Continuation of the voter thread?

[TJ]

Since i didnt bother to read that thread until just now and it just now was closed and i have some things to say i thought id start this thread and ask you all not to start any personal conflicts so this as well doesnt get closed down. keep the tempers down and the vodka in the bottle please.

Now firstly, they should make voting mandatory. If eligible people dont vote they should be fined. This has been implemented and exists in other nations. Australia and Belgium come to mind, but i am sure there are many more. In those countries voter turnout is usually above 95%. I believe they should also instate this in Armenia and any other nation where they want a responsible electorate and an educated and self interested population.

Vote or get ur ass fined!
New P. Diddy line

Btw, i was wondering, would making voting mandatory simply require Congress to pass legislation or would it require a constitutional amendment?

[Emil]

There we go .

[xBaron Dants]

Well, forcing people to vote infringes on the liberties of those who don't believe in it. Some very educated and self interested people mgiht choose not to vote in order to make a protest, either towards all candidates or towards a flawed system.

I, for example, don't know if I would even bother to vote in some of the elections if I were living in Armenia.

[TJ]

I look at it as voting being the duty of every person in a democratic society. Because voting is something that is essential so that the your other rights are not infringed upon. By not voting you are merely making it worse. Go ahead and vote for yourself if you like or vote against everyone. Those are both options in Armenian and US ballots. The point is that by making it mandatory you get the people that are too lazy to get off their asses and go vote, to go and do precisely that so that the majority of the people are heard and the leaders do actually present a majority. Because as it stands, George bush might have gotten 51% of the vote but that is less than 30 % of the electorate.

[xBaron Dants]

Well, in some cases, by voting, you give credibility to an electoral system that may not truly deserve it.

If you do not believe that your vote is counted and that the system deserves your trust, then voting contradicts your principles.