maybe it's corny but I think about how hard women had to fight to get the right to vote so I will never take it for granted. I have voted in all Presidential elections and all local elections since I moved out on my own when I was 25.
That said, I do not think it should be mandatory as it does go against the idea of freedom. I also think people who tend not to vote skip it out of frustration with the process and feeling like it's corrupt/irrelevant, as opposed to apathy.
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| Posted 5/19/16 10:13 AM |
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luvmykids8
LIF Adult
Member since 9/15 2050 total posts
Name:
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
Posted by NervousNell
I know this is not an answer, but this thread reminded me of something I saw on my newsfeed this morning:
IMAGE
That's hysterical!!!!!!
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| Posted 5/19/16 10:17 AM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
Posted by NervousNell
I know this is not an answer, but this thread reminded me of something I saw on my newsfeed this morning:
IMAGE
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| Posted 5/19/16 10:34 AM |
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MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!
Member since 7/06 12020 total posts
Name:
MJ
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
Posted by NervousNell
I know this is not an answer, but this thread reminded me of something I saw on my newsfeed this morning:
IMAGE
This woman is my spirit animal!!!!!!!!!
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| Posted 5/19/16 10:39 AM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11489 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
I don't know. I lean more to no.
They had this in Australia and the number of people who just wrote in whoever, or were just uninformed was quite high. However, it did make people more aware.
I'm not a citizen there, but my husband is and I think he got a fine recently for not voting. There is then some paperwork to get out of it (we don't live there, so voting in some elections was not possible!) and that paperwork is a bit annoying.
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| Posted 5/19/16 11:50 AM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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Should voting be legally mandatory?
No but it should not be on a Tuesday where only people who work in schools have off. It should be a holiday so people have less of an excuse to not vote.
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| Posted 5/19/16 2:17 PM |
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LeeCR7
LIF Infant
Member since 5/08 138 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: Should voting be legally mandatory?
Good question!
I don't think it can be mandatory; as you point out, it would be difficult to enforce.
I do, however, think that all 18 year olds should be automatically registered to vote. You should have to opt out. That alone is likely to increase voting a bit.
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| Posted 5/19/16 9:33 PM |
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