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Should the U.S. Adopt Compulsory Voting?
Rasmussen Reports ^ | July 13, 2010 | Debra J. Saunders

Posted on 07/13/2010 7:44:53 AM PDT by SmartInsight

In Australia, it's against the law for citizens age 18 or older not to vote.

Brookings Institution Senior Fellow William Galston has proposed that America adopt the same system to increase voter participation. In the 2008 presidential election, 61.7 percent of eligible Americans voted, according to George Mason University.

I object.

For one thing, Washington should not coerce citizens by making them vote. In a free country, those who do not wish to vote should be free to abstain.

And while there is no proving that higher turnout means more left-leaning votes, political scientists of both stripes tend to believe that mandatory voting delivers more votes to the left than to the right. Again, quantity does not mean quality.

(Excerpt) Read more at rasmussenreports.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; government; voting
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To: Mr. Silverback

The next logical step, after telling people they must vote, is to tell them who they must vote for.


21 posted on 07/13/2010 8:08:29 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 535 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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To: Red Badger

ONLY, and ONLY if the law says that ONLY TAXPAYERS CAN VOTE!


22 posted on 07/13/2010 8:09:41 AM PDT by goodnesswins (DEMOCRATS LOSE.....America WINS!)
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To: SmartInsight

No, we should go back to only allowing property owners the right to vote.


23 posted on 07/13/2010 8:09:51 AM PDT by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: SmartInsight

We need voting licenses.

Do you have to take a test to drive? ........ Sure you do. Voting should be a PRIVILEGE like driving. And you should HAVE to take a test to vote. Basic knowledge of American history and civics.

If asked who won the civil war......and you answer the “blue”. Sorry, your just too stupid to vote.


24 posted on 07/13/2010 8:10:48 AM PDT by NeverForgetBataan (To the German Commander: ..........................NUTS !)
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To: SmartInsight

Hell NO!!!

We should make the franchise something to strive for! It should be a jealously guarded privilege!

One of the most annoying things about America today, actual voter fraud to one side, is that any schmuck or schmuckette above the age of 18 who can be enticed into a voting booth can negate my well-reasoned vote — even if he/she/it is incapable of tying shoelaces or signing his/her/its own name!

Less obstacles to voting? Try MORE! I want a basic reading and citizenship test - IN ENGLISH. I want voters to provide identification. I want a damn dress code! No shirt, no shoes, no ballot!

Make it as difficult as possible for people to vote and the cheaters will be easier to catch and the drooling half-witted parasites will stay home!


25 posted on 07/13/2010 8:12:11 AM PDT by Ronin
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To: ml/nj

What would the percentage be when they include non-eligibles? Say the dead or ex-felons.


26 posted on 07/13/2010 8:12:14 AM PDT by kalee (The offences we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)
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To: SmartInsight

I don’t know about compulsory, but would be nice to vote FOR someone.

For most of my adult life, too much of my voting has been holding my nose and voting for who I dislike the least!

Voting should be a rewarding, joyous occasion, with a legitimate hope for improvement. Most of the time I see it as a blocking exercise - “well if enough of us turnout, maybe we can keep the bigger jackass out of office.”


27 posted on 07/13/2010 8:12:56 AM PDT by I cannot think of a name
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To: SmartInsight

How about a property requirement for voting. I like that better.


28 posted on 07/13/2010 8:15:01 AM PDT by Oratam
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To: SmartInsight

we already have this for felons in Minnesota.


29 posted on 07/13/2010 8:18:23 AM PDT by WOBBLY BOB (drain the swamp! ( then napalm it and pave it over ))
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To: BenLurkin
No surprise, these ignorant morons fit the democrats voter profile..Get them stupid and make sure they vote..The reason these morons say these things about Sarah Palin is because they listen to the liberal media..Things like this disgust me so much..
30 posted on 07/13/2010 8:18:29 AM PDT by PLD (When you receive a kindness,remember it;when you bestow one,forget it)
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To: SmartInsight

Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT! Uninformed voters vote for socialists like Obastard. Need I say more?


31 posted on 07/13/2010 8:20:16 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (The US will not die with a whimper. It will die with thundering applause from the left.)
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To: SmartInsight

Good Lord!
No! In fact voting should be restricted to people who pay income taxes.


32 posted on 07/13/2010 8:20:57 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: SmartInsight

If a person does not care or want to vote, then they should notbe forced to vote. In fact, perhaps we need a compulsory test to see if people know enough about America to vote as an informed citizen.


33 posted on 07/13/2010 8:21:47 AM PDT by dforest
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To: SmartInsight

Countries with small populations sometimes adopt compulsory voting in order to keep small organized cliques of radicals from taking over the government. We don’t have that issue in play here. (they way things are going though I would not be surprised if they adopted a law saying that you were DEEMED to have voted for the incumbent unless you showed up and voted otherwise)


34 posted on 07/13/2010 8:25:11 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: SmartInsight
The less people who vote the better.

STAY AWAY FROM THE POLLS, DUM-DUMS!

35 posted on 07/13/2010 8:28:36 AM PDT by Cinnamon Girl (G-d Bless President Bush. He kept us safe.)
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To: Red Badger

Huh?


36 posted on 07/13/2010 8:29:43 AM PDT by Bob J (Will all my comments be censored?)
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To: SmartInsight
NO!!

I don't believe in compulsory "education", either.

It's NOT the government's job to compel me to do anything for "my own good".

As for voting, it would be better to RESTRICT voting to only citizens that can pass a basic, ninth-grade American Civics test IN ENGLISH.

They should be able to enumerate the Bill of Rights, understand the Division of Powers, what those Divisions are, and what functions they serve.

If they can't get a passing score on that test, IN ENGLISH, then they SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE!

37 posted on 07/13/2010 8:33:48 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: Bob J
Voting should be restricted to US citizens ONLY!

What part of that do you not understand?...............

38 posted on 07/13/2010 8:35:15 AM PDT by Red Badger (No, Obama's not the Antichrist. He's just some guy in the neighborhood.............)
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To: Responsibility2nd

“But we should return to the Constitution when it allowed only land-owners to vote.”

That’s exactly what’s needed, only people who have a real stake should vote, not those who just want to vote for benefits to themselves from the pockets of others.


39 posted on 07/13/2010 8:39:16 AM PDT by SmartInsight (Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. ~ G. J. Nathan)
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To: NeverForgetBataan

I agree in principle, but I wouldn’t trust the government to design or administer that kind of test.


40 posted on 07/13/2010 8:40:53 AM PDT by Ellendra (I'll believe it's a crisis when the people who say it's a crisis, ACT like it's a crisis!)
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