I honestly feel voting should be made mandatory, i know this might sound a little extreme to some people because, yes, everybody has their own choice and some people genuinely do not want to participate in politics, But if you ask me, I think everybody who is eligible to vote should actually make the effort to vote.
The other reason I don't understand is when people gripe about the government after the election, but when it comes time to vote, they don't go out and vote.
Later you hear, "The candidate that I wanted did not win.
But did you go and vote?
If voting is going to be compulsory, then more people will be encouraged to vote, people that don't normally vote may actually vote because they know that they must.
And quite honestly, I believe this has the power to get politicians to pay more attention to the people, when more citizens are actually engaged, politicians can't just pay attention to a small group of voters and ignore the rest, they know there are more people watching, more people participating, and more people who will have something to say about their performance.
But, I also know that some may not agree with mandatory voting, making people vote doesn't necessarily result in them making informed choices.
Someone could simply walk into the polling unit, pick anybody randomly, and leave because they don't really care, and that doesn't really solve the problem.
That is why I believe that voting should be coupled with adequate political education, people should know what they are voting for, they should know why their vote is important, they should know the candidates, they should have some idea of what the candidates have to offer, they need enough information to make a reasonable decision.
But certainly, voting merely to vote is not enough and I don't believe that anyone should be arrested and treated as a criminal for not voting.
To me that's too harsh an going to far
Perhaps if there is a little fine? Or other reasonable consequence, but send a person to court because they missed an election? I don't believe that's okay.
There should also be good grounds for not voting, A person might be ill, on a trip, experiencing an emergency situation or circumstances that prevent them from reaching a polling station.
The system has to be reasonable.
However I think Voting should be mandatory somehow.
When it comes to deciding who should lead them, the only time that the common people have the chance to voice their opinion is during elections, there is no need to have vast resources or power, there is no need to know anybody, If you're able to vote, you should be able to make your voice heard.
I think at times people forget that democracy is not just for the politicians alone, it belongs to the people too, we people
Why wait after the elections for the "wrong" person to get elected when there is an opportunity to get involved?
If your candidate doesn't get elected, well at least you did what you could.
To me that is the most important.
Vote.
Make your choice.
If your preferred candidate doesn't win, then accept that and hold the winner accountable.
In fact, sitting in your living room and saying, "My vote doesn't count" while everyone else are going out to vote isn't doing anybody a favor.
Better participation of the people is needed for better leaders, so yes, I think that voting should be made mandatory.
Not because one should be punished for their own opinions, but because it should be a serious matter to be involved in the process that determines the future of your country.
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