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When election season comes around, you can be sure that there will be some form of tension in the air. All of a sudden, Americans seem a lot more divided and there is more polarization between political parties. Then there are also some who have decided to withdraw their participation come Election Day.
Should voting be mandatory? The author of this sample essay is against forcing citizens to vote, and in this article, she shares the major reasons why.
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Reasons Why Voting Should Not Be Mandatory
I don’t know about you, but I am the type of person who feels terrible when forced to do something. Not only will I lose the heart for it, but I will also resent the person who is making me do it.
When I think about the idea of implementing compulsory voting for the presidential elections or any general election, I get frustrated. There are people who insist that voting is a civic duty, and we are obliged to exercise our civil rights as eligible voters by full participation in the elections.
I beg to disagree. I believe that while we have the right to vote, we also have the right to withdraw participation. In this essay, I would like to share my reflections on why I believe that the government should not enforce compulsory voting among registered voters and even non-voters.
Not everyone feels prepared or informed enough to exercise their right to vote
One of the obvious reasons why we shouldn’t be forcing people to vote is that they have every right to decide not to cast ballots for that particular election. Voting is not part of our civic responsibilities, it is a right that is supported by the First Amendment. Deciding not to utilize that right at any given season, no matter the reason, is valid.
Mandatory voting may increase voter turnout, but not necessarily vote quality
Making voting mandatory may guarantee better numbers during the national elections, but it will not ensure that the elected leaders are truly the representation of everyone’s choices. Being forced to vote will simply cause more people and those from the voting age population who were compelled to vote to simply tick off whatever candidate they feel like choosing on that day.
They are not choosing these candidates because they really have the conviction that they are the best leaders for the country. They were simply forced to go to the polling place and perform the responsibility. So yes, universal voting may increase voting turnout, but may internally cause even more voter disengagement because their hearts are not really in it. In the same way that people are called to jury duty not because they have a passion to participate in these legal affairs, people will get called to head out on a national holiday to vote and cast their ballot, but only because it was compulsory.
Making voting compulsory defeats the concept of democracy
People argue that the whole point of living in a democracy is also having equal freedom to non-participation, and I believe that they are right. While casting our votes is an indication of our investment in the kind of governance we want to continue, not voting can also be an honorable decision with the right motive and reason.
For some elections, some citizens may feel that they really don’t find any candidate worthy of their vote. So for this valid reason, they decide to exercise their freedom to withdraw their vote for that particular election. The government should not force this small number of people who honestly feel that no one deserves their vote and to tick off any name would water down the significance of casting their ballots in the polls.
When we penalize non-voters, we dilute their motivation to participate in the next Election Day
When we come across people who don’t plan to go to the polls, the tendency is to blame them for low turnouts and assume that they are part of the majority of people who just don’t care about the country. When we don’t dig deeper to learn the bigger story behind this decision, we miss an opportunity to educate and motivate them to have a change of heart in the next election season.
When they are called out and condemned through fining, we discourage these citizens to vote the next time around. Instead of threatening people to cast their ballot, we can engage them in an informative dialogue about their role in politics and the consequences of not voting. We can give them a quick crash course on how the political system works and how their choice of government can make a real difference.
“Right” is not the same as “Responsibility”
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “right” as “suitable” or “appropriate,” while “responsibility” means “burden” or “being accountable.” We all have the right to make a vote, which means that when we make the choice to pick out our leaders, it is an appropriate choice. Not voting may seem “unsuitable” and “inappropriate,” but it is certainly not completely wrong.
There are completely valid reasons for not acting on that right at times that will seem like an inappropriate decision to the majority. Personal reasons also arise out of honest conviction, which will vary from person to person. A large portion of these reasons stems from a thorough assessment of voter options. It is not a decision that most people take lightly. Many of these people have witnessed their previous choices become corrupt politicians, and this has caused them to be more cautious and conservative.
Conclusion: It is not wise to enforce compulsory voting
I understand that in this season, many Americans are passionate about acting on their right to choose for themselves. They feel strongly to the extent that they treat other people who don’t feel as strongly as people from an enemy camp. This increases the already-widening polarization and division among the American people.
I truly am convicted that voting is not a duty, but a right. I can choose to act on it, but I shouldn’t be punished for choosing otherwise. Whether it’s for a presidential election or otherwise, I believe that most Americans understand the weight of a single vote. I also think that this may be the reason why they are more careful with their choice or non-choice of candidates. I wish that more people would validate this thinking and show respect despite a difference in opinion and belief.
It would be good to consider the fact that non-compulsory voting may actually lead to a good set of elected leaders. If people were not forced to vote for someone they don’t even really champion, then perhaps whoever ends up with the biggest share of the votes will be good for America.
If you believe in always voting, I would encourage you to check out the other side of the fence and just learn about the perspective of those people who think otherwise. Get to know their stories, and find out what caused them to have a paradigm shift. You may find that there is a lot to learn from them and that their reasons may actually be valid.
If you are against mandatory voting, it is fine to exercise your free will to withdraw your vote, but I implore you to make sure that it is for the right reason. If it is just because you did not perform due diligence before the elections, then that is your fault.
Let us cultivate a culture of respect as we navigate these territories as fellow citizens.