Do you think the United States needs mandatory voting everywhere or only in some states?

I think a free country should not force anyone to do anything. Full stop.

But

I also think that if voting ever becomes mandatory, it should be for everyone, at least in federal elections. For state-level elections, I suppose the states can decide for themselves if they want to do that. Also, I don't think voting trends should be a reason to change voting laws (i.e. swing states). That is a dangerous road to travel down.

The right to vote naturally implies the right not to vote. Mandatory votes aren't a right. It's force.

Quote from bethesda

Yeah I meant mandatory voting for the presidential elections because bzzz told me in another thread "the lower the turnout, the easier it is to interfere with a presidential election."

That might be true, but I still think it's better to make elections more secure than to force people to vote

Quote from bethesda

If neither the Democrat nor the Republican win the majority (270) for the White House, then the House of Representatives is forced to pick the President and the Senate is forced to pick the Vice President because we need a president and vice president.

But that's their job. It's different from forcing civilians to vote.

Quote from bethesda

I witnessed someone cast a blank ballot, and that's no problem.

Blank ballot = a vote for nobody from a voter

That seems like a very strange thing to do

Quote from StelloMomoDay

That seems like a very strange thing to do

it happens down under

here in Australia we have "mandatory voting" but we also have preferential voting which is a completely different thing

but regardless here we are "forced" to go to a polling booth (on a Saturday so not a weekday) and declare that we were there but no one can see you actually voting (or not) - so technically you could just write nothing and submit an empty voting paper

Quote from selfmate

it happens down under

here in Australia we have "mandatory voting" but we also have preferential voting which is a completely different thing

but regardless here we are "forced" to go to a polling booth (on a Saturday so not a weekday) and declare that we were there but no one can see you actually voting (or not) - so technically you could just write nothing and submit an empty voting paper

It makes sense if you have mandatory voting, I just don't understand why someone would do it if voting is optional

Quote from StelloMomoDay

It makes sense if you have mandatory voting, I just don't understand why someone would do it if voting is optional

technically one still voted and their blank vote is still recorded as such???

a long time ago I took a position as a voter counter since it was quite interesting and (at least down under) they record blank votes as a kinda protest vote???

Quote from bethesda

If no one sees you voting, then how is the government supposed to know if someone didn't vote after that person says they voted? I don't get it.

you gotta give your id in order to obtain a vote???

so again down under - there are polling booths managed by our Australian Electoral Commission - they have what they consider an Electoral Roll both electronically and hard copy with everyone in the voting district's name and address on it

you show up and announce your name and address + provide ID - they make sure you are who you say you are and that you have the right to vote in that district and then provide you with empty ballot papers - then they not you have "voted" (ie. shown up)

what you choose to do with those ballot papers is up to you

Quote from bethesda

If no one sees you voting, then how is the government supposed to know if someone didn't vote after that person says they voted? I don't get it.

We call it an informal vote, or more colloquially, a "donkey vote"

They are actually a small percentage of overall votes for the most part, usually about 5% and it's still in some way considered important data because it gives an idea of voter dissatisfaction.

A ballot paper may be deemed informal for a number of reasons including:

- it's blank or unmarked,
- ticks or crosses have been used when numbering in order of preference is required,
- the required number of boxes haven't been marked, or
- it has writing on it which identifies the elector.

Although I've donkey voted twice. Last years City Council/Mayoral elections I got my forms, walked straight to the polling bin and dropped them in unfilled cause I hated all candidates.

When I was much younger I drew a dick on a ballot. That was my vote. A dick.

Funnily enough though, if I fill out a ballot paper correctly (Australia is always paper vote, never machines) but add graffiti or a rude message, as long as my VOTE is still legible, it will be counted.