There is a famous saying that states “to be free, one must be chained”. However, how tightly someone should be chained is something worth debating. If voting was mandatory, those chains would leave no wiggle room whatsoever. Thanks to many distractions, people are indecisive, unaware and probably could not care less about the government. They need to wait until they are ready, before they can put the elections in jeopardy by voting for a party that does not have what it takes to lead a country efficiently.

No one will profit from mandatory voting; as a political party may lose potential votes because the voter was unaware of its policies. The voter themselves will be dissatisfied, since they did not grasp the importance of voting, and just assumed that it was a waste of their time; not knowing how much of a difference they made to that country. Lastly, the people who decided to vote willingly, will be disappointed that the ideal party lost; due to the random votes, and therefore,  the political system is damaged.

In addition, people rebel more when they are forced to do something, and parents of any teenager can confirm this. The citizens of Australia are another example, as it is known that they are required to vote. However, many of them make their votes invalid, refusing to make a decision without comprehending the policies of the various political parties, during that small amount of time that they have to stand in a voting booth.

The government needs to realize that by not voting, citizens are still sending a message that they may want, and/or need to be informed; if they are going to make the right decision that could affect the rest of the population. The 50% of citizens who decide that they would rather skip out on the elections could definitely make a difference. The government needs to educate them about the benefits of voting; instead of making a law that forces them to do something that they have yet to understand. This is why a compromise is the best solution, and if the government would like voting rates to go up, they need to do something about it; to satisfy the citizens. However, if one thinks about it, voting is the least of the government’s concerns. They need to worry about more pressing matters, as voting is not something that taxpayers’ money should be wasted on.

If those citizens refuse to take part in something, it is their choice. Forcing them to do something is a violation of their rights. People are taught to believe that a democracy is a type of government run by the will of the people; and if that majority decides not to vote, they are best left that way. If not, the government would seem like it was betraying its own principles. After all, voting should not be a duty; it should remain as a right. Many people fought for the right to vote and it would be a shame if their efforts were wasted by others that start fighting for the right to not vote.

Any questions, comments or concerns? Email me at ahyakamal@hotmail.com

Author:Ahya Kamal