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Ben's avatar

Good morning from Australia, why don't you guys have compulsory voting??? Let go of the cheating allegations, scrap the ballot harvesting, etc,

by introducing compulsory voting

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Datagal's avatar

Because compulsory voting would just give them more ballots to cheat with. We actually need to go backward in election technology: hand marked paper ballots, physical voter ID, hand counted at the precinct with witnesses. I call it Amish voting!

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Principled Pragmatist's avatar

Love this. Amish voting! And that is exactly what they did a couple of weeks ago with the Iowa caucuses. Paper ballots, voter ID, all ballots counted in front of an open public gathering.

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Ben's avatar

Disagree, compulsory voting gives "them" less ballots to cheat with. Voter ID is not even required in compulsory voting, trust me...and agree with paper ballots.

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devoalan's avatar

Purple thumbs!

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Mark St's avatar

I'd advocate for the opposite in the US. Make being qualified to vote a little bit more difficult.

How about a requirement of passing a 10 question civics quiz? At least 7/10 correct or you can't vote. The quiz given at the polling place, no phones allowed while taking it.

If you don't even have an understanding of the basics of US civics, you really shouldn't have a vote in utilizing or changing it.

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Jack Bergeron's avatar

There was a time when the only persons eligible to vote were property owning, tax paying, white adult male citizens. There was also a time when in order to become a citizen, thus becoming eligible to vote here in the United States, a person needed to read and speak English and swear an oath to support the Constitution.

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devoalan's avatar

And anyone receiving welfare, can’t vote. Only those that pay taxes get to vote. Wow would that shut down the democrat party. They would no longer exist.

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Based Florida Man's avatar

It's like in your country and mine with the vaccine lunacy. Our country's are run by psychopaths.

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Carrie's avatar

Compulsory voting would not eliminate the cheating, as the ballots mailed to people could be harvested by bad actors. I would actually prefer people not vote if they are uninformed.

Some of our local community have universal mail in ballots, and that’s a high risk for fraud.

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Ben's avatar

Hi Carrie, thanks for replying.

In my experience in Australia we have never had "contested" elections because we are all required to vote. In order to mail in vote, one must apply to the Australian Electoral Commission to get a mail in voting application.

I think that everyone should vote even if they might be "uninformed", because we all pay tax.

Does the USA have optional census?

Regards,

Ben

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Carrie's avatar

I hope this comes across respectful.😀

Everyone here does not pay taxes. Maybe only tax payers should vote? Funny I. Just heard a report of a survey where 18% said they would vote for whoever Taylor Swift endorses. I will respectfully disagree that everyone in the US should vote.

You guys in Australia may have a good system for compulsory voting, but I am very skeptical of how that would work in the US with all our current loose and variable voting policies.

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Reasonable Horses's avatar

Ignorance and apathy are Constitutionally protected rights.

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Karen's avatar

Compulsory voting is a terrible, horrible idea. Just what we need, more apathetic, uninformed people marking ballots.

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