SHOULD VOTING BE COMPULSORY?

Compulsory voting (CV) places a legal compulsion on citizens to go to cast their vote. The aims of CV are to improve voter turnout and make citizens aware of their responsibilities in a democratic society. In countries where CV exists, the penalties for citizens refusing to exercise their right to vote range from a fine, to the withdrawal of certain government benefits, to the 'naming and shaming' of non-voters.

Some political commentators support the introduction of CV in countries such as the UK, which has seen a drastic fall in voter turnout in general elections during the last 20 years - down to just 59% in 2001. Such analysts believe that the introduction of CV would rapidly increase voter tirnout, particularly among those groups who are disadvantaged, if the government punishment were a reduction in the services and benefits for the poorer groups in society. Traditionally, working class groups have a much lower voter turnout than the middle classes.

Compulsory voting currently operates for at least some elections in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Luxembourg and Singapore. When CV was abolished in the Nehterlands in 1970, voter turnout immediately dropped by 10%.