Sorry if this is the wrong place for this, It seemed pretty specific but I also understand if this is more a news sub.
Now for the topic at hand, I’m personally not a fan. I think it’s a sticking plaster over the top of some significant shortcomings in education and disenfranchisement that fails to get people engaged in politics in a meaningful way.
The end game shouldn’t be getting a load of ignorant voters to ignorantly cast a vote; it should be to have an informed, educated and interested electorate going out to perform their civic duty in a way that brings everyone into the process, old, young, rich and poor.
I’d much rather see a focus on teaching our young people how our system works, why it’s important and how and why we have a duty as individuals to turn up to vote, hold our elected officials accountable and become a part of the democratic process.
What about you?
I totally agree with your thinking. The focus needs to be on education and reversing disenfranchisement.
I believe a lot of apathy comes from a society continually moving towards penalties and punishment for “undesired” behaviour. It all just leads to a mindset of “Why should I bother? I’ll have to deal with the fallout regardless”.
Compulsory voting would just be another negative on top of a whole bunch of others.