Should voting in elections be mandatory?

[Crabtownboy]

A young women in our church was absent from worship this past Sunday. When we ask where she was her husband said, "She is at the Brazilian embassy voting in the election."

She is Brazilian he is a native born US citizen. In Brazil if you are a citizen is is required that you vote in every election, even if you are an expat living in another country. I do not know what the punishment is for failing to vote and I do not know how the details are worked out, what kind of ID is required, if any, how the Brazilian government maintains a list of citizens.

So, do you also feel that voting should be mandatory and a fine levied on anyone not voting?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Low voter turnout on the democrat side is expected to be a big factor in the upcoming whuppin'.


No. We should not punish citizens for not voting.

 

[Sapper Woody]

No. It is a privilege to vote. Not a right, and should not be made mandatory. (Before someone jumps all over me, no it is not a right. Prisoners lose the privilege of voting.)

I believe that in most cases it is irresponsible to not vote. Especially if one is going to complain about the government. But mandatory would be a huge overstepping of government.

 

[Salty]

Being required to vote: NO!

I do not want uninformed citizens voting.

And while I am at it- I do not like easy party voting.

It may have changed, but when I lived in WV - but to vote a full party ticket, you only had to make one mark - bad ideal - each candidate should be voted on.

 

[gigabyte71]

No. It is a privilege to vote. Not a right, and should not be made mandatory. (Before someone jumps all over me, no it is not a right. Prisoners lose the privilege of voting.)

I believe that in most cases it is irresponsible to not vote. Especially if one is going to complain about the government. But mandatory would be a huge overstepping of government.

I don't think you understand what a right is. According to your logic, neither is the 2nd amendment a right. Being in prisoned simply keeps you from exercising your rights. Privileges can be taking at will, a right can't be.

Every person has a right to voice their choice of a leader, even if you don't get the one you want. But if it is forced, then the government has over steeped their bounds. Their soul duty is to protect my rights, period.

 

[Revmitchell]

According to "Bush V. Gore" voting is not a right. However, the same SC said that owning a gun is. In other words voting is not a consitutionally protected right.

 

[InTheLight]

According to "Bush V. Gore" voting is not a right. However, the same SC said that owning a gun is. In other words voting is not a consitutionally protected right.

Not this again. Read the19th amendment please.

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

 

[Revmitchell]

................................

 

[SolaSaint]

I don't feel it should be mandatory to vote but I do feel voters need to pass a literacy test or some kind of common sense test. My Dad (Democrat) would take my Mother to vote and have her mark it how he wanted the vote to go. She has Alzheimer's and had no idea what she was doing. This is wrong but it happened every election for several years. I'm sure the Dem's would be proud of my Dad.

Dem's would probably load up buses full of incompetent voters and drive them to the poles.

 

[ktn4eg]

I don't believe a person ought to be required to vote.

I do believe a person should vote, but to make it mandatory for him to do so doesn't make much sense to me.

How would such a mandatory law be enforced? Are there going to be policemen at every polling place to check on who votes? Will the Post Office have to check off each mail-in ballot? How would you check on folks who use the "early voting" method? Suppose you intended to vote on election day but got sick and couldn't go to your polling place?

Would such a mandatory law apply to primary elections as well? What about run-off elections?

To me, this type of mandatory voting law would just add more governmental bureaucracy and regulations.

I certainly believe every eligible citizen ought to know what each candidate stands for and pray for God's guidance when he/she votes, but to require everyone to vote in every election doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Salty]

Not this again. Read the19th amendment please.

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

That's correct - but voting can be denied for other reasons, such as age.

 

[gigabyte71]

According to "Bush V. Gore" voting is not a right. However, the same SC said that owning a gun is. In other words voting is not a consitutionally protected right.

Yea, you are quoting a real genius there. I can't believe you would quote any government official on what is Constitutional. Do you believe that the 2nd is about hunting? Because there are a whole bunch of people, left and right, who believe that is what it is about.

 

[gigabyte71]

That's correct - but voting can be denied for other reasons, such as age.

Just because the government denies a person their right to exercise a right, doesn't make it any less a right.

 

[InTheLight]

Yea, you are quoting a real genius there. I can't believe you would quote any government official on what is Constitutional. Do you believe that the 2nd is about hunting? Because there are a whole bunch of people, left and right, who believe that is what it is about.

You beat me to it. Usually rock-ribbed conservatives have disdain for Supreme Court decisions that alter the clear reading of the constitution. But I guess when the decision upholds a crazy idea of your own, you embrace it.

 

[Salty]

Just because the government denies a person their right to exercise a right, doesn't make it any less a right.

If the Constitution does not give someone a right - than it is not a right - ie age.

 

[gigabyte71]

If the Constitution does not give someone a right - than it is not a right - ie age.

That isn't true. The Constitution does NOT grant rights. The government does NOT grant rights. Try reading the 9th amendment.

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people"
9th Amendment to the Constitution of these United States

 

[Salty]

That isn't true. The Constitution does NOT grant rights. The government does NOT grant rights. Try reading the 9th amendment.

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people"
9th Amendment to the Constitution of these United States

:BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:

 

[gigabyte71]

:BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:

Not sure why you are beating your head against a wall, is it in an effort that you might understand what constitutes a right?

 

[Melanie]

I was surprised about this....as an Aussie, it is MANDATORY to vote! If you don't you get fined, if you cannot provide a good reason. I vote in New Zealand where it is not mandatory, as I feel as a citizen, you should do so, as the country makes few demands upon me, if you do not exercise this priveledge , it may slip away in time.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Nope. I don't think we should.