While discussing money in politics on Wednesday, President Obama who previously believed that there should be mandatory health insurance, also brought up the idea that there should be mandatory voting. His perception was influenced by the fact that many other countries, such as Australia, have a mandatory voting law.
“In Australia, and some other countries, there’s mandatory voting,” Obama said while taking questions at the City Club of Cleveland. “It would be transformative if everybody voted. That would counteract money more than anything. The people who tend not to vote are young, they’re lower income, they’re skewed more heavily toward immigrant groups and minorities,” Obama says. “There’s a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls.”
Over the years, many law officials have toyed with the idea of having voting mandatory due to the poor turn out with U.S voting. Mandatory voting certainly would alter the political map — and likely in the president’s favor. Less than 37 percent of Americans voted in November’s election, but those who didn’t vote wouldn’t have voted in support for Democrats. But that’s the thing..if it this law was active, it would help Democrats but it wouldn’t be the solution to money in politics. Money in fact is the problem in politics because politicians rely on contributions to run each of their campaigns. These contributions without a doubt influence the decisions each politician makes. But with the law in place, it was eliminate the “expensive” campaign but politicians would still have to pay their staff,, traveling cost, and buy TV spots so they would still have to depend on their sponsors.
So after all that do you really still think that the U.S could benefit from this possible voting law?
-Bri Christian (@brirezy)
Why not make voting mandatory, like paying taxes and jury duty (our civic duty)?
It probably would solve some of what’s wrong with our current system. They should also eliminate the Electoral College so people know that their vote REALLY counts. And why not make voting easier, like being able to vote with your smart phone, tablet or computer instead of standing in line at some archaic voting booth?
Voting fix, just in time for 2016
http://bit.ly/1DCNzQK