Voting Rules: A Vote

[Rock and Glock]

I heard an idea this AM (to be attributed after this thread has run its course and is dying a natural cyber-death).

The idea goes like this:

Voting is a right and an obligation for all legal voters (please withhold comments on this point)

If you do not vote in an election the following will occur:

First Failure: A Fine, say $100

Second Failure: A Fine, say $250, and some "Public Service".

Third Failure: You lose your citizenship. You lose no rights and obligations other than you must immediately apply for a VISA and obtain a green card, or risk deportation.

A lot of details remain, but what do you say about the idea?

Yea or Nay, say you?

Moderators, if I've pushed the forum rules too far, please delete. Voting rights are certainly similar to RKBA, however tenuous the logic behind the connection to this great Forum.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[S3ymour]

I think that this would violate rights. Even though I believe in voting, to penalize someone for not voting would be wrong as there have been times where I don't want to vote for the lesser of two evils, so I don't vote. Now I know my generation has a horrible problem with voting, but the response will only get worse with penalties. Kinda like gun laws, more is not always better.

[goawayfarm]

I'm more for a requirement to have at least a half a brain to vote.......by the looks of who gets elected....there is a lot of stupid going to the polls....

[Bud White]

As the land of the free it should be your choice to vote or not. that is why we are the land of the free

[Bob The Great]

if people are mandated to vote, do you think they will think harder about their choice? or just vote because they must?

[lump532]

An uninformed vote is worst than no vote at all. If I don't know the issues I don't vote. I wish more of the party line voters would do the same.

[blueyedevil]

While I understand the intent, and it would be nice if more people took their civic duties a little more seriously; I don't think fining or revoking people's citizenship because they missed the election for the county treasurer would be very constructive. And as others have said, if someone doesn't care enough to vote in the first place, what good would it do to have a bunch of mental midgets playing connect the dots on the ballot? Sure it's frustrating that voter turnout is low, but I think I like the current system as is, those that care enough to have a say get counted, those who don't just whine and cry but make no impact.

[raevan]

Freedom comes from having a free choice, If you are penalized for not voting, that is coersion not free choice, therefor you have no freedom.

[pgrass101]

The right not to vote is just as important as the right to vote.

The USSR always had 98-99% voter turnout

[Wiggy]

I've heard some pretty good arguments for not voting by non-voters. For example, a radio personality not voting because it would effect how he spoke about or presented certain issues.

The reasons someone votes or chooses not to vote are a very private matter, and no one should be faulted for their choice. I agree with the above comment about an uneducated vote being worse than not voting at all.

[Scott]

Most of the countries that I know of that have mandatory voting laws have dictatorships or one candidate for each position.

The US should not have mandatory voting laws.

[QKShooter]

I would like to see folks be able to answer about 10 simple questions before they are allowed to vote.

(1) What United States President Is Featured On The $5 Bill?

(2) The President lives in the ______ House?

(3) It's the Declaration Of _______? What?

(4) The Senate & The House Of _____? What?

(5) What Does U.S. Stand For? ~ United States Or Untied Shoes?

(6) Our Flag Is _____, White & Blue? What Color Is Missing?

And everybody that gets all 10 correct can vote.

[PatrioticRick]

I don't think it should be mandatory, because the people that don't vote are usually the ones you really don't want to have a vote.

[OPFOR]

Many non-dictatorship countries have mandatory voting, subject to a fine if you don't. Peru and Brasil spring to mind immediately, but there are more. I don't think it is a great idea for the US, but it is viable for certain systems of govt/countries.

[Rock and Glock]

I would like to see folks be able to answer about 10 simple questions before they are allowed to vote.

(1) What United States President Is Featured On The $5 Bill?

(2) The President lives in the ______ House?

(3) It's the Declaration Of _______? What?

(4) The Senate & The House Of _____? What?

(5) What Does U.S. Stand For? ~ United States Or Untied Shoes?

(6) Our Flag Is _____, White & Blue? What Color Is Missing?

And everybody that gets all 10 correct can vote.