[Beef]

Do you think that it should be a requirement to vote if you are an American Citizen? Living here in Australia I have got to know some of their politics and one thing is that as a citizen (the 20 million that they have), you are required to vote in all elections. Failure to vote will result in a fine of $100 or so. This might seem like a small amount but it does cause 90% to turn out and vote -- a LOT might than that of the USA.

So back to the question. Should citizens of the United States of America be required to vote? I can see both sides of the argument:

1.) Forcing people to vote makes sure that the individual that the citizens actually want to win the election, wins the election. If you double the amount of voters then it could totally change the outcome of the elections.

2.) Looking at it from the other side, forcing people to vote would require people to vote who know nothing about the system or the candidates. Why would we want someone to vote if they do not know who they are voting for or what that person's beliefs might be.

So the question is back to you guys....Should you be required to vote as an American?

[SVLadiesFan]

Alot of people don't even know who is running in an election. I guess if we were made to vote we would make sure we knew more about what was going on in our country. which may not be a bad thing. i am with you i can see good and bad things in it.

[BlackcatAlum]

I'm not big on politics but here is my take. I think its a good idea for people to be forced to vote. Because the people I know that don't vote that can, say bad things about the officials elected, I always tell them they should have voted. But some or most people probley don't care. But its the time that people need to start caring because these are the people making the decisions for us.

[ComfortEagle]

I'm for it, but good luck trying to ever get it to happen.

[Fenix]

I don't think people should be required to vote, but I do wish more people would vote.

[Beef]

I'm not big on politics but here is my take. I think its a good idea for people to be forced to vote. Because the people I know that don't vote that can, say bad things about the officials elected, I always tell them they should have voted. But some or most people probley don't care. But its the time that people need to start caring because these are the people making the decisions for us.

This is why I think it is a good idea. I mean people complain about the officials that are elected yet they refuse to vote. If you don't vote then you have no room to complain IMO. And CE you are correct, it would never happen but I believe that it should. You are entitled by the Constitution to the right to vote, why not make it a requirement. But then again you can bet there would be some group complaining that it is infringing on their rights or something like that.

[OffTheHook]

Change the right to required. Hell they change everything else. I'm all for it. Don't Vote - Don't Complain.

[More Cowbell]

I will disagree with everyone else and say that it should not be required. I have two main reasons:

First, like Beef said in the initial post, requiring everyone to vote would force people to make decisions on candidates that they have absolutely no idea about. Personally, I think uninformed voters are even more dangerous than those who don't vote at all. Would it improve the electoral process to have people go in there and randomly pick a name, or to go in and vote for whoever their parents/spouse/TV personality told them to?

Second, I do think it infringes on our personal freedoms to require the vote. I think that would be the government overstepping its boundaries yet again. So would you also be required to vote in every race you are allowed to, even if you didn't care who was running for State Sanitation Engineer or something like that? I always vote, but if I don't know anything about the candidates in a certain race, I skip that one. I don't think the government should tell me I have to hit a button for every office that is up for election.

[Old School]

I don't think people should be required to vote, but I do wish more people would vote.

I agree....It would be great if more people took an interest in the elections, but like others have stated if you don't vote then you shouldn't complain.

[Watchful Eye]

The scary thing is that certain people in our region know more about their SSI benefits than the candidiates running for Congressional Seats or President. When those candidiates help, allow and increase or decrease those benefits. The problem is the fact that we have lost many good men and women throughout the years whether on home soil or abroad fighting to give "lazy" people the right to vote. You'd think since they give up their lives to die for that belief that "Jr" could get his his lazy, SSI drawing #$$^% off the couch to cast a ballot.

[Football Frenzy]

In my opinion, you should only vote if you're informed....If you're not informed, I personally don't want you out there throwing your votes around.....

[ronald_reagan]

Forced to vote? I think we need less, not more here in this country! There should be certain requirements as well, such as high school diploma's, a job, and ability to read english.

[vundy33]

I'm for it...But if they do ever implement it there is going to be chaos at the polls for the first few years IMO.

[ronald_reagan]

I'm for it...But if they do ever implement it there is going to be chaos at the polls for the first few years IMO.

isn't it chaos already?? :confused:

But seriously.. I'd love to see your viewpoint on this, and any other person who agrees...

