Oh, it sounds amazing to have people who only vote to avoid a penalty. I'm sure they'll make sure they know the issues and do their research and not who they see the most on TV or offers them the most free stuff
It is though. Because we frame it as a civil responsibility, not a privilege. There’s only a few situations where it’s taken away [0] (convicted of treason or treachery, imprisoned for a sentence greater than 3 years, of an unsound mind).
> In 1912, the former Electoral Act was amended to make enrolment compulsory. In 1924, to increase voter turnout and reduce party campaign expenditure, the Electoral Act was amended to make voting at federal elections compulsory.
Our election cycles are short, and there’s a small defined period where we talk about the election. After which we all get back to what we were doing. Contrast to some other countries, when the elections (even 4 years out) are always on the cards.
But to your point, even if they don’t know the issues, or care their vote is worth as much as mine. They have a responsibility to submit a vote. They don’t have to fill out the vote correctly, they can submit an informal or donkey vote.
They can partake in the classic Aussie tradition of drawing richly detailed genitalia on their ballot for the poll worker to admire.
What you do with your ballot is between you and that piece of paper.
But short of a few very limited circumstances you need to do you duty and make your voice heard. We’re not asking the informed, the educated, the wealthy, the elite or any other subset who they think should run things. We’re saying, your job as a citizen is to record your opinion on who should be running things (even if your opinion is “I don’t know”, you still need to record it).
And the key part here is that no one can take that away from you. The alternative is the game of voter suppression, making you think your vote isn’t wanted or won’t change things. Dropping you from electoral roles days before an election. Damaging the postal service to hamper mail in votes.
We’re one of a tiny number of countries that do it, and almost a century on I think it was a brilliant idea.
We don’t have a draft, and other than Jury duty (which you can reasonably get out of), voting is _the responsibility_ you have as a citizen.
Do you believe that the current pool of voters are any better or more considerate?
Most voters are "the base", likely to be extreme in their politics, and mostly irrelevant to political outcomes (as they can safely be ignored, since they are voting for their team regardless).
> In 1912, the former Electoral Act was amended to make enrolment compulsory. In 1924, to increase voter turnout and reduce party campaign expenditure, the Electoral Act was amended to make voting at federal elections compulsory.
Our election cycles are short, and there’s a small defined period where we talk about the election. After which we all get back to what we were doing. Contrast to some other countries, when the elections (even 4 years out) are always on the cards.
But to your point, even if they don’t know the issues, or care their vote is worth as much as mine. They have a responsibility to submit a vote. They don’t have to fill out the vote correctly, they can submit an informal or donkey vote.
They can partake in the classic Aussie tradition of drawing richly detailed genitalia on their ballot for the poll worker to admire.
What you do with your ballot is between you and that piece of paper.
But short of a few very limited circumstances you need to do you duty and make your voice heard. We’re not asking the informed, the educated, the wealthy, the elite or any other subset who they think should run things. We’re saying, your job as a citizen is to record your opinion on who should be running things (even if your opinion is “I don’t know”, you still need to record it).
And the key part here is that no one can take that away from you. The alternative is the game of voter suppression, making you think your vote isn’t wanted or won’t change things. Dropping you from electoral roles days before an election. Damaging the postal service to hamper mail in votes.
We’re one of a tiny number of countries that do it, and almost a century on I think it was a brilliant idea.
We don’t have a draft, and other than Jury duty (which you can reasonably get out of), voting is _the responsibility_ you have as a citizen.
[0] https://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Publications/backgrounders/...