Compulsory voting when both sides are advocating the same policies will definitely be effective.
Compulsory voting when both sides are advocating the same policies will definitely be effective.
If you're so put off by the two major parties, you would look at another party.
Be honest with yourself, if the law was made five years ago, that you are required to vote. You wouldn't vote for those two major parties.
Smaller parties can attract voters who felt excluded/apolitical and when that happens the power scales can be shifted, forcing larger parties to actually take your views seriously.
Assuming low information non-voters would go the way you want if forced to vote in this media environment is incredibly naiveI'm in the belief voting should be made compulsory, on the grounds that apathy voters can at least support independents/greens/libdems to tip the scale of power from majority parties and make advances to Proportional Representation.
Which assumes most people who don't vote do so because they don't approve rather than just disinterest.
Forcing people to vote isn't going to change who people who already vote vote for.
Assuming low information non-voters would go the way you want if forced to vote in this media environment is incredibly naive
Increase inheritance tax and use that to improve the elderly care sector would be a start.
To be clear I am talking about an increase in the tax percentage rather than lowering the threshold in which it is paid. If your estate has enough to pay inheritance tax then you already have too much.
I think the arguments around compulsory voting should revolve around it being healthier or not for democracy long term and less about whether it would be advantageous for your particular set of politics in an election right now. Reminds me of people saying things like "Are you sure you want PR? Reform/UKIP would get loads more seats", like yes actually, gotta be pro-democracy even when people don't/won't vote like I'd like them to!
I'm with you but why wait for people to die for redistribution? Wealth tax is loads better and you don't have to worry about selling people on a "death tax".
I think the arguments around compulsory voting should revolve around it being healthier or not for democracy long term and less about whether it would be advantageous for your particular set of politics in an election right now. Reminds me of people saying things like "Are you sure you want PR? Reform/UKIP would get loads more seats", like yes actually, gotta be pro-democracy even when people don't/won't vote like I'd like them to!
The balance is not changed dramatically, but Australia still has a more democratic voting system, where smaller parties can represent who people actually voted for and is a country that invests more socially. It's not like USA, where voters are mostly supressed.I think compulsory voting doesn't really change the balance at all. Look at Australia - it has incredibly high rates of voting due to its laws, and yet we see the same sort of election results as we see here.
This thread here is proof of people abstaining their votes as they have no hope in influencing the election/mainstream parties not appealing to them.Theres no evidence to suggest that non-voters are not happy with or looking for an alternative to the main parties. It's just they don't bother voting for various reasons.
Then why are you engaging in this thread? It clearly just seems to bother you.If I was forced to turn up at the booth I would just draw a cock and balls on the form.
All of the UK parties suck ass.
Then why are you engaging in this thread? It clearly just seems to bother you.
Just to be clear, I'm not trying to come across as snarky or whatever, just by your own admission, you would only vote if forced and even then would spoil your vote. You say all the parties suck, so clearly there isn't anything then can do they can do in the coming months to sway you so…it just seems to make you feel so negative to engage with politics, why not just ignore the thread?
Hey now, I'm not gatekeeping - everyone should be involved for sure. I was just speaking up about it as the majority of your posts about UK politics are (understandably given the current environment) saying how awful it is. Personally for my own mental well-being, if something bothered me as much as it appears that you seem to be irritated (if that's the right word for it) by it, I'd step away from whatever it was causing me to feel like that.Politics is about more than voting.
This is just prime gatekeeping to be honest, someone is talking about mandatory voting and I gave my opinion on the subject.
Politics is about more than voting.
This is just prime gatekeeping to be honest, someone is talking about mandatory voting and I gave my opinion on the subject.
Hey now, I'm not gatekeeping - everyone should be involved for sure. I was just speaking up about it as the majority of your posts about UK politics are (understandably given the current environment) saying how awful it is. Personally for my own mental well-being, if something bothered me as much as it appears that you seem to be irritated (if that's the right word for it) by it, I'd step away from whatever it was causing me to feel like that.
I was just saying how I was feeling - look, I'll leave it, sorry to have said anything.My mental wellbeing is fine thank you, I would advise not to backseat diagnose people.
