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A Balanced ballot

A Balanced ballot. By Bevan Hamilton October 30, 2013. Canada’s voting snapshot. http:// elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e High of 79.4% in March 1958 Low of 58.8% in October 2008 Problem: downward voting trend Compulsory Voting debate .

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A Balanced ballot

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  1. A Balanced ballot By Bevan Hamilton October 30, 2013

  2. Canada’s voting snapshot • http://elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e • High of 79.4% in March 1958 • Low of 58.8% in October 2008 • Problem: downward voting trend • Compulsory Voting debate

  3. Voting laws in Canada • You are eligible to vote in Canada if you are: - a Canadian citizen - at least 18 years of age - registered to vote • Ways to vote: - Vote at your advance poll - Vote at your local Elections Canada office (anytime during the election) - Vote by mail - Vote on election day at your assigned polling station • There is accessibility to vote for every Canadian, including the homeless and prison inmates (excluding murder convictions)

  4. Profile: Australia • Compulsory enrolment was introduced in 1912 • Compulsory voting was introduced on July 24, 1924 • Voter turnout increased from 59.3 % (1922) to 91 % (1925) • Lowest turnout since 1925 is 93.84 % (1987) • Fines for failing to vote

  5. Compulsory voting worldview

  6. Worldview cont.

  7. Videos • Video 1: Aussie streeter: Mandatory Voting • BBC Katie Beck (2013) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23819068 • Video 2: Prof. Jason Brennan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzTtsIf43WY

  8. Argument for compulsory voting • Decisions made by democratically elected governments are more legitimate when higher proportions of the population participate • Educational effect upon the citizens • Does not enforce compulsory voting, only compulsory participation • If democracy is government by the people, then it is every citizen's responsibility to elect their representatives • Compulsory voting keeps the political system responsive to the people • Voting is a democratic right that Canadians shouldn’t take for granted

  9. Argument against compulsory voting • Voting is a civic right and not a civic duty – Canada is a FREE country • Citizens have the right to choose whether they want to vote • Reduces the legitimacy of elected representatives • Compulsory voting does not force a choice. People can always lodge a blank or spoiled ballot paper. • May infringe on other rights such as religious practice

  10. Possible obstacles to voting • Economic situation • Religion • Ignorance • Apathy • Comfort • Culture • Youth

  11. My opinion • I don’t think compulsory voting should be implemented in Canada • I would rather quality votes over quantity votes • I don’t think being forced to vote would bring better government • I think that people SHOULD vote but I don’t think they should be forced to • It violates too many of our freedoms and isn’t overly beneficial in the end

  12. Questions • Do you think the Canadian government should implement compulsory voting? Why or why not? • If so, what should the penalty be? • If not, what should the government do to get more people to vote?

  13. Sources • “More votes doesn’t mean increased awareness,” posted on the Globe and Mail Web site at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/mandatory-voting-cons-more-voters-doesnt-mean-increased-awareness/article577809/. Retrieved on Oct. 24, 2013 • “A History of the Vote in Canada,” posted on the Elections Canada Web site at: http://elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e. Retrieved on Oct. 23, 2013 • “Compulsory Voting,” posted on the Wikipedia Web site at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting. Retrieved on Oct. 23, 2013. • “Voter Turnout Data Australia,” posted on The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance Web Site at: http://www.idea.int/vt/countryview.cfm?CountryCode=AU. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2013. • “Voting: Canada against its’ peers,” posted on the Conference Board of Canada Web site at: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/voter-turnout.aspx. Retrieved Oct. 24, 2013.

  14. Sources cont. • “Pros and Cons of Mandatory Voting,” posted on the Legal Library of Australia Web site at: http://www.legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved on Oct. 24, 2013. • “Bio of Prof. Jason Brennan,” posted on the Georgetown University Web site at: http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/jb896/?PageTemplateID=319. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2013.

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