Voting is one of the key components of a functioning democracy, enabling the populace to elect officials, influence government policy, and determine the course of their nations. However, the thought of mandating, even penalizing people with arrest and criminal charges, for not casting their vote remains a profoundly controversial topic.
Although some might claim this would boost participation, the coercion of a nation with threats of punishment creates far more problems than it solves.
Some may propose that compelling this act ensures representation is from more than just the typically apathetic voters, but the entire electorate. With higher voter turnout, candidates and parties may also address issues relevant to every member of the nation, not just those who are prone to voting.
Additionally, the few countries in which voting is compulsory typically exhibit higher voter engagement, resulting in enhanced legitimacy for those elected in. All of the benefits associated with an individual participating have been acknowledged, but a truly fundamental core principal of democracy the protection of freedoms can never justify such an approach as forced and criminalised voting can.
The freedom of choice must include a vote, or, just as much, its absence.
Many citizens might be ill informed in regards to the current affairs or have significant moral or religious reservations in respects to which candidates appear to be available. Those whom have chosen not to vote through some conscience surely have nothing other than the belief that they have performed a service for country or other worthy causes. The concept to legally force citizens to commit these actions is clearly a gross contradiction in terms of democratic freedoms.
Simply by criminalising participation, this doesnt automatically result in the educated voting on relevant matters; those people that could not vote would only result in either blank papers or choices on irrelevant topics which defeats its very purpose entirely.
So rather than threatening the public with arrest and with criminal charges this can easily be prevented by ensuring we develop better means of explaining and introducing civic matters to the public as well as developing more user-friendly access, such as post vote applications, etc..
By educating people to the positive potential which voting has for there nation, rather then punishing there decision not to, greater amounts would result in voluntarily voting.
Therefore although I believe Voting should indeed be an obligatory civic responsibility which is enforced as greatly as possible through a more educate society it must continue to be peoples personal choices.
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