Compulsory Voting: Yes or No?

[The Future’s Blue!]

I wouldn't trust half the people I know to tie their own laces, I wouldn't want them voting :)

Cheers, pal. Now, where’s those slip-ons ;-)

 

[Grassland Blue]

Thats your call but in my view failing to take part in the vote denies you any involvement in any debate about the actions of the Govt that is elected - if you vote FOR you can say how well they are doing or how you feel let down if you vote AGAINST you can state how they are performing as badly as you predicted. If you absent yourself from the vote then you forfeit any involvement in comment on that Govt in my view - what you approach does is encourage laziness towards vital political decisions and enhance the lazy narrative of " they are all the same " - they are not - if you think Starmer would do what Johnson has and is doing then you are beyond help

The same pillocks who thought brexit was a great idea!

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Only if there was a none of the above option at the bottom of the ballot paper. That would shake a fair few of these self-righteous types up.

 

[Grassland Blue]

I would rather people voted out of choice, as its ludicrous that a minority of those who voted can form a Government with a huge majority of seats. I am fairly sure that there has never been a Government elected by a majority of the electorate and only a handful elected with a majority of votes cast, the last one was in the 50s i think.

There is also the issue of sanctions against those who choose not to vote. Where do you set the sanction, a £10 fine, a month in prison, a loss of democratic mandate for life, hung drawn and quartered ?

What is needed is a complete overhaul of our democracy as FPTP is outdated and undemocratic, Parliament is archaic and whilst tradition should be respected where possible some of the rules are ridiculous.. On the voting issue, it should be made easier to vote, why not introduce voting by Mobile phone, surely somebody can create an app that makes it possible.

Yes. A phone app is a good idea imo.
The app could contain a brief summary of each partys' manifesto.
People should have the option of going to the polling booth too.

 

[mat]

Yes. A phone app is a good idea imo.
The app could contain a brief summary of each partys' manifesto.
People should have the option of going to the polling booth too.

The Tories want to make it harder for people to vote. Anything like an independent app outlining policies in a factual, none bias way they will poo poo.

 

[Grassland Blue]

No, no..it shouldn't be compulsory! Not voting is voting, in a way. I don't vote, well, I tried once years ago.. Labour was my desired option I think but the pen didn't work, I took it as a sign from God and pointlessly scratched the paper for Lib Dem instead

No chance of that happening in our polling station.
We use PENCILS!

 

[Grassland Blue]

They laugh because there aren't enough people who spoil ballot papers,they just don't turn out.

There's a reliance on apathy.
If "none of the above" actually garnered most of the votes-no mandate for the politicians.

Hypothetical,I know.

The existing government would remain in situ in that case.

 

[lust overlord]

The existing government would remain in situ in that case.

Of course.

But enough people bothering to turn up at a polling station to say none of these people represent me may drive a real change.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I'm just disappointed this thread doesn't have a poll ;-)

 

[Grassland Blue]

Yet our media tell us its all a success. Brexit = success OMG not ecven brexiteers are owning that one.

Good video here



Voting is just not worth it. Someone else is weaponising the mindless voters of this country and we cant beat that.

Oh yes we can.
I remember City being a team that won nothing for years and years.
But I stuck with them through thin and thinner.
We are now reaping the rewards.
I believe that the tories are bricking it over Bojo's appalling behaviour. His sycophantic government ministers need to be voted out.
My thought is to get fully behind Sir Keir, stop the me,me,me bickering and kick this duplicitous shower out of government for a very long time!