Voting vote

[banana]

Whenever I hear adults talk about how great it is when the young are involved or how it's a good idea to lower the voting age I wonder it's because they can't remember the stupid things they believed as a youngster, or it's because they are too shameless to be embarrassed about their beliefs as a youngster, or it's because they are too immature to have reevaluated their beliefs based on life experience. There's also the problem of engagement.

Likewise, old fogeys are potentially so out of touch that they shouldn't be let near the voting booth such that they can affect the lives of those with half or most of their lives still ahead of them.

Should voting be mandatory by law for those of voting age, building engagement and responsibility?

Spoiler

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• Islam - co-existence, terrorism and reformation

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[PB 4.2]

Should the mentally ill (like banana) be allowed to vote?  

A)  Disagree 
B) Strongly Disagree. 

[smpar]

I like all the generalising clichés and assumptions, they’re absolutely spot on and not at all tired and/or vague.

[peasy23]

Voting should be compulsory imo, but the ballot paper should have a "none of the above" option.

[Ad Lib]

Voting shouldn't be based on age. It should be based on whether you hold a 2:1 or better degree from a Russell Group University.

[Zen Archer (Raconteur)]

2 minutes ago, Ad Lib said:

Voting shouldn't be based on age. It should be based on whether you hold a 2:1 or better degree from a Russell Group University.

This of course will be negated due to lack of Sartorial elegance.

[banana]

2 minutes ago, Tynieness said:

Banana should be keelhauled around the fleet then put in stockings outside every town hall in the country.

[PB 4.2]

1 minute ago, Ad Lib said:

Voting shouldn't be based on age. It should be based on whether you hold a 2:1 or better degree from a Russell Group University.

Even Ad Lib trying the funnies.   

The two-fold rise in 1st class degs from our universities from the last decade, is it the dumbing down from the SG or a rise in attainment?  

[Finch road]

My vote goes to

A) banana is a racist arsehole who should be ignored at all costs, hemorrhoids are preferential to reading his eye bleeding pish

[banana]

25 minutes ago, peasy23 said:

Voting should be compulsory imo, but the ballot paper should have a "none of the above" option.

What's your rationale behind that?

[peasy23]

What's your rationale behind that?

We regularly get governments that the majority of the population didn't vote for, so to get a better turnout then imo it should be compulsory. The flip side of that is that if you don't want to vote for any of the candidates listed in your area then you should have the right to abstain.

[tamthebam]

I believe in one man one vote. 

I'm the one man and I get the one vote and no other bugger.  

[pandarilla]

Voting should be compulsory imo, but the ballot paper should have a "none of the above" option.

I want to agree other than the obvious downside...

None of the above would win an awful lot of elections.

[Cerberus]

Old people shouldn't be allowed to vote.
 They need to be isolated and studied so it can be determined what nutrients they have that might be extracted for our personal use.

 

[Glenconner]

3 minutes ago, Cerberus said:

Old people shouldn't be allowed to vote.
 They need to be isolated and studied so it can be determined what nutrients they have that might be extracted for our personal use.

 

Not a fan of the Juniors then?

[D Angelo Barksdale]

I propose we move away from elections and 'democracy' and install a more authoritarian police state system.

A Judge Dredd/Mega City 1 set up is just what this country needs imo.

[banana]

3 minutes ago, peasy23 said:

We regularly get governments that the majority of the population didn't vote for, so to get a better turnout then imo it should be compulsory. The flip side of that is that if you don't want to vote for any of the candidates listed in your area then you should have the right to abstain.

 

So for you the focus there is increasing the legitimacy of the government who wins power? Understandable.

Could counter that this is a false legitimacy as folk are being forced into the ballot box (bit naughty in a supposed free society). Does the argument not fall down when the turnout isn't 80%, but 95% with say 12% of those none of the aboves? Any idea what the stats look like in say Australia?

[pandarilla]

Democracy is an absolutely terrible way to run a country. But it's the best way there's ever been.

[Arabdownunder]

22 minutes ago, banana said:

So for you the focus there is increasing the legitimacy of the government who wins power? Understandable.

Could counter that this is a false legitimacy as folk are being forced into the ballot box (bit naughty in a supposed free society). Does the argument not fall down when the turnout isn't 80%, but 95% with say 12% of those none of the aboves? Any idea what the stats look like in say Australia?

About 10% of eligible voters don't register. Turnout is usually around 95% of eligible voters. Of that about 5% spoil their ballot. We don't have a "none of the above option" and use a preferential voting system so in the end, if you cast a vote you have to rate one of the major parties above the other.

 

 

[peasy23]

So for you the focus there is increasing the legitimacy of the government who wins power? Understandable.
Could counter that this is a false legitimacy as folk are being forced into the ballot box (bit naughty in a supposed free society). Does the argument not fall down when the turnout isn't 80%, but 95% with say 12% of those none of the aboves? Any idea what the stats look like in say Australia?

Yep, at present we have as many as 2/3rds of the electorate who don't bother their arse voting. That has to change imo.