Voting, whether it be in local, state, or federal elections, is optional. But should it be? Or should it be required?
In the United States, voter turnout tends to be rather poor. Even in high stakes elections, the number of people who choose not to vote outnumbers the votes tallied by any of the available candidates. ‘No vote’ would win every election.
There have been a number of proposed ways of increasing voter turnout. One possibility is to simply make voting mandatory. Once you are over the voting age, you will be expected to vote, and will face a penalty for not casting a ballot.
In your opinion, would this increase the quality and the outcome of elections? With an increase in the number of ballots cast, would the winning candidates more accurately reflect the populace? Or would the disinterested voter — the ones who are currently choosing not to vote — cast protest votes?
Would an uninformed, or unwilling, electorate produce worse outcomes? Or is a larger voting pool and more voters participating always a better thing? Should voting be required?
Related questions: How would you describe your civic life? What role should government play in our lives? Have you contacted an elected official?