I know many people in this country support our current system of Compulsory voting or as some may claim turning out. however if the circumstance came about and for some reason or another it became Voluntary, under what circumstance would it be appealing to the majority of people in this country? What provisos should be put into place to gain the current advantages and the advantages of voluntary voting in one.

My view is that Make voting voluntary but with 2 provisos that the election must garner at least a 75% to make an election valid or it is back to the polls and people who don't want to want sign a waiver that they forgo their right to complain about the outcome.

Personally things have been bad lately, I want a reinvigorated political system.

Please comment!

Voting is not compulsory, having your name crossed off the roll is compulsory, unless you have a good reason otherwise. If you choose to put a blank paper in the box that's your choice.

Under voluntary voting the old adage "Vote early, vote often" comes into play.
I know of instances in Northern Ireland where both sides of the political divide have kept the death of relatives secret till someone was able to vote in their place,

That is but one example of the many rorts possible under voluntary voting.

As Paul says, voting is not compulsory (in fact if not in law) and going along to get one's name crossed of is the least that one can do for one's country.

It is wrong to order anyone to do anything. Today it's the polling booth - tomorrow it's Vietnam.

Thou shalt not kill; yeah, it's wrong to go giving orders!!

Dear Is Mise,

"Thou shalt not kill" does not order anyone to do anything - only to refrain from a particular action that would harm others.

Staying in your bed should never be a crime.

Well, how about thou shalt not cross the railway lines except by the foot bridge?

Dear Is Mise,

Assuming that the railway lines are situated on what is legitimately the property of the rail-company, it can be argued that crossing them without the landlord's consent would constitute trespassing, thus harming the landlord. In that case, the owner may condition their consent at their pleasure, for example on using the footbridge.

Whether anyone may legitimately claim such a long property which blocks access in all directions to be theirs, is a question for another day. I tend to believe that this is OK within cities, but one may not thus block passage throughout vast country areas.

Paul,

The fact that you have to go to a polling station means that voting is compulsory. Your argument is similar to saying that conscription isn't compulsory, because you don't have to shoot someone.

In the vast majority of democracies voting is not compulsory, and their democracies work just fine. Voting should be voluntary for those that actually care, and should require ID.

Voting is compulsory but making a valid vote is not, long may it remain so.

Remember Margaret Thatcher?
She was elected to power in a democracy with 46% of the vote, then there was George W. Bush.....

Voting is a civic duty like paying taxes. You shouldn't get to opt out just because you're too lazy to get off your posterior and make the incredibly onerous journey (sarcasm) to the nearest polling booth. If you are that lazy then you should still have to postal vote.

Compulsory voting is good, but only if there is proportional representation.

Yeah, they have voluntary voting in the USA and every trick in the book is deployed to PREVENT people voting.

You would be lucky to get a 25% turnout if voting was voluntary.
Apathetic, lazy Aussies would rather be at the beach.
Sad but you all know it is true.

No government could ever claim a "mandate" on only 25% of the vote.

Tony,

Voting is a right not a duty in nearly every country. If the government needs to conscript people to vote, it needs more than just feel good to justify it.

People have the right not to give a crap.

Shadow,

In Australia they can exercise that right by writing 'crap' on the ballot paper.

What about their right not to go to the polling station?

There was a brief period in NSW when voting was not compulsory in local government elections, turnout was less than 30% and with proportional representation, a very few votes could get one elected. They soon returned to a compulsory system.
Today many people vote pre-poll which once upon a time was difficult to do, you had to have a good reason, but now its rather easy, virtually just front up no questions asked. I think we need to move the whole system into the 21st century, and I don't mean stop electing dinosaur people, streamline the system to include on line voting etc.

Dear Paul,

«turnout was less than 30%»

Even fewer played golf and turnout for Australian football must have been even less - how shameful that so many show disinterest and refuse to play the Australian game: let them be dragged out there along with their babies, all nursing-home residents and the ill out of hospitals, nay even the corpses of the dead must be brought out of the ground in order to demonstrate their solidarity with the election of Australia's Big Brother - lest people discover the tyrant he really is and how many people this naked emperor truly represents.

«streamline the system to include on line voting»

This would be great in a voluntary setting, but with compulsory voting it might force people to act against their conscience as the computer would not allow them to complete the vote unless they preferenced one particular evil over another, which they find morally repugnant.

Paul,

I fail to see a problem. If only 30% vote, it means that there is a 70% donkey vote otherwise.

Shadow, a little education for you, a "donkey vote" is a valid vote where the voter, starting at the top, numbers the ballot paper downwards 1,2,3,4,5 etc in order. Liberal Party candidates crave the top position on the ballot paper as the majority of their supporters are donkeys and vote accordingly.
No 70% just didn't bother to turn up and vote at all.

Paul,

A little education for you is that everyone including the greens prefers the top spot on the ballot precisely because the huge number of donkey votes, which wouldn't be an issue without the idiotic compulsory voting.

I am aware of the correct definition of donkey vote, but it is also used colloquially as a vote made carelessly without regard to the issues, which would accurately describe the 70% who typically wouldn't bother to turn up.

There are 196 countries in the world. Only 22 of those countries have compulsory voting. So, we are in the minority. Compulsory voting is, in my view, is undemocratic. Having said that, I can't find any excuse not to vote, but people should have the right to abstain, and they have to put are with what voters decide.

Rubbish Shadow, your like Rudd and his "fair shake of the sauce bottle" you got it wrong! Now compounding your ignorance with nonsense, obviously a political newbie, with no experience at all. A donkey vote is exactly as I have said. Nothing to do with not fronting up to vote.
Now if you don'turn up in the first place then pray tell how do you "vote made carelessly without regard to the issues, which would accurately describe the 70% who typically wouldn't bother to turn up." THEY NEVER VOTED AT ALL, CARELESSLY OR OTHERWISE!

Shadow, what political experience do you actually have, other than once attending a Liberal Party meeting, and having tea and scones with the old ladies of the 'blue rinse' set?

Paul,

I understand you had a deprived childhood and were taught english by drunken Irishmen. so here are a few pointers:

It's you're not your, and "there is a 70% donkey vote otherwise." means that in the alternative i.e. compulsory voting, that there is a 70% donkey vote.

Anytime you wish to avoid making a complete cock up, feel free to consult me or any adult that finished school.

Good response Shadow, denigrating the Irish as drunken, why didn't you say drunken Liberal Party member Michael Photos, after all he's in the news, having been convicted for the umpteeths time for traffic offences, including drink driving.

"consult you", consult you on what, a bloke who appears on a political forum who is totally clueless on the simple definition of what is a "donkey vote". Then tries to compound his ignorance with more ignorance. A bit like asking Michael Photos for driving lessons.

Paul,

Your incompetence at English is letting you down again. I made no implication that all Irishmen are drunken, only that the ones that raised you were.

Shadow, now that I have you on the ropes, here is the knock out blow.
You were half right; Drunken yes, Irish no, Liberal Party members yes!
What sort of name is "Photos". Was not Photos the Greek God of Drunkenness, and a Liberal Party Member? Then there was the Irish Liberal O'Farrell, well known for scoffing down bottles of plonk, and then losing his memory. Its all coming clear! Should it be known at your local Liberal Party branch, that you accidentally, not knowing what it is, put in a Donkey Vote at the Federal election, and voted for The Greens. Once they know that, you can kiss the tea and scones goodbye!

Paul,

I am wondering whether your raving is brought on by the influence of your alcoholic carers or long term dementia brought on by contact with Syph Hanson young?

I am however, grateful that the Greens have lost 3 seats at the elections and are now in the minor party league with one nation and the Xenophobic team.