UK General Election- May 6th

[notyoueither]

There has been a good deal of thought go into this going back over a couple of centuries. I was trying to point you in the right direction by mentioning Responsible Government.

It boils down to governments reporting to parliaments and depending on support in the Commons to continue in office. This is fundamental for our system(s). These issues usually only ever come up during parliaments with no clear winner (minorities, etc). The feeling is that we should have another election to let the voters settle the tugs-of-war when the pols can't play nice in the sand box.

I am looking forward to seeing what they come up with, and wondering how it will jive with what has gone before. However, as I pointed out above, there is a working example of a Westminster parliament with a fixed election law and the concept of confidence has been uneffected.

[Ben Kenobi]

So its democratic to not care if you have a miniscule voter turnout?! I think its far more democratic to increase voter turnout and the easiest way to do so for a runoff is to have an instant runoff.

So you'd rather force people to vote. Great.

[MikeH]

They don't have to vote, they can defile their ballot as a protest or whatever, they just have to go to the voting booth.

Although research suggests if people are forced to vote they also engage more in the process.

[Imran Siddiqui]

So you'd rather force people to vote. Great.

Actually yes. That's how we actually get democracy. But, as MikeH said, they can write in a vote or just walk in and not vote for anyone.

If Australia can do it, and not devolve into tyranny, I don't see why we can't. First things first, making Election Day a national holiday and then manditory voting.

[MikeH]

There was talk of us moving elections to the weekend, but similar idea to making it a holiday.

[Wezil]

I'm not convinced forcing millions of uninformed "voters" to vote is such a good idea.

[MikeH]

See:

research suggests if people are forced to vote they also engage more in the process.

[MikeH]

Ben just doesn't like the idea because it'll decrease the currently disproportionate levels of representation for fringe loony groups who tend to be more passionate about turning out to vote.

[Wezil]

Research shows all kinds of stuff (often what the sponsors want it to show).

I refer you to the recent thread of "influential people" as determined by the masses. This is where you end up.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Why would you want people to actually vote in a Democracy?! What crazy talk!

[OzzyKP]

I don't agree with mandatory voting, but an election day holiday and IRV would be very positive steps.

[BeBMan]

I'm not so much for the mandatory voting either, but if you introduce a holiday for voting without any incentive to actually go voting I think lots of people would just do nothing.

I personally find the Kraut idea ok to have elections always on a sunday. It's usually well organised and people have enough time so that everything is quite relaxed. I never had more than maybe five people waiting before me in line.

edit: of course unless elsewhere everyone works on sunday as normal.

[Ben Kenobi]

Actually yes. That's how we actually get democracy. But, as MikeH said, they can write in a vote or just walk in and not vote for anyone.

Cuba has mandatory voting too. That must mean they are more democratic than us.

Voting should be voluntary. If people do not want to vote, then we shouldn't force them, and we certainly shouldn't fine them.

If Australia can do it, and not devolve into tyranny, I don't see why we can't. First things first, making Election Day a national holiday and then manditory voting.

I think the current stipulation up here, where the employer is required to give time to vote works pretty well. Take a two hour lunch and vote then.

[Snotty]

A problem with mandatory voting is that also assumes a mandatory electoral roll. I think British citizens should have the freedom to choose to be on the publicly available list of voters.

If it wasnt for the blatent big brother overtones, then I would support the idea of mandatory voting. The only man in my yard who voted holds a green card (in this case, he is a shortbus user, for our foreign friends) However I am sure many of the men would have voted for liberal and socially progressive parties if they had suitable incentive.

The attitude on the ground is that whoever gets in power the result will be the same.

[Wezil]

Why would you want people to actually vote in a Democracy?! What crazy talk!

Wow, way to twist what I said.

I want every eligible citizen to have the right to vote if they so choose.

Forcing people that intentionally tune out to go vote is what I am against. That doesn't sound like freedom to me.