[chris_wot]

In Australia, this isn't such a problem. Voting is mandatory. I'll now await to hear the almost universal condemnation or be downvoted by American participants...

[prodigal_erik]

Anyone genuinely indifferent about voting is not going to be well-informed and do it wisely; letting them stay home is a pretty good signal/noise filter that's hard to object to. The only problem that mandatory voting solves is prospective voters whose abusive employers or families wouldn't permit them to vote otherwise.

[nitrogen]

Mandatory voting would solve some problems caused by strongly motivated minorities voting for their own interests. For example, even apathetic young people forced to vote would be unlikely to vote for an elderly care plan that would inevitably bankrupt their country.

[eli_gottlieb]

Of course, in Australia you can cast a null ballot. Given that, I quite like the Australian system.

[chris_wot]

Actually, that's not legal. However, they can't prove you've done that, given it's an anonymous ballot!