It always sickens me when I see how many U.S. citizens who don't vote or even register to vote. Then I saw an article on the news which mentioned just how many countries in the world that make voting mandatory under punishment. Here's what I found:

Which countries practice compulsory voting?

Laws, Sanctions & Enforcement

Below is a table containing all the countries that have a law that provides for compulsory voting. Here you see the country, then the type of sanction and how (or if) is enforced.
The numbers for Type of Sanction stands for different types of sanctions. These are as follows:
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1. Explanation. The non-voter has to provide a legitimate reason for his/her abstention to avoid further sanctions, if any exist.

2. Fine. The non-voter faces a fine sanction. The amount varies between the countries, for example 3 Swiss Francs in Swtzerland, between 300 and 3 000 ATS in Austria, 200 Cyprys Pounds in Cyprus, 10-20 Argentinian Pesos in Argentina, 20 Soles in Peru etc.

3. Possible imprisonment. The non-voter may face imprisonment as a sanction, however, we do not know of any documented cases. This can also happen in countries such as Australia where a fine sanction is common. In cases where the non-voter does not pay the fines after being reminded or after refusing several times, the courts may impose a prison sentence. This is usually classified as imprisonoment for failure to pay the fine, not imprisonment for failure to vote.

4. Infringements of civil rights or disenfranchisement. It is for example possible that the non-voter, after not voting in at least four elections within 15 years will be disenfranchised in Belgium. In Peru the voter has to carry a stamped voting card for a number of months after the election as a proof of having voted. This stamp is required in order to obtain some services and goods from some public offices. In Singapore the voter is removed from the voter register until he/she reapplies to be included and submits a legitimate reason for not having voted. In Bolivia the voter is given a card when he/she has voted so that he/she can proof the participation. The voter would not be able to receive his/her salary from the bank if he/she can not show the proof of voting during three months after the election.

5. Other. For example in Belgium it might be difficult getting a job within the public sector if you are non-voter, or difficulties obtaining a new passport or driver's licence in Greece. There are no formal sanctions Mexico or Italy but possible arbitrary or social sanctions. This is called the "innocuous sanction" in Italy, where it might for example be difficult to get a daycare place for your child or similar but this is not formalised in any way at all.
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Country Type of Sanction Level of Enforcement Year Introduced Comments
Argentina 1, 2, 4 Weak enforcement 1912 -

Australia 1, 2 Strict enforcement 1924 -

Austria (Tyrol) 1, 2 Weak enforcement N/A The region of Tyrol.

Austria (Vorarlberg) 2, 3 Weak enforcement N/A The region of Vorarlberg.

Belgium 1, 2, 4, 5 Strict enforcement 1919 (men) Women in 1949.

Bolivia None/4 N/A 1952 -

Brazil 2 Weak enforcement N/A Voluntary for illiterates and those over 70.

Chile 1, 2, 3 Weak enforcement 1925(?) -

Costa Rica None Not enforced N/A -

Cyprus 1, 2 Strict enforcement 1960 -

Dominican Republic None Not enforced N/A -

Ecuador 2 Weak enforcement 1936 Voluntary for illiterates and those over 65.

Egypt 1, 2, 3 N/A 1956 This is the year from which we have found the earliest law.

Fiji 1, 2, 3 Strict enforcement N/A *Presumably strict prior to the coup d'état

France (Senate only) 2 N/A 1950's or 60's -

Gabon N/A N/A N/A -

Greece 1, 5 Weak enforcement N/A -

Guatemala None Not enforced N/A -

Honduras None Not enforced N/A -

Italy 5 Weak/Not enforced N/A -

Liechtenstein 1, 2 Weak enforcement N/A -

Mexico None / 5 Weak enforcement N/A -

Nauru 1, 2 Strict enforcement 1965 -

Netherlands - Not enforced Practised 1917 to 1967 -

Paraguay 2 N/A N/A -

Peru 2, 4 Weak 1933 -

Philippines None Not enforced attempt to practice 1972-1986 under martial law. -

Singapore 4 Strict enforcement N/A The non-voter is removed from the voter register until he/she reapplies and provides a reason.

Switzerland (Schaffhausen)
2 Strict enforcement 1904 Practised in only one canton. Abolished in other in 1974

Thailand None Not enforced N/A -

Turkey 1, 2 Weak N/A -

Uruguay 2, 4 Strict enforcement 1934 Law not in practice until 1970.

Maria Gratschew, April 2001
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True a lot of these countries have little or not enforcement of these laws--wonder if more people vote in these countries or are turned off by the whole thing.

So what do you think? Should voting not only be our right, our duty, but compulsory here?

It seems like a lot of people don't vote just becasue they don't care about most issues one way or another. In away, I can relate. The country's not going to fall apart if we do or don't go to war. I think the thing is though they just don't realize that it does affect us somehow. A little thing seems like it won't affect me much, but in some way, it might actually. Now all we would have to do is get people to make their choices intelligently and get them reason.

A law seems a bit oer-the-top though.

Let's just say, if we were to vote on this, I would hope it's not mandatory.

It could be a bad thing to force the vote. People would probably just vote for whoever wore the prettiest cowboy hat and not for who would serve the country better. Forcing a vote wouldn't create an interest in the issues. It could easily make the best man lose.

But, I also don't think there should be forced jury duty.

Perhaps a compulsory research of the issues is the answer, eh?

Jusork, make me write bad checks, make me whip myself, make me do some research ---

Should voting in elections be compulsory?

Here are some interesting pros and cons on this topic written by James Acton

quote:

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Originally posted by decal:
_Saki's take on the issue_

http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/502/

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Ah, yes. Hermann the Irascible. One of my favorite characters from fiction.

Of course, H. H. Munro's point was that women shouldn't vote at all -- He was very much the representative of Victorian conservatism.

Alan Moore

"Of course, H. H. Munro's point was that women shouldn't vote at all -- He was very much the representative of Victorian conservatism."


True, but would it also apply to Y-chromosome owners as well?


There're national, state, county and local elections, as well as special elections; I know I've missed elections that I wasn't even aware of happening until it was too late.