Every four years, a presidential election sweeps across the country. Signs are staked in yards, rallies attended, and doors knocked on as people prepare for a vote of massive proportions. Yet, on that November morning, some people don't get in line at their local polling place, for a variety of reasons. Should people have a responsibility to vote? Yes, voting is a key principle that our country is founded on, but voting should not be mandatory. Citizens should vote if they wish to, as voting is a right that citizens can do with what they please.
Citizens in the United States have many rights, like the right to bear arms, the right to assemble, and the right to petition. Yet, they are not forced to take advantage of any of these rights, and voting should be treated the same way. I have the right to own a firearm when I turn 18, but I will choose not to. Just because a citizen has a right does not mean they are obligated to use it. People have the right to march and
…show more content…
Some people feel like they don't know enough about the candidates or issues to vote. This is perfectly valid, and voting without being informed can do more damage to democracy than help. Simply checking the second name on the list every time, or picking the candidate with the most impressive sounding name can hurt democracy as pure chance takes over the election instead of the voter's choice. Every person who votes should feel like the candidate they vote for is the better choice-they should know their options, and the consequences of each. Voting blindly is like picking a restaurant to eat out by drawing a name out of a hat. You might end up with something good, or you might end up at the rat infested joint in a bad neighborhood. Wouldn't you want to pick? Voting is like this too, but more is at stake than a bad dinner. Randomly checking a name just to vote has serious consequences. You could end up with someone whose policies hurt, not help,
Recently, only 60% of registered voters have actually voted in presidential elections. This brings up the question: should Americans be required to vote? This question receives very mixed answers. Many Americans believe that they should have the choice and the freedom to vote or not; many Americans also believe that mandatory, or required, voting is simply a civic duty. Currently, American citizens are not required to vote. Citizens seem to like this system, but because voting is not mandatory, the amount of citizens that vote in elections is rather low. Americans should not be required to vote because it forces people to vote that are uninterested, makes citizens unhappy, and damages other people’s votes.
In document C, John W. Dean who was legal council the the U.S. President Richard M. Nixon said, “While compulsion of any kind is a restriction, so is the compulsion to drive only on the right side of the road. Requiring citizens to vote is no more restrictive than requiring them to register for the draft. And it is far less restrictive than requiring us, for example, to attend school; to serve on juries, possibly for weeks or months at a time; to pay taxes; or to serve in the military when drafted”(Dean). That shows the multitude of laws or requirements in America that are less important than voting, but are required. Voting is for the good of the country, yet people won't vote, but won't bat an eye when they are forced into jury duty.
First, one reason why Americans should be required to vote is that it will educate the citizens. Evidence supporting this reason is in “Unequal Participation: Democracy’s Unresolved Dilemma, American Political Science Review” Aaron Lijphart stated that “By compelling people to vote, we are likely to arouse in them an intelligent interest and to give them a political knowledge that do not at present possess.” This evidence helps explain why Americans should be required to vote because when citizens are required to vote it gives them a political understanding that they didn't have before voting. Most citizens will research
“Just Vote.” That phrase has been tossed around for years but what if people don’t want to vote? The United States of America is a democracy but many people do not vote. Since World War II, no presidential election has ever involved 65% or more of registered voters. Have you ever thought about the people that don’t vote and why they don’t vote? Here are three reasons why Americans should not be required to vote: Sometimes people can be irresponsible, government should not force us to vote if we truly don’t want to, and we need to respect people’s wishes.
In America, political candidates go against one another in a process known as an election in which citizens vote for the next person who "best" fits the position. In addition, there are various amounts of debates on whether a citizen should be compelled to vote. Although some argue if citizens should be required by law to vote, there are exceeding an amount of disadvantages.
Voting is an opportunity given to Americans. As Americans we live in a democracy. Americans live in a democracy that is subjected to vote; a democracy where people have fought for the right to vote on many situations and for the rights of Americans to not be infringed. However, sometimes people just do not vote. Perhaps, reason being is some Americans are not familiar with the background of America and where voting all started. Maybe, some Americans think it all boils down to the electoral votes and their vote simply is not significant. Maybe, it could be that they possibly do not care for politics and do not intend on involving themselves around something they do not understand. There are many reasons why Americans choose to vote and many reasons why Americans choose not to vote.
