Make voting mandatory
Published September 15, 2013
Letter to editor by Jim Nolan, Morehead City, published in News and Observer, September 15, 2013.
With an average voter turnout of approximately 50 percent since 1960, why are we intent on making it more difficult for people to vote? We should be doing all we can to encourage Americans to perform the most important function of citizenship, but instead we continually create obstacles.
While we will toss into jail anyone who does not respond to jury duty or does not pay their taxes, we allow people not to vote, the most important function of all.
The right to vote is mandatory in some countries, and their voter turnout is as follows: Australia 95 percent, Chile 93 percent, Belgium 91 percent and Greece 86 percent, to name a few.
With this turnout, the people of these counties truly have spoken, and the elected government is not guessing as to the people's opinion. If someone chooses not to vote, a penalty is imposed ($20 to $50).
We are laughed at when we declare our desire to spread democracy while demonstrating our disdain by our abysmal participation in the process. Would it not be refreshing to have politicians know how America actually feels about certain issues? Would Americans acquire a better respect for their government and feel a part of the process?
Register everyone over 18 and let them know voting is required, then let us see what America really thinks.
September 15, 2013 at 8:34 am
jack dawsey says:
I applaud this letter, 100%.
In over 50-years of political observation, I've noticed that only Republicans are willing to deny the right (the constitutional right) of a citizen to vote. They make much ado and "talk" about upholding the U.S. Constitution while "denying" the Constitution to whomever they perceive to be their "enemy" or to whomever disagrees with them. Their last President, George W. Bush #43, was correct when he revealed the Republicans true sentiment when it was reported that he quipped: "The Constitution is just another God-damn piece of paper." In other words, the Constitution gets in their way whenever they legislate.
September 15, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Van Heath says:
This is not the first time I have heard this suggestion and I still think its the dumbest idea I've ever heard. One of the problems we have today is way too many people committing VWI (voting while ignorant). You may legislate a requirement to vote but you cannot force people to actually learn about the candidates. I have yet to see where providing an ID is making voting more difficult. Ask people on the street questions about government, just general questions and you may be very surprised at the answers.
September 16, 2013 at 9:25 am
TP Wohlford says:
You were obviously living in a cave 50 years ago, and totally slept thru history classes. Assuming those 2 things, I totally believe you. Otherwise I'd have to believe that you're just another Dem hack who believes what he's been told by his union boss.
