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Compulsory Voting Case Study

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The essay I constructed under the assessment for Critical Thinking and Communication aimed to provide a response to the debate ‘should all citizens be required by law to vote in Australia?’. The principal argument of the essay was centred upon the notion that a primary goal of a representative democracy is to recognise and apply the will of the people; and that elections only have the potential to adequately represent the will of an entire electorate under a compulsory voting scheme. This reasoning is premised on the underlying belief that every citizen should be granted a platform from which their views may be heard, and their needs addressed. Ultimately, the normative conclusion of the paper is that mandatory participation in Australian elections …show more content…

480), the essay adheres to the principle of ‘Social Benefit’. This principle serves as the core of my argument that “compulsory voting serves as tool that can be used to improve the state of inequality of a nation”. Through a case study comparing voter participation in both the United States and Australia, the essay clearly conveyed the notion that in a system of voluntary voting, the citizens least likely to participate in elections are those from the least privileged backgrounds, i.e. low income earners, those from ethnic backgrounds, or those with low level education, which can consequently result in parliamentary focus skewing away from these demographics that arguably require a greater amount of advocacy, to instead favour the more well off voting community as it is they who will elect the nation’s representative. Conversely, in a democracy that enforces mandatory voting, this political inequality does not occur, but rather, compulsory voting indicates that the community is, by law, one; citizenship is a status that is to be enjoyed by everyone, despite economic, employment or residential status, education levels, ethnicity, gender of disability (Hill, 2004). Therefore, it is evident that the principle of social benefit, which acknowledges the extent to which an action produces beneficial consequences for society, is a primary

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Political campaigns and elections in the United States changed dramatically between 1815 and 1840 due to large social and political changes, such as universal white male suffrage which caused caused more voters in the middle and lower classes, and the growth of the common man ideal which resulted in politicians that were voted into office based on their background rather than their actual political views and knowledge. The political changes that granted universal white male suffrage caused an increase in eligible voters (doc 1). This increase in eligible voters (mainly the middle class) led to a demand for politicians who were more inclined to push for legislation that would benefit the “common man”, this included topics such as child labor

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With compulsory voting many countries become successful. Germany,Peru, Australia and many more countries have been required to vote since the late 1800’s to the late 1900’s (Doc A). In Brazil those who don 't vote have to pay a fine, causing many to not miss their voting slot time

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1. As many of us know, union political action takes four basic forms: (1) financial support to candidates favoring union positions, (2) volunteer work by union members in campaigns, (3) endorsement of candidates and get-out-the-vote efforts, (4) and lobbying. All of the above forms are important in our cause but what I believe I should be assigned to lead the endorsement of candidates and get-out-the-vote efforts. Unions have put in a substantially increased amount of volunteer and financial resources since 1995.

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The right to vote cannot be denied on account of race. All people included in the term race have the right to vote, unless otherwise prohibited.” (Victoria C.

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Although most individuals whom were granted the rights to vote saw it as extremely positive change in all aspects, there were few who viewed the concept of voting as chaotic concept , they stated that “The tendency of the universal suffrage is to jeopardize the rights of the property and the principles of liberty.” (Doc B) everyone have the right to

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The second and less well-known is that of the growth of economic justice during the after the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. The economic aspect is one of the most successful and enduring features which directed from the Voting Rights Act movement, and enacted the economic boost in the economy. Since, now, African Americans and other minorities had a brief amount of rights, this sparked an opportunity to be seen as a taste of freedom. According to a Stanford professor, “Some of the economic benefits were apparent almost immediately after the enactment of the Voting Rights Act. Surveys reported more paved roads and streetlights in black residential areas, better access to city and county services, and increased black hiring in public-sector

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However, the argument on the other side is stronger. Compulsory voting can be used to show the least you can do for your country, and that compulsory voting could fix many of the problems in your state, city, or even country, and compulsory voting proves that the rate of voted go

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Many people believe that the election plays the most important role in democracy. Because a free and fair election holds the government responsible and forces it to behave on voter's interest. However, some scholars find evidence that election itself is not enough to hold politicians responsible if the institutions are not shaping incentives in a correct way. In other words, the role of the election on democracy, whether it helps to serve the interest of the public or specific groups, depends on other political institutions. I

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