I believe that the single most important societal problem currently is voting right restrictions. November is quickly coming upon us, so does the right to cast our votes for whoever we believe to be the best candidate for the oval office. However, new voting right restrictions will make the voting process harder for certain groups. These laws will affect of upwards to millions of potential voters this coming election. We all have the right to vote. The government also has the right for certain groups to make that ballet harder to cast. The reason that voting right restriction is so important is because it stops numerous people from voting, a specific group of people were targeted, and the reason the law was made is wrong.
American citizens over the age of 18 have had the opportunity to vote since 1790, but not everyone has gone and voted for a new leader to be. Right after WWII the percentage of voters decreased. So the people of America should have compulsory voting, because of proper punishment, voter turnout, and it is the citizens civic duty.
Many people think of the 206 million eligible voters in the United States and think, “How could one vote possibly make a difference?” Or perhaps some find themselves too busy, while other non-voters are simply uninterested in politics. With a combination of all excuses, about 75 million people that were eligible to vote in the 2008 presidential election chose not to. That’s 75 million unheard voices! 75 million unrepresented individuals make up approximately 36% of all eligible voters. That number of people could easily change the outcome of an election. When put in perspective and fully understood, it’s realized just how important it is for every eligible voter to vote, and do so responsibly. The significance of voting is commonly misunderstood. Voting determines things from the president of the United States, to a small town mayor, to representatives, which all in turn determine everything from war, to taxes, to a child’s education. This country was politically formed into something previously unknown to the world, and with citizenship to this great country and democracy, comes great responsibility. It is a right as U.S. citizens to choose to vote or not; however, it is a duty and obligation to do so, for the sake of those who have fought, for friends and family, and for this country as a whole.
American voters in today’s society care about the issues of the United States and vote in hope to form a greater nation. Other United States citizens voluntarily do not participate in voting. Why people do not vote can vary from feeling intimidated by the polling process, to simply not caring about current issues. It is hard to justify citizens who do not vote by saying that it is for the better of America to have less of an opinion from the people. It is also hard to justify that we should force citizens to vote even if they are uneducated on the politics at hand. The right of a democracy is to allow citizens free access to vote and speak for the people. Democracy also holds the right that allows citizens to not vote if they feel it would be better to refrain themselves from doing so. The key is finding a balance and being able to educate the groups of Americans who do not vote. We must allow these citizens to better understand the power that they have in changing current issues, while not forcing the voting process.
The foundation of democracy rests in the hands of the people. Voting and political participation are essential privileges of a democracy. Not being able to vote for whatever reason is a denial of citizenship. However, in recent times voting has become extremely difficult for a majority of the country. Voters have the right to express their voice for change through voter registration reform and compensating the lower class and middle class.
About 13% of countries have compulsory voting laws. This means everyone is required to vote and it is every citizen's responsibility to elect their representatives. Some countries even go as far as to have sanctions for those that don't vote. However most countries believe that voting is a right of citizenship and not a required duty. For the U.S. to enforce compulsory voting laws would be considered unconstitutional and greatly decrease the accuracy of our electoral polls.
Lisa Hill a professor at the University of Adelaide who spreads the yes, in mandatory voting, “If voting were mandatory in the U.S., people would be inspired to pay more attention to campaigns... ” (Junior Scholastic). Many might think their vote doesn't count, so government should express how it does and not make it a unpleasurable activity by making it mandatory. However much, there is truth in that point, an election simplifies down to one person over another other. My point still stands that unwanted force is never good and America should not accept that. It is human nature to show displeasure to forced activities that weren't done by will before hand. It isn't convenient for some citizens, and if registering for voting was much easier that there might be a higher voter turnout (Scholastic Magazine).If the government wants a higher turnout, than people shouldn't be making time for the government, the government should make more time for the people and not stripping us of our freedom.
Due to the last election that transpired recently, voting became a great topic for discussion. There are many methods that influence American citizens to cast in their vote, or simply just not vote at all. Given the right vote in the United States is such an amazing privilege to attain because by casting a vote, a citizens voice is heard, it’s a method of cast their decision, and is a way of expressing their political views. Yet, what is flabbergasting about voting is that most American citizens who are given and have the privilege to vote, do not vote at all. In contrast to those who want to be American citizens or want to be citizens wish they had such a privilege.
In the 2016 election, about fifty-five percent of eligible citizens voted as of November tenth, according to CNN. Nearly half of eligible voters did not make use of our right to elect our chosen candidates. Voting involves casting ballots towards officials that we would like to represent us in government. This influences a variety of factors in how the world around us changes or stays the same. When talking politics, a lot of time is spent either arguing sides or avoiding the conversation altogether.