Having a form of identification to vote.

[Warren Dew]

Who exactly does not have ID?

Come on, Tyrannical, be fair. How many corpses have you dug up from the graveyard who were in shape to walk down to the DMV and apply for an ID?

[mistermack]

I would vote against any attempt to make it mandatory to vote, it is dictatorial. People have a right to choose not to choose that is part and parcel of liberty. Vote or be punished, you like to see that? just add "for me" in after that vote, you're on the path already.

Of course not, that's rubbish.
Just because you make it compulsory to vote, that doesn't mean you have to choose.
You just have a box titled "none of the above". At least you have fulfilled the obligation.

If you don't vote, you lose a one-off part of your benefit.
And voter ID could be handed out at the benefits office. They check your ID, or should do.
Why can't they issue a voter ID card? If they are issueing money, then it should be safe enough to issue voter ID.

Anyway, who knows, "none of the above" might actually get in.
Mit Romney might change his name to "none of the above", he would stand more chance that way.

[Tyrannical]

Voting is a privilege, and not a right. Therefor I'm against mandatory voting.

[Audley Strange]

I would vote against any attempt to make it mandatory to vote, it is dictatorial. People have a right to choose not to choose that is part and parcel of liberty. Vote or be punished, you like to see that? just add "for me" in after that vote, you're on the path already.

Of course not, that's rubbish.
Just because you make it compulsory to vote, that doesn't mean you have to choose.
You just have a box titled "none of the above". At least you have fulfilled the obligation.

If you don't vote, you lose a one-off part of your benefit.
And voter ID could be handed out at the benefits office. They check your ID, or should do.
Why can't they issue a voter ID card? If they are issueing money, then it should be safe enough to issue voter ID.

Anyway, who knows, "none of the above" might actually get in.
Mit Romney might change his name to "none of the above", he would stand more chance that way.

Two things. First of all making anything compulsory takes away the choice not to involve yourself. You are creating a law which forces people to take part in a politically motivated spectacle. It's not rubbish to say that is dictatorial, it is dictatorial by definition. You are being dictated to, legally forced to do what you've told when there is no reason for it at all. Your parochial attitude says people should be punished for not doing what you think they should do. You are creating a crime for no other reason that a political motivation.

Secondly this "none of the above" bullshit is just a glib toss away line that sounds good to those who don't think. It is an insane idea because without radical changes to the system of governance to support such a change, (and such radical changes would be an admission to a broken system. So why not attempt to fix it, if you are making an effort anyway, why not address the problems rather than just admit you recognise it with a stupid and dangerous "none of the above" option?) it would lead to a temporary cessation of the democratic process. If a majority vote "none of the above" then the current administration even if just in power to oversee the next election would have no mandate to do so. No one would, so what police state? Military Junta? Just go, "fuck it game over" and see what happens?

Any other crazy ideas?

[MrJonno]

Voting should be compulsory (with none of the above as an option) as its a good anti-libertarian symbol. It reminds people that while they live in society they are part of something bigger themselves whether they like it or not. Reminds people that not everything in life is about personal choice

[Svartalf]

Compulsory voting is a bad idea... it turns every would be abstentionist into a loose cannon; if we had compulsory voting, Le Pen would likely have been elected in 2002 so fed up was the electorate.

[Clinton Huxley]

Compulsory voting is a bad idea... it turns every would be abstentionist into a loose cannon; if we had compulsory voting, Le Pen would likely have been elected in 2002 so fed up was the electorate.

I think the marijuana party candidate would be my MP right now if we had compulsory voting....

[Coito ergo sum]

Compulsory voting is a bad idea... it turns every would be abstentionist into a loose cannon; if we had compulsory voting, Le Pen would likely have been elected in 2002 so fed up was the electorate.

Is that a vote against Democracy?

[Audley Strange]

Voting should be compulsory (with none of the above as an option) as its a good anti-libertarian symbol. It reminds people that while they live in society they are part of something bigger themselves whether they like it or not. Reminds people that not everything in life is about personal choice

Yeah, in fact why not lock em up if you don't like their vote and why not stop people standing for elections if you don't like their opinions. In fact, fuck voting let's just enslave anyone who doesn't agree with us, that'll solve the problem.

THINK FFS.

[Svartalf]

Compulsory voting is a bad idea... it turns every would be abstentionist into a loose cannon; if we had compulsory voting, Le Pen would likely have been elected in 2002 so fed up was the electorate.

I think the marijuana party candidate would be my MP right now if we had compulsory voting....

You know what, that's a powerful argument pro you're bringing up... Pot Party might be better for the country than any of the others.

[Svartalf]

Compulsory voting is a bad idea... it turns every would be abstentionist into a loose cannon; if we had compulsory voting, Le Pen would likely have been elected in 2002 so fed up was the electorate.

Is that a vote against Democracy?

Against the established molitical classes. Nobody wants blue shirts and tricolore armbands to become a near uniform.

[Wandering Through]

Voting should be compulsory (with none of the above as an option) as its a good anti-libertarian symbol. It reminds people that while they live in society they are part of something bigger themselves whether they like it or not. Reminds people that not everything in life is about personal choice

It really is impossible in your opinion for the state to trespass against and individual, isn't it? No compulsion is unjustifiable, so long as whoever happens to wield power at the moment dictates it, whether elected or a dictator. I don't understand and don't mean to derail, can you briefly tell me what you base your philosophy on so I can try to read something about it? Sincere question.

[Coito ergo sum]

Compulsory voting is a bad idea... it turns every would be abstentionist into a loose cannon; if we had compulsory voting, Le Pen would likely have been elected in 2002 so fed up was the electorate.

Is that a vote against Democracy?

Against the established molitical classes. Nobody wants blue shirts and tricolore armbands to become a near uniform.

Well, if you're suggesting they would win the election if they voted, obviously a lot of people want that...

[Audley Strange]

Sometimes voter apathy is a good thing.

[Pappa]

Sometimes voter apathy is a good thing.

I'm not apathetic about politics, quite the opposite. But usually I don't vote for anyone because there's nobody worth voting for. Voting against isn't much of an option either, because they're all so fucking similar. Occasionally I vote for a minor party that I might identify with in certain ways, but a couple of times I've just drawn spunky cocks all over my ballot paper.