Should People Be Forced To Vote Or Pay A Fine?

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

Felis Leo · Mar 13, 2019

Moderate Right said:
Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

Perhaps it would make the Democrats the permanent majority in the United States if they were able to force people to the polls, and make voting mandatory in the same way that we make jury duty or registering for the selective service act mandatory. The fact that it may give the Democrats a majority really does not faze me so much as the idea that such compulsion must clearly be in the public interest. I do not see how being forced to vote serves the public interest in any way. Especially when the candidates on the ticket may be equally despicable to the people forced to choose among them.

rocket88 · Mar 13, 2019

Moderate Right said:
Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

Historically, higher turnout rates have meant better results for the Democrats. That's why Repubs are trying to restrict voting.

Rogue Valley · Mar 13, 2019

No one should be forced to vote.

But the GOP's efforts to restrict registering/voting is past ridiculous. This has to stop.

Mycroft · Mar 13, 2019

Moderate Right said:
Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

In a word...NO!!!

Moon · Mar 13, 2019

Only if the party in power will provide us with ballots that are already filled out. If we’re going to go down the anti-freedom road, let’s do it correctly.

WillyPete · Mar 13, 2019

I would support permitting proxy voting and allowing people to give, sell, or otherwise trade their vote to whoever they trust to vote in their stead. As long as it was all done in the open, I think it would be an improvement.

It would generate a considerable amount of economic activity, and also help pick out broad patterns in opinion, based on which bloc got the most support.

Taylor · Mar 13, 2019

Voting is a privilege, not an obligation.

Mongidig · Mar 13, 2019

We should want less people to vote. People will vote Democrat because they are people of color, poor, uneducated, maleducated etc. It can't be right to have people who either don't know why they are voting or are just doing it to get free stuff. We should raise the voting age to 28 since individuals below this age are not mentally fully developed. We should strive to have intelligent voters and not encourage the rest.

AK Conservative · Mar 13, 2019

No, voting is a privilege and people shouldn't be forced to take advantage of it.

PirateMk1 · Mar 13, 2019

Moderate Right said:
Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

I think the franchise should be able to be sold publically in whole or in piece. That would encourage voting and make running for office exceptionally expensive even for political parties or corporations and has the added benefit of knowing who bought what vote from whom. If the average registered voter divided their ballot and sold it by the piece I bet they could bring in an easy low 4 digits tax free per voting cycle. If we are going to bent over by our political betters shouldn't we receive compensation for them to have that privilege.

Lursa · Mar 13, 2019

Are there other rights we are forced to exercise against our will?

I have seen people attempt to justify forcing people to exercise their right to life against their will. I object to that a great deal.

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

Felis Leo said:
Perhaps it would make the Democrats the permanent majority in the United States if they were able to force people to the polls, and make voting mandatory in the same way that we make jury duty or registering for the selective service act mandatory. The fact that it may give the Democrats a majority really does not faze me so much as the idea that such compulsion must clearly be in the public interest. I do not see how being forced to vote serves the public interest in any way. Especially when the candidates on the ticket may be equally despicable to the people forced to choose among them.

The Democrats would be foolish to be the party known for forcing people to vote. Sounds like Russian Democracy to me.

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

rocket88 said:
Historically, higher turnout rates have meant better results for the Democrats. That's why Repubs are trying to restrict voting.

I wouldn't want to be the party known for forcing people to vote or pay a fine. I think the definition for that is found under the word "backfire".

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

Rogue Valley said:
No one should be forced to vote.

But the GOP's efforts to restrict registering/voting is past ridiculous. This has to stop.

But Democrats have no interest whatsoever in making sure of the integrity of elections. Hell, in some cities in California they even allow illegals to vote in local elections.

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

Moon said:
Only if the party in power will provide us with ballots that are already filled out. If we’re going to go down the anti-freedom road, let’s do it correctly.

Yup. Sure sounds like Russian Democracy to me.

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

WillyPete said:
I would support permitting proxy voting and allowing people to give, sell, or otherwise trade their vote to whoever they trust to vote in their stead. As long as it was all done in the open, I think it would be an improvement.

It would generate a considerable amount of economic activity, and also help pick out broad patterns in opinion, based on which bloc got the most support.

I have to confess, I can't tell if you are serious or being sarcastic.

Bodi · Mar 13, 2019

Moderate Right said:
Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

Less people should be voting... not more. Jesus... most Americans come out of school barely educated and have no idea about basic facts.

Sampson Simpson · Mar 13, 2019

Moderate Right said:
Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

Nobody said that, as usual, right winger has to lie in order to troll.

the more people that vote, the more likely democrats would win. That's fact. Tha'ts why republicans try so hard to purge rolls, cry about fake voter fraud to make it harder for those to vote, get voter id laws that target the poor, and even so bad as then remove id offices from those areas.

No democrat says forced. Just really poor trolling attempt

LouC · Mar 13, 2019

Moderate Right said:
Another thread inspired me to post this poll. I think some lefties here on DP feel that Democrats best chance of winning elections is by forcing people to vote or face a fine as they do in some other countries like Australia. I guess their thinking is that the more people who vote the more will vote Democrat. So, should we up our voter turnout to 90% or more by forcing people to vote or face a fine for not voting?

I haven't been here that long, could you cite some of these Lefties stating that they think that is their best chance of winning elections?

Thanks!

LouC · Mar 13, 2019

I am a "Leftie" and I certainly don't think that way.

In fact I can't remember any other "Leftie" stating they think that way, vote or pay a fine.

Actually that flies in the face of every argument I have seen Leftie's make that forcing folks to pay for Photo ID's is in essence a "Poll Tax" and thus illegal or unconstitutional.

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

Bodhisattva said:
Less people should be voting... not more. Jesus... most Americans come out of school barely educated and have no idea about basic facts.

I never could sync in my mind how it is the left think that Trump got elected because of low information voters and yet the left seem to want to bring out the low information voters in droves. What am I missing?

Moderate Right · Mar 13, 2019

Sampson Simpson said:
Nobody said that, as usual, right winger has to lie in order to troll.

the more people that vote, the more likely democrats would win. That's fact. Tha'ts why republicans try so hard to purge rolls, cry about fake voter fraud to make it harder for those to vote, get voter id laws that target the poor, and even so bad as then remove id offices from those areas.

No democrat says forced. Just really poor trolling attempt

Yes they have. I got my idea for the poll based on another thread. And, I also clarified it by saying "I think", the first two words you bolded. And, it is fairly common knowledge that Democrats want to get out the vote because it is, again, common knowledge that the more people who vote tend to help the Democratic party.

Waddy · Mar 13, 2019

I actually favor a civics test before being allowed to vote. With rights comes responsibilities. If you want the right to vote, you have the responsibility to be an informed voter.

lwf · Mar 13, 2019

Bodhisattva said:
Less people should be voting... not more. Jesus... most Americans come out of school barely educated and have no idea about basic facts.

"Fewer" people...

Should People Be Forced To Vote Or Pay A Fine?