Compulsory Voting

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Industrial Countries all over the world have seen a steady decline in voter participation; Great Britain is a great example of this. The country has witness turnout in elections falling slowly as time pass. However, the election of 2001 dropped the country from their average of 76% voter turnout to just a 59.4% turnout. Comparatively, Australia, a former colony of Britain, has enjoyed high and steady voter participation since 1924 because of the implementation of compulsory voting. This system has proven to be not only effective in bring voters to the polls, but also effective in improving Australia’s democracy. By evaluating these two countries with similar political structure; one can see the difference in compulsory voting turnouts compared to voluntary voting turnout. Furthermore, if Britain were to follow Australia’s example, would the country see the same positive effects of compulsory voting in their democracy?

Australia is a Constitutional Monarch with Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain as head of state. Politically the country is structured after the British and American model as a liberal democracy. The constitution created in 1901 “gives the Federal Government power over defense, foreign affairs, trade and commerce, taxation, customs and excise duties, pensions, immigration and postal services while other powers are held by the states” (“Australia’s Political Structure,” 2011). Furthermore, Australia consist a lower and upper house. The lower house, the House of Representatives, holds 150 members each elected in for a three-year term (“Australia’s Political Structure,” 2011). The upper house, the Senate, holds 76 members who have been directly elected through proportional representation for a six-year term (“Austral...

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