Compulsory Voting - Is Not About Freedom and Democracy
Democracy and freedom were paramount factors in the establishment of the United States. Citizens longed to elect trusted officials who would not only hear their concerns, but who would also take action to create change. Compulsory voting hinders one’s expression of choice which can result in a negative relationship between delegates and leaders as well as uninformed voting decisions.
When forced to act on another person's time most people become angry because they feel as if their feelings, commitments, and time aren’t being respected or considered. Compulsory voting would force voters into a draining and time consuming situation. Some voters simply may not have time to vote. For single mothers who work multiple jobs, children responsible for caring for their elderly parents, small businesses owners, and those with heavy coursework free time isn’t a luxury that’s easy to come by. Compulsory voting would place another challenging task on the plate of individuals who are already overwhelmed. Citizens could be led to feel as if their government is overlooking the little people. All those little people with their own stories to tell build the communities that require leadership. If this same government forces their inhabitants to do what’s considered to be best for the community and not the individual there won’t be a positive relationship between the two. Voters can’t be expected to respect, uphold, and value a system that isn’t truly for the people. Emotions will begin to rise and voting will continue to be viewed as a task rather than a right or privilege. This negative connotation could lead to voters disliking the system and its representatives.
Some citizens may choose to abstain from voting due to lack of knowledge about their possible future leaders. When carrying the task of deciding who will govern your health, taxes, and education one would like to be well informed. People generally have a great idea of how far their knowledge expands and choose to make decisions based on it. For a young college student who’s new to voting and so many other new life altering opportunities being informed is generally considered to be important, but not prioritized. They may choose to not vote at all rather than voting without fully understanding the process or situation.
In conclusion, forcing to vote will lead to a box quickly being checked when voting encompasses so much more. They won’t have had the opportunity to learn their candidates and what they stand for and against. People may vote for someone who is the total opposite of what they consider to be a great leader.
