The Case for Mandatory Voting in the U.S.
How compulsory voting creates a truly equitable and representative democracy
It’s time to get real about voting. The midterms saw unprecedented national growth in voter turnout. Consequently, history was made with a series of firsts, including an unprecedented number of female candidates (one-third of those running for the House were women of color!), first-time candidates for office, and LGBT candidates; the first two Muslim women elected to Congress; the first black woman from Massachusetts elected to Congress; the first Native American woman elected to Congress; the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, and more.
According to the Associated Press, an estimated 113 million Americans went to the polls November 6, the highest total for a nonpresidential election in the U.S. and the highest voter-participation rate in a midterm election in at least 50 years. Could there be a link between higher turnout and a more representative candidate pool?
Despite this unprecedented turnout, approximately 52 percent of eligible voters did not show up to the polls. This makes me wonder if the idea of mandatory voting in the United States is outrageous. I moved to the U.S. from Australia about two years ago, and I have asked several people this question. Most are aghast. They have…
