U.S. should automatically register voters - Page 4
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nursel56 and herring_RN like this. -
Dec 14, '12 by man-nurse2bQuote from tntrnUh in some countries, people are automatically registered to vote when they get their Driver license or national ID cards.. its been so for decades...but What a REVOLUTIONARY Idea for USA! . In Australia and some other democratic countries people are REQUIRED to vote by LAW. their voter turn out is usually in the 80 to 90s percentile. With a average 50% voter turn out in USA its just bad for the country, nothing is moving forward because one side just blocks the other and vise versa and the country has no momentum for the future.How would this be accomplished? And then what? Force them to vote also?
Compulsory Votingtewdles and aknottedyarn like this. -
Dec 14, '12 by tntrnHow can we claim to be a free country and then force people to vote? What is the punishment if they do not? What if they do not because of religious beliefs? IF people were all informed I would be much more likely to consider it, but many are not....that is evident by "interviews" by people who want to skewer both sides. Some people don't even know who is running or who the running mates are.....what valid input on the "will of the people" is provided by encouraging or forcing these people to help make very important decisions?HM-8404 and Spidey's mom like this. -
Dec 14, '12 by Miiki✿Quote from aknottedyarnI think I've found my argument topic. This is a great question.How do you see voting? Is it a right? a privilege? a responsibility?herring_RN likes this. - Guide
Dec 14, '12 by nursel56Quote from tntrnI read man-nurse2b's link - apparently the penalty for not voting is a fine, which if that is anything like similar fines here will eventually escalate to jail time and loss of personal property if you don't pay it. It would be really unwieldy and expensive to create the bureaucracy to enforce compulsory voting.How can we claim to be a free country and then force people to vote? What is the punishment if they do not? What if they do not because of religious beliefs? IF people were all informed I would be much more likely to consider it, but many are not....that is evident by "interviews" by people who want to skewer both sides. Some people don't even know who is running or who the running mates are.....what valid input on the "will of the people" is provided by encouraging or forcing these people to help make very important decisions?
I do have to say though, that while we don't have compulsory voting, being a registered voter involves compulsory jury duty, or the furnishing of a valid excuse. I know someone who ignored all their jury summons to the point they were facing a $1200 fine. I'm sure there must be another punishment for not paying that, such as attachment of a tax refund. To me that's like punishing somebody for voluntarily performing their civic duty. Don't want the hassle, don't register to vote -- could be the end result there. -
Dec 14, '12 by JolieMany jurisdictions have revised their sources of potential jurors for just this reason. In my state, anyone with a driver's license, anyone who files a state income tax return, and possibly other groups are considered for jury duty.
I realize the inconvenience of this. I've been summoned 3 times. Twice I spent the better part of a week waasting time in a jury room, never called for a trial, then was dismissed. The third time, I requested an exemption due to medical treatment. It was a valid reason, and the judge simply excused me rather than deferring for one year.
I am now preparing for a month of grand jury duty. Not looking forward to it, but don't believe it is right to try and get out of it for my own convenience.nursel56 and herring_RN like this. - GuideDec 15, '12 by nursel56Quote from JolieI want to serve on a jury. I know that probably makes me a weirdo, but what the heck. I was all set to serve in Boulder County when I lived there, but the man waived his right to a jury trial at the last minute.Many jurisdictions have revised their sources of potential jurors for just this reason. In my state, anyone with a driver's license, anyone who files a state income tax return, and possibly other groups are considered for jury duty.
I realize the inconvenience of this. I've been summoned 3 times. Twice I spent the better part of a week waasting time in a jury room, never called for a trial, then was dismissed. The third time, I requested an exemption due to medical treatment. It was a valid reason, and the judge simply excused me rather than deferring for one year.
I am now preparing for a month of grand jury duty. Not looking forward to it, but don't believe it is right to try and get out of it for my own convenience.
Last time I had to wait around all day only to be sent home, but they had a kick*ss jury room with wi-fi, decent vending machines and magazines that weren't a 2007 copy of Bass Fisherman's Digest. May you have an interesting experience!
herring_RN likes this. -
Dec 15, '12 by HM-8404Quote from man-nurse2bSurely you are not advocating compulsory voting. Do you really think that forcing people that don't care enough to vote is a good idea. Do you think those that don't care enough to vote will care enough to actually learn what the positions are for the candidates? Talk about a bunch of uninformed voters. We already have enough of them voting as it is.Uh in some countries, people are automatically registered to vote when they get their Driver license or national ID cards.. its been so for decades...but What a REVOLUTIONARY Idea for USA! . In Australia and some other democratic countries people are REQUIRED to vote by LAW. their voter turn out is usually in the 80 to 90s percentile. With a average 50% voter turn out in USA its just bad for the country, nothing is moving forward because one side just blocks the other and vise versa and the country has no momentum for the future.
Compulsory Votingworkingharder and tntrn like this. - Dec 15, '12 by HM-8404Quote from nursel56Here is some advice if you want to serve on a jury... Act like you are an imbecile. If you show any knowledge you will be dismissed.I want to serve on a jury. I know that probably makes me a weirdo, but what the heck. I was all set to serve in Boulder County when I lived there, but the man waived his right to a jury trial at the last minute. Last time I had to wait around all day only to be sent home, but they had a kick*ss jury room with wