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sarge43

(28,941 posts)

28. How is mandatory voting in Australia enforced?

Reply to canetoad (Original post)

Sat Oct 24, 2020, 07:01 AM

Oct 2020

I'm assuming there's a carrot and stick incentive in place.

The US has ten times the population of Australia. Rough estimate: 300M of voting age in the US. Let's say 10% of them decide "Don't wanna; ain't gonna." Will they be fined, jailed, voting rights revoked? Who does the tracking, federal or states? Will this apply to all elections, from municipalities to states to federal?

Making it mandatory to vote isn't going to change the difficulty to vote. That will just ensure that a lot of people have "broken the law". How will mandatory voting stop "money is speech" and the dirty tricks? If anything it will give the creeps even more incentive to do their voodoo.

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38 replies

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Highlight:

Obama Knows [View all] canetoad Oct 2020 OP

You're not gonna get any argument from me. Volaris Oct 2020 #1

Thanks buddy canetoad Oct 2020 #2

Because they've lived in fear for 40 years HelpImSurrounded Oct 2020 #3

Here are the things in the US system that mandatory voting would eliminate: canetoad Oct 2020 #9

I don't object to mandatory voting in principle Mariana Oct 2020 #4

Ok, thanks canetoad Oct 2020 #6

perhaps the Constitution's biggest error is omitting responsibilities that go along with rights. uncle ray Oct 2020 #29

It seems to me there's a big difference... regnaD kciN Oct 2020 #5

Good points canetoad Oct 2020 #7

Here's why ... NanceGreggs Oct 2020 #8

Good points Nance canetoad Oct 2020 #10

As I pointed out ... NanceGreggs Oct 2020 #17

I really find it astounding that for a person who has been living in Canada for years madinmaryland Oct 2020 #37

I am a US citizen ... NanceGreggs Oct 2020 #38

Ermm... advanced? ananda Oct 2020 #11

Ummmm - context canetoad Oct 2020 #12

Lol ananda Oct 2020 #18

Cause Murica ? Freedum ! That said, it would help if it were made far OnDoutside Oct 2020 #13

Yeah, I've never got the Tuesday thing canetoad Oct 2020 #14

It's definitely a legacy thing....in the UK and Ireland, Thursday has OnDoutside Oct 2020 #27

I think it had to do with bars being closed on Tuesday FakeNoose Oct 2020 #32

Rather than mandating that everyone vote, ranked choice voting bbgrunt Oct 2020 #15

It helps canetoad Oct 2020 #16

We can and should do both. Sherman A1 Oct 2020 #20

Agreed Sherman A1 Oct 2020 #19

How is it enforced in Australia? patricia92243 Oct 2020 #21

You have to pay a fine. Not much, but money's money. ancianita Oct 2020 #25

Agree 100% Joinfortmill Oct 2020 #22

I've asked my 25-year Australian family about their mandatory voting. Aussies know, too. ancianita Oct 2020 #23

KnR to read tomorrow! Hekate Oct 2020 #24

The racists and women haters in the US do not want people to vote malaise Oct 2020 #26

How is mandatory voting in Australia enforced? sarge43 Oct 2020 #28

It's always been mandatory for me. panader0 Oct 2020 #30

This is a free country so no. Demsrule86 Oct 2020 #31

LOL, people freak out about masks, imagine forcing them to vote. nt USALiberal Oct 2020 #33

I'm of two minds on the issue of mandatory voting. crickets Oct 2020 #34

Surprisingly, our Constitution is rather silent on voting... Wounded Bear Oct 2020 #35

How about a tax credit for voting or a food/rent voucher? n/t tormadjax Oct 2020 #36