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Compulsory Voting: Possible solution to polarization and low voter turnout?

Compulsory Voting: Possible solution to polarization and low voter turnout?. Josie Shardlow Laura Logsdon. Agenda. Polarization Low voter turnout Compulsory voting as possible solution a) Ornstein’s rationale and proposal Class opinion on compulsory voting Pros/Cons Our opinion

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Compulsory Voting: Possible solution to polarization and low voter turnout?

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  1. Compulsory Voting: Possible solution to polarization and low voter turnout? Josie ShardlowLaura Logsdon

  2. Agenda • Polarization • Low voter turnout • Compulsory voting as possible solution a) Ornstein’s rationale and proposal • Class opinion on compulsory voting • Pros/Cons • Our opinion • Class ideas on improving voter turnout

  3. Polarization Causes: Southern realignment, increased party homogeneity, redistricting, primary elections, the changing media coverage of the political process and rising income inequality in the U.S. The Problem: • Gridlock • Impact on policymaking • Weakening of the legislative branch

  4. Voter Turnout Source: Michael McDonald, Ph.D, George Mason University http://elections.gmu.edu/voter_turnout.htm

  5. Voter Turnout

  6. Proposal Compulsory Voting Incentivized Voting Open Primaries Compulsory Voting - Ornstein Rationale • Current voting system is broken • Polarization in Washington may be spreading to electorate • Proven success in Australia

  7. Should compulsory voting be enacted in the U.S.? What are some pros/cons?

  8. CompulsoryVoting Pros • Civic • Democratic • Polarization Cons • Cost • Logistics of enforcement • Feasibility/legality • No guarantee

  9. Our Opinion:Compulsory voting would strengthen our democracy

  10. Class Input - Other Options What other options are there to increase voter turnout? Are there other ways to decrease polarization without compulsory voting?

  11. References Frankal, E. (2005, July 4, 2005). Compulsory voting around the world. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/jul/04/voterapathy.uk Friedman, H. S. (2012, July 10). American voter turnout lower than other wealthy countries. Huffington Post Blog Galston, W. (2011, November 5, 2011). Telling Americans to Vote, or Else. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/opinion/sunday/telling-americans-to-vote-or-else.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Mann, Thomas and Orstein, Norman. (2012). The Seeds of Dysfunction. It’s Even Worse Than it Looks. New York: Basic Books. McCarty, Nolen. (2007). The Policy Effects of Political Polarization. The Transformation of American Politics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. McDonald, M. P. (2009). The return of the voter: Voter turnout in the presidential election of 2008. The Forum, 6(4), February 10, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.degruyter.com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/view/j/for.2009.6.4_20120105083454/for.2009.6.4/for.2009.6.4.1278/for.2009.6.4.1278.xml Voter turnout. Retrieved February 10, 2013, from http://www.fairvote.org/voter-turnout#.URezQVp2HC6

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