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?
If the goal is to increase voter turnout, there are much better ways to achieve this than requiring all eligible voters to vote. Methods that demonstrate to potential voters that their opinions matter are more effective ways to boost voter turnout.
For starters, many ID requirements currently enforced in some states and proposals underway in Congress are, in fact, akin to poll taxes. For example, the SAVE Act (Safe Guard American Eligibility) would require most Americans to depend on a passport or birth certificate to prove citizenship — a passport costs $130, which is a steep price for many low-income Americans. This acts as a disincentive to vote.
Second, the concept of one person, one vote is a fallacy. The Electoral College, along with the schedule for state primaries, provides small, rural (and conservative) states with an outsized influence on which major party candidates secure their parties’ endorsements. The Electoral College should be eliminated, and a different primary schedule or a nationwide primary should be considered.
Third, many voters are dissatisfied with the significant influence of the major parties. Ranked-choice voting could offer third-party candidates an opportunity to win or at least provide voters a means to express their discontent with major-party candidates.
Fourth, gerrymandered districts weaken the votes of communities of color and low-income populations. Major political parties should not have the authority to draw district lines that advantage their candidates.
Another way to increase voter turnout in the long run is to change the age at which people can vote. Allowing 16-year-olds to have the right to vote, combined with strong civics classes in high schools, would enable issues affecting youth — such as quality education — to enhance overall voter turnout and empower young people to make more informed decisions than most of the general public. Ultimately, this would promote lifelong changes in voter engagement.
Lastly, some countries designate national voting days as holidays. Congress should give strong consideration to this idea.