Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote • Hacker News Board

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#11

Post by edc117 » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 2:54 PM UTC

aprdm wrote: post #10

Well in Brazil we do have mandatory voting and our political situation is one of the worst in the world.. Everybody here is trying the opposite - to make voting not mandatory. The population does not feel represented by the politicians, yet we have to choose one of them every election. Buying votes /manipulating electors in this scenario looks really easy..

Do you understand why making voting not mandatory would not solve your problem? The subset of people that do vote will still vote poorly.

The people in power almost always badly represent the common interest; I hope this changes in my lifetime.

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#12

Post by malandrew » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 3:08 PM UTC

I'm curious what impact mandatory voting has on the number of viable political parties. In Brazil, we have mandatory voting and a few more viable political parties (at least at the state and local level). I haven't a clue if there is any relationship, but I would imagine that requiring people to vote would involve having the 63% that isn't voting currently looking at candidates from the two parties and saying to themselves "I hate both, who else is available?"

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#13

Post by ant_lion » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 4:51 PM UTC

I think switching to instant runoff voting would have more impact. That way, folks can vote their conscience first, practicality second.

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#14

Post by godgod » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 5:53 PM UTC

Citizen, you will vote for Democrat otherwise you get bullet. Thank you Comrade.

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#15

Post by dustinls » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 10:38 PM UTC

Fando wrote: post #7

Mandatory vote is a good start, and will encourage more people to think about their government. In addition, get rid of electoral college. Add verifiable secure online voting and promote a system wide education of the people on the benefits of political envolvement.

Can part of that education touch on the morality of voting?

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#16

Post by dustinls » Fri, Mar 20, 2015, 10:41 PM UTC

ant_lion wrote: post #13

I think switching to instant runoff voting would have more impact. That way, folks can vote their conscience first, practicality second.

But I could argue that the act of voting is itself an immoral, even violent act.

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#17

Post by Fando » Mon, Mar 23, 2015, 10:46 PM UTC

dustinls wrote: post #15

Fando wrote: post #7

Mandatory vote is a good start, and will encourage more people to think about their government. In addition, get rid of electoral college. Add verifiable secure online voting and promote a system wide education of the people on the benefits of political envolvement.

Can part of that education touch on the morality of voting?

Indeed! That would be a core requirement of such education, among others.

Re: Obama suggests requiring everyone to vote

#18

Post by Fando » Mon, Mar 23, 2015, 10:48 PM UTC

collyw wrote: post #9

Fando wrote: post #7

Mandatory vote is a good start, and will encourage more people to think about their government. In addition, get rid of electoral college. Add verifiable secure online voting and promote a system wide education of the people on the benefits of political envolvement.

Many non voters will think about government, and realize none of the candidates represent them in the slightest.

Yes, and it will be a tiny stepping stone toward changing this backwards system altogether.