Sure but how many people who wouldn't otherwise have voted actually ended up spoiling their ballot? I'd guess less than 50%, probably much lower.I mean compulsory voting does mean you can spoil a ballot and as far as I am aware this can and does happen in places like Australia. I'm personally not down with compulsory voting either but it doesn't mean you have to vote for a party.
Ultimately this isn't a hypothetical. we can see from Australia what the impacts of compulsory voting are. And the long and short of it is - nothing. People aren't more engaged in politics, the same overall breakdowns of political loyalties occur, and they still elect moronic dipshits. Which matches up the studies that show people who don't vote generally have the same views as a whole as people who do. It doesn't even help minor parties - the last Australian federal election had less members elected from parties other than main two than our own parliament did.
It's just not worth thinking about. It won't have any major impact at all, it won't increase political awareness or understanding, it won't change the balance of power in parliament. Forcing people to vote when they don't want to engage with politics is putting the cart before the horse.
If I was forced to turn up at the booth I would just draw a cock and balls on the form.
All of the UK parties suck ass.
Just look around, there is little to no advertisements of 'Bring your ID' or 'Apply at UK Gov', and we're in an election year. Are Londoners even aware that the mayoral elections has switched to FPTP.
What? It's on like every podcast.Just look around, there is little to no advertisements of 'Bring your ID' or 'Apply at UK Gov', and we're in an election year. Are Londoners even aware that the mayoral elections has switched to FPTP.
I've come across tidbits as well, posters at train stations, some banners and whatnot.There's definitely an Electoral Commission TV ad for bring your ID, but no idea how widespread it is. I suspect not highly. The premise is a giant post it note telling you to bring ID. I guess they get to push it around the locals.
For London, the candidates pack they send out does explain the voting system. I've also seen some poster ads from the council explaining to need ID.
I don't think these campaigns are massive - there's a lot more to be done - but just to say what I've come across.
Not every average joe/jane/person spends time listening to podcasts.What? It's on like every podcast.
Have you not heard the advert with the women yelling "babe can you make sure I don't forget my photo ID when I vote"? Cus for me she's boarding on granny I got the job territory
I've come across tidbits as well, posters at train stations, some banners and whatnot.
But a lot of the promotional awareness are concentrated in central and up north London. Deprived boroughs is where the vulnerable, marginalised, and the uninformed mostly reside.
Not every average joe/jane/person spends time listening to podcasts.
Consider digitally excluded groups (ESOL, migrants, rough sleepers, people with disabilities, sensory impediments..) who are already at an disadvantage from the voting ID rules.
If I was gonna spoil my ballot, I wouldn't draw a cock and balls. I'd write "I have decided not to vote for any of these candidates, but I hope you, vote counter, are having a good evening. I hope all your dreams come true. Democracy is a sham but you are not". Then I would kiss the paper (I'm wearing lipstick in this scenario).
But I don't do that. I vote for the least worst candidate, even if they are dogshit.
I've haven't journeyed much to the south-south of London frankly, but Croydon is at the ourskirts and is one the least deprived boroughs.I don't think there's any specific targetting of those adverts. Croydon station is full of them and you don't get more south london than that!
I don't think I've seen anything telling people about the (incredibly cynical) switch to fptp for the mayoral election
Just look around, there is little to no advertisements of 'Bring your ID' or 'Apply at UK Gov', and we're in an election year.
tbf they get a sausage.Anecdotal, but when I pop into Australian forums, they seem not-bothered by compulsory voting.
Make polling days bank holidays and I would be a-ok with compulsory voting.
I don't know how you guys can stand youtube ads appearing every 2 minutes lol, I use ad blockPersonally, I've had the opposite experience. I've literally seen the Voter ID adverts multiple times every day (primarily on YouTube). They appear so frequently that I honestly cringe every time I hear the music start playing!
It's not just online - I definitely recall seeing the adverts at the cinema too and on billboards.
Good stuffI'm getting emails from Lime Bikes telling me register even (I already have of course)
We got a lady beaten by a lettuce