A BALANCED BALLOTBy Bevan Hamilton

October 30, 2013

CANADA’S VOTING SNAPSHOT

http://elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e

High of 79.4% in March 1958

Low of 58.8% in October 2008

Problem: downward voting trend

Compulsory Voting debate

VOTING LAWS IN CANADA

You are eligible to vote in Canada if you are: - a Canadian citizen - at least 18 years of age - registered to vote

Ways to vote: - Vote at your advance poll - Vote at your local Elections Canada office (anytime during the election) - Vote by mail - Vote on election day at your assigned polling station

There is accessibility to vote for every Canadian, including the homeless and prison inmates (excluding murder convictions)

PROFILE: AUSTRALIA

Compulsory enrolment was introduced in 1912

Compulsory voting was introduced on July 24, 1924

Voter turnout increased from 59.3 % (1922) to 91 % (1925)

Lowest turnout since 1925 is 93.84 % (1987)

Fines for failing to vote

COMPULSORY VOTING WORLDVIEW

Countries with enforced voting:

ArgentinaAustralia

Brazil Democratic Republic of the Congo

EcuadorLuxembourg

NauruPeru

SingaporeUruguay

WORLDVIEW CONT.

Non-enforced compulsory voting:

BelgiumBolivia

Costa RicaDominican Republic

EgyptGreece

HondurasLebanon (men only)

LibyaMexico Panama

ParaguayThailandTurkey

VIDEOS

Video 1: Aussie streeter: Mandatory Voting

BBC Katie Beck (2013) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23819068

Video 2: Prof. Jason Brennan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzTtsIf43WY

ARGUMENT FOR COMPULSORY VOTING

Decisions made by democratically elected governments are more legitimate when higher proportions of the population participate

Educational effect upon the citizens

Does not enforce compulsory voting, only compulsory participation

If democracy is government by the people, then it is every citizen's responsibility to elect their representatives

Compulsory voting keeps the political system responsive to the people

Voting is a democratic right that Canadians shouldn’t take for granted 

ARGUMENT AGAINST COMPULSORY VOTING

Voting is a civic right and not a civic duty – Canada is a FREE country

Citizens have the right to choose whether they want to vote

Reduces the legitimacy of elected representatives

Compulsory voting does not force a choice. People can always lodge a blank or spoiled ballot paper.

May infringe on other rights such as religious practice

POSSIBLE OBSTACLES TO VOTING

Economic situation

Religion

Ignorance

Apathy

Comfort

Culture

Youth

MY OPINION

I don’t think compulsory voting should be implemented in Canada

I would rather quality votes over quantity votes

I don’t think being forced to vote would bring better government

I think that people SHOULD vote but I don’t think they should be forced to

It violates too many of our freedoms and isn’t overly beneficial in the end

QUESTIONS

Do you think the Canadian government should implement compulsory voting? Why or why not?

If so, what should the penalty be?

If not, what should the government do to get more people to vote?

SOURCES

“More votes doesn’t mean increased awareness,” posted on the Globe and Mail Web site at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/mandatory-voting-cons-more-voters-doesnt-mean-increased-awareness/article577809/. Retrieved on Oct. 24, 2013

“A History of the Vote in Canada,” posted on the Elections Canada Web site at: http://elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e. Retrieved on Oct. 23, 2013

“Compulsory Voting,” posted on the Wikipedia Web site at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting. Retrieved on Oct. 23, 2013.

“Voter Turnout Data Australia,” posted on The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance Web Site at: http://www.idea.int/vt/countryview.cfm?CountryCode=AU. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2013.

“Voting: Canada against its’ peers,” posted on the Conference Board of Canada Web site at: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/voter-turnout.aspx. Retrieved Oct. 24, 2013.

SOURCES CONT.

“Pros and Cons of Mandatory Voting,” posted on the Legal Library of Australia Web site at: http://www.legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved on Oct. 24, 2013.

“Bio of Prof. Jason Brennan,” posted on the Georgetown University Web site at: http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/jb896/?PageTemplateID=319. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2013.