[bobi]

Well people need to go out and vote.

Here in Australia we HAVE to vote in ALL local, state and federal electrions.

EVERY one has to vote or there is a $100+ fine.

I have to prove my self absent on the last election to avoid paying the fine.

Good or bad everyone has to express their opinion and it is one of the responsibilities of living in a democratic society.

Whereas the United States system of voting ...... :) .... lets not get into that ...... it is a conservative website.

[kosta50]

Well, you would imagine that rights carry responsibilities, but that's not so in most cases. Vote is seen as both a right and a privilege, but not as duty. However, those people who decide to vote should not be robbed of their vote by those who choose not to bother, by having the elections invalidated. That creates even more voter apathy and sense of impotence. It creates a passive-aggressive culture that leads to polarization and eventulaly violence -- and the Balkans is as good at that as it gets.

I think forcing people to vote is wrong. Chasing people down for voting absence creates unnecessary bureacracy. Computers should simply drop irrepsonsible voters from an active to an inactive status and make those who wish to be reactivated pay for it.