As soon as I saw the heading I was going to say that forcing people to vote is always reprehensible, but Yuytusu said it first. I'll add UNDEMOCRATIC.

While it is generally wise to make use of the ability to vote, people should not be forced to do so.

Only about 20 countries have compulsory voting and, even then, Australia is one of only THREE countries in the world to actually enforce it. Australia's awful preferential system ensures that only Liberal and Labor can ever form a government.

None of the fools who regularly vie for government are wanted by me, but I am not going to give the bastards any more money via fines; so, I attend the sheep muster, have my name marked off, enter a booth and write on the slip: "None of these. I deserve better". 80% of voters do deserve the rubbish they get, because they keep voting for idiots.

If I see an independent who might be able to do something for my state and rein in the madness of the lower house, I will vote 12 below the line on the Senate paper.

No one actually has to vote and compulsory attendance at a polling place to make sure that your name is crossed off is no more than a civic duty.

Some countries don't have this provision they have "Vote Early, Vote Often".

I don't believe people should be forced to vote.

Having to turn up to have your name crossed off is not a "civic duty" it is an imposition. In really democratic countries (the ones with voluntary voting), the turnout varies. The size of the turnout gives a powerful message to politicians. Australians have never been given that power by two groups of crooks who know that they are sure of getting a cushy, overpaid job whether they are in Government or in Opposition. Preferential voting makes Australia even less democratic, entrenching a two party dictatorship (they might as well get together: there is little difference between them) and robbing us of the ability to elect a worthwhile leader who is not a professional politician, not bound by party dogma and ideology.

ttbn,

Australia had the highly undemocratic 'first past the post' system until 1918 when the democratic 'preferential' system was introduced.

Under preferential, a candidate must get the votes of over 50% of people who prefer that person to anyone else.
That is a majority of voters who prefer that candidate, they may not necessarily like him/her but they like the rest even less.

Is Mise,

I know all that, and I still don't like it for the reasons I gave. Glad that you are happy with the system.

Only Australia, Fiji and Papu New Guinea have preferential voting. That says a lot.