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Obama: Maybe it's time for mandatory voting
CNN ^ | 03/19/2015 | Holly Yan

Posted on 03/19/2015 8:00:05 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

The president whose major policy achievement is mandatory health insurance thinks maybe voting should be mandatory, too.

Asked how to offset the influence of big money in politics, President Barack Obama suggested it's time to make voting a requirement.

"Other countries have mandatory voting," Obama said Wednesday in Cleveland, where he spoke about the importance of middle class economics, and was asked about the issue during a town hall.

"It would be transformative if everybody voted -- that would counteract money more than anything," he said, adding it was the first time he had shared the idea publicly.

The clout of millionaires and billionaires in campaign funding has been enormous, and many claim the uber wealthy have undue leverage in politics.

"The people who tend not to vote are young, they're lower income, they're skewed more heavily towards immigrant groups and minority groups," Obama said. "There's a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls."

At least 26 countries have compulsory voting, according to the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Failure to vote is punishable by a fine in countries such as Australia and Belgium; if you fail to pay your fine in Belgium, you could go to prison.

Aside from campaign finance issues, the United States also grapples with one of the lowest voter turnout rates among developed countries.

Less than 37% of eligible voters actually voted in the 2014 midterm elections, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. That means about 144 million Americans -- more than the population of Russia -- skipped out.

But mandatory voting could bring its own set of problems. Haydon Manning, associate professor at Flinders University in Australia, said that country's rules can backfire.

(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2evil4words; dictator; mandatoryvoting; obama; soviet; voteordie
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To: SeekAndFind

We can’t demand an ID to prove who you are in order to vote, but they CAN make voting mandatory.


61 posted on 03/19/2015 8:46:11 AM PDT by FrdmLvr ("WE ARE ALL OSAMA, 0BAMA!" al-Qaeda terrorists who breached the American compound in Benghazi)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Maybe it’s time for Mandatory Voting”

And he can have the State Security Direktorate/Homeland Security check to make sure you have voted “Correctly” as well!


62 posted on 03/19/2015 8:48:06 AM PDT by tcrlaf (They told me it could never happen in America. And then it did....)
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To: FrdmLvr

Obama is planning ahead...after legalizing 20-30 million illegal law breakers, he is concerned they won’t go to the polls fast enough...so he wants to make voting mandatory and give them freebies to make sure they vote for the Communist...err Democrap party. Obama wants total control.


63 posted on 03/19/2015 8:48:14 AM PDT by gwgn02
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To: woofie
Im holding out for mandatory sex

Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it (think LGBLT agenda).

64 posted on 03/19/2015 8:57:00 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m ok w/mandatory voting ONLY IF we also have mandatory concealed carry.


65 posted on 03/19/2015 8:57:05 AM PDT by fruser1
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To: cuban leaf

I am totally on board with that.

No skin in the game (tax wise), no say in how the game is played.


66 posted on 03/19/2015 8:58:19 AM PDT by navyguy (The National Reset Button is pushed with the trigger finger.)
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To: skeeter

Dag nabit, you beat me to the punch.


67 posted on 03/19/2015 8:58:33 AM PDT by stockpirate (A corrupt government is the real enemy of the people.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I wish this story was satire.


68 posted on 03/19/2015 9:00:17 AM PDT by WayneS (Barack Obama makes Neville Chamberlin look like George Patton.)
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To: Ray76

They do not need to cement anything, republican leaders and rank and file are fascist/socialists just like the democrat party. Give me one real difference between republican leadership and democrats?


69 posted on 03/19/2015 9:00:30 AM PDT by stockpirate (A corrupt government is the real enemy of the people.)
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To: Snickering Hound

If they could find a way to get all the Gimmedats who turned out for Obama in ‘08 to show up for the mid-terms, the Dems would never lose another election, and we’d be France within a couple of cycles.

THAT is what they are after here.


70 posted on 03/19/2015 9:01:38 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: cuban leaf

Well stated. I agree wholeheartedly.


71 posted on 03/19/2015 9:01:41 AM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Daveinyork

Except for the things on which he wants an outright ban.


72 posted on 03/19/2015 9:03:57 AM PDT by WayneS (Barack Obama makes Neville Chamberlin look like George Patton.)
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To: stockpirate

Yup. I agree.


73 posted on 03/19/2015 9:05:48 AM PDT by Ray76 (Obama says, "Unlike my mum, Ruth has all the documents needed to prove who Mark's father was.")
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To: Star Traveler

Mickey Mouse would stand a much better chance under this system.


74 posted on 03/19/2015 9:07:55 AM PDT by Idaho_Cowboy (Ride for the Brand. Joshua 24:15)
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To: WayneS
here here!


75 posted on 03/19/2015 9:08:19 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: woofie

[ Im holding out for mandatory sex ]

We already have that, everyone gets screwed


76 posted on 03/19/2015 9:08:26 AM PDT by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: skeeter

If I recall, in Cuba and the former Soviet union 100% of the people always voted.


77 posted on 03/19/2015 9:37:57 AM PDT by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
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To: SeekAndFind

Or even better, the government can vote for you by proxy.


78 posted on 03/19/2015 9:43:31 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Civil rights are for civilized people.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Maybe it’s time to impeach the usurper.


79 posted on 03/19/2015 9:44:09 AM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: SeekAndFind

Look folks...this guy, Obama is delusional. Like Caligula, Hitler & Nero....Obama lives in his own self-adoring fantasy world!!! Mr. Obama & Joe Biden are not wrapped too tight!!! In fact, they are both insane!!! Does not say much for the American voter!!! “Bibi” has finished off Obama....only Obama has nary a clue ....he is burnt toast!!!


80 posted on 03/19/2015 9:46:29 AM PDT by JLAGRAYFOX ( My only objective is to defeat and destroy Obama & his Democrat Party, politically!!!.)
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