Why would you want someone to be required to vote? I mean, the 70% that doesn't vote obviously doesn't care about leadership and probably isn't informed on the issues... why would want these people to vote?? Its obvious though that the more uneducated voters we have, the more likely we'll have democratic control. As must studies show that the more educated you are, the higher probability that you'll be a republican. (up until the Ph.D range). In fact the median republican is as follows, a white married male with a 4 year education and of the christian belief.

[More Cowbell]

I will repeat my views on this from my earlier post in this thread:

I disagree with any law that would force people to vote. First of all, requiring all citizens to vote would force people to make decisions on candidates that they have absolutely no idea about. Personally, I think uninformed voters are even more dangerous than those who don't vote at all. Would it improve the electoral process to have people go in there and randomly pick a name, or to go in and vote for whoever their parents/spouse/TV personality told them to?

Second, I do think it infringes on our personal freedoms to require the vote. I think that would be the government overstepping its boundaries yet again. So would you also be required to vote in every race you are allowed to, even if you didn't care who was running for a particular office? I always vote, but if I don't know anything about the candidates in a certain race, I skip that one. I don't think the government should tell me I have to hit a button for every office that is up for election.

[Braves_Fan_26]

Whats the point in voting in a presidential election when our votes dont count anyway. If they did then Bush wouldnt have been president the first time. Gore won the popular vote which is ours, and Bush got the electoral college vote. Makes no sense to me whatsoever. Why should people be made to vote, isnt this a free country, do we not have the right or choice to vote or not vote. Also I dont believe in the if u dont vote then u dont have a right to complain argument. Just because we dont vote doesnt mean we dont have the right to complain about it. For the person that was bashing people who receive SSI benefits, you need to watch what you are saying. Alot of people depend on SSI, and alot of people dont get it just because they are lazy. They have legitimate reasons for needing it. Like my mother, she has a nerve disorder as well as some nerve damage to her neck and something wrong with her brain. Also if there were more jobs available or if the jobs that are available werent so **** prejudiced then alot of people wouldnt have to rely on government funds to get by. I know of some places in KY that do credit checks now on people before they hire them, what the **** is that all about? What does someones credit have to do with getting a job? People that get turned down for a job because of bad credit wouldnt happen if there were more jobs available. This country is so *** backwards its pitiful. Its no wonder other countries hate it. Yeah they say they are fighting for our freedom and all that bull but thats wrong, we barely have any freedoms left here. Its slowly becoming a communist country in my view. Also one other thing, why is it that we are forced to serve on the jury. Shouldnt that be a choice of ours to make as well as choosing to vote. Thats what I mean by no freedoms left in this country. I really do wish that I could leave here and go to Canada or somewhere like that, at least there they dont get involved in things that arent there business, its peaceful and I think it would be a great place to live. I cant wait to read the responses to this.

[Midee1]

I know of some places in KY that do credit checks now on people before they hire them, what the **** is that all about? What does someones credit have to do with getting a job? People that get turned down for a job because of bad credit wouldnt happen if there were more jobs available.

The credit check situation is easy.

Would you want someone with bad credit and in trouble working for your company? Who is to say their financial situation won't make them do illegal things to try and make a few extra dollars?

I wouldn't want someone on the verge of bankruptcy handling my companies money.

As for the job situation. If we just keep creating jobs so everyone has one how watered down would the pay scale get? It is hard enough for some of the small companies to meet payroll can you imagine if they were forced to create more jobs? Everyone in America would be working for minimum wage.

[Braves_Fan_26]

At least people would be working and not having to hear people's mouths when they say they are lazy if they dont work. Just because someones credit is bad doesnt mean they are going to do something to steal or do something illegal to fix their situation. I do have bad credit but its only because I trusted people, those people being family, to pay thing for things that I got for them in my name, something I will never do again.

[Midee1]

At least people would be working and not having to hear people's mouths when they say they are lazy if they dont work. Just because someones credit is bad doesnt mean they are going to do something to steal or do something illegal to fix their situation. I do have bad credit but its only because I trusted people, those people being family, to pay thing for things that I got for them in my name, something I will never do again.

And as a potential employer I would know this how? It is your credit and you are responsible for it.

I believe that the credit checks are being ran on people that are trying to get jobs that deal with money such as Banks. I don't think that you will have a credit check ran to work at the mall, McDonald's, The gas station, Garage or any other place that you do not handle large amounts of money.

[ComfortEagle]

And as a potential employer I would know this how? It is your credit and you are responsible for it.

I believe that the credit checks are being ran on people that are trying to get jobs that deal with money such as Banks. I don't think that you will have a credit check ran to work at the mall, McDonald's, The gas station, Garage or any other place that you do not handle large amounts of money.

Sometimes credit checks are being run in the strangest of places.

There was one place I know of that was doing credit checks for customer service operators, yet another place where a desk clerk handled money everyday, but no credit check required.

[Midee1]

Sometimes credit checks are being run in the strangest of places.

There was one place I know of that was doing credit checks for customer service operators, yet another place where a desk clerk handled money everyday, but no credit check required.

Now that makes no sense to me at all. I can understand credit checks for people handling money but other than that not so much so. Maybe also someone working with something that could be easily stolen and sold such as jewelry but other than that I don't understand it.

[Braves_Fan_26]

I know of a place in morehead that does credit checks now and its a frickin factory. The Family Dollar Distribution warehouse. Now is that any kind of place to be doing credit checks? I dont think so.

[Midee1]

I know of a place in morehead that does credit checks now and its a frickin factory. The Family Dollar Distribution warehouse. Now is that any kind of place to be doing credit checks? I dont think so.

How easy would it be to have one of your buddies back a truck up and load up a bunch of merchandise?

That may be the issue there.

[Braves_Fan_26]

Not everyone is a crook ok. Yeah there may be people that would do that, but with cameras around watching every move you make, dont you think it would be kind of impossible. I am not a crook and would never do anything like that, I would just like to be able to get a job based on my work skills and reliability rather than my credit or looks or beliefs or because I dont know the right people. I can understand credit checks maybe for banks and places that require you to handle money, but not at a **** factory. Come on.

[Midee1]

Not everyone is a crook ok. Yeah there may be people that would do that, but with cameras around watching every move you make, dont you think it would be kind of impossible. I am not a crook and would never do anything like that, I would just like to be able to get a job based on my work skills and reliability rather than my credit or looks or beliefs or because I dont know the right people. I can understand credit checks maybe for banks and places that require you to handle money, but not at a **** factory. Come on.

I was just making a statement. No need to get all put of sorts.

Not saying that everyone are crooks. But the crooks out there sure have screwed it up for the honest people. Companies are tired of the crooks and the honest people that have had a run of bad luck are the ones that are paying.

If you need a job in the Morehead area I could probably get you one at a factory up there in a few days.

[ronald_reagan]

Whats the point in voting in a presidential election when our votes dont count anyway. If they did then Bush wouldnt have been president the first time. Gore won the popular vote which is ours, and Bush got the electoral college vote. Makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Why do people still bring this up? There's no such thing as a popular vote. the "popular vote" was made up by the media about 40 years ago. You need to read the federalist papers, and then make up your mind about Canada. Canadian government doesn't even allow you elect your leader. You elect the House of Commons, of which the Prime minister is selected internally. You're also subject to the rule of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, as canada is a constitutional monarchy under her 'rule'.

[15thRegionCrazy]

I'm not sure if I would want people to be required to vote or not. If you made somebody vote they would just vote for somebody they know nothing about. And it would be hard to punish everyone who doesn't vote. I do think something needs to be done to get more people out to vote though.

[Braves_Fan_26]

Thats my point Reagan. Why should we even vote if our vote doesnt count. Especially since you say there is no popular vote? It makes no sense to me. What factory are you talking about Midee?

[Midee1]

Thats my point Reagan. Why should we even vote if our vote doesnt count. Especially since you say there is no popular vote? It makes no sense to me. What factory are you talking about Midee?

White's Millwork on RT 32 towards Flemingsburg.

[ronald_reagan]

Thats my point Reagan. Why should we even vote if our vote doesnt count. Especially since you say there is no popular vote? It makes no sense to me. What factory are you talking about Midee?

YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT!!!! Its not a NATIONAL election. Each STATE sends a delegation that votes as the STATE's citizens voted.

I wasn't agreeing with you..

Personally, I would rather have a parlimentary style government. If we would repeal the senate elections and have them selected by state governments as the founders intended, then allow the senate to select a president from within by super majority.

People who say their vote doesn't count, aren't informed on how the process works.. thus are the very people that I think shouldn't be allowed to vote.