The Gujarat state Assembly on 19th December passed Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009, making voting to municipal corporations, municipalities, and district, taluka and village panchayats compulsory. Gujarat has emerged as the first state in the country  to make voting compulsory. The Bill also ratifies the Centre’s suggestion to reserve 50 per cent seats in all local bodies for women. It is the first state to given the option of negative voting in the Bill

What is compulsory voting?

Most democratic governments consider participating in national elections a right of citizenship. Some consider that participation at elections is also a citizen’s civic responsibility. In some countries, where voting is considered a duty, voting at elections has been made compulsory and has been regulated in the national constitutions and electoral laws. Some countries go as far as to impose sanctions on non-voters.

Compulsory voting is not a new concept. Some of the first countries that introduced mandatory voting laws were Belgium in 1892, Argentina in 1914 and Australia in 1924. There are also examples of countries such as Venezuela and the Netherlands which at one time in their history practiced compulsory voting but have since abolished it.

Countries practicing compulsory voting

Given below is a table containing all the countries that have a law that provides for compulsory voting.

Table updated March 2009

Compulsory voting in Australia:

Compulsory voting in Australia was adopted in the state of Queensland in 1915 and subsequently adopted nationwide in 1924. With Australia’s compulsory voting system comes additional flexibility for the voter – elections are held on Saturdays, absent voters can vote in any state polling place, and voters in remote areas can vote before an election (at pre-poll voting centers) or via mail.

Voter turnout of those registered to vote in Australia was as low as 47% prior to the 1924 compulsory voting law. In the decades since 1924, voter turnout has hovered around 94% to 96%.

In 1924, Australian officials felt that compulsory voting would eliminate voter apathy. However, compulsory voting now has its detractors.

Advantages of compulsory voting:

Voting is another obligation that the state has a right to expect from citizens (like taxes, juries and sending children to school)

Parliament reflects more accurately the “will of the electorate.”

Governments must consider the total electorate in policy formulation and management.

Candidates can concentrate their campaigning energies on issues rather than encouraging voters to attend the poll.

The voter isn’t actually compelled to vote for anyone because voting is by secret ballot.

critics are not opposed to compulsory enrolment, compulsory allocation of preferences yet are opposed to compulsory attendance at an electoral booth.

Compulsory voting increases turnout, voluntary voting could not enthuse voters.

Higher sample of public opinion with higher turnout.

Legitimacy of government is more accepted by a high turnout.

Equalises participation and removes bias from less-privileged citizens

Increases citizen interest in politics and government

Forces the silent majority to think about elections

Voluntary voting makes election more expensive as parties have to spend money on “getting out the voter”.

High turnout produces a reduction in the incentive for negative advertising.

Arguments against compulsory voting:

It is undemocratic to force people to vote – an infringement of liberty.

The “ignorant” and those with little interest in politics are forced to the polls.

It may increase the number of invalid votes and encourages reckless voting bahaviour.

Resources must be allocated to determine whether those who failed to vote have “valid and sufficient” reasons.

It causes over-government.

It represents a failure of democracy.

It is unfair to force  a voter, who is not attracted to any candidate, to vote.

It rewards dishonest electors who turn up and vote informal only to escape penal action.

Compulsory voting has made life easier for the parties.

Parties don’t need mass memberships as people vote for/against them anyway. Less need to convince the electorate of their policies.

It trivialises campaigns, making them more celebrity run-offs than policy campaigns.

People resent being dragged to the voting booth.

Many countries offer loopholes, intentionally and otherwise, which allow non-voters to go unpunished. For example, in many countries it is required to vote only if you are a registered voter, but it is not compulsory to register. People might then have incentives not to register. In many cases, like Australia, an acceptable excuse for absence on Election Day will avoid sanctions.

The diverse forms compulsory voting has taken in different countries refocuses the need for larger public debate on the issue. Prevention can not be worse than the cure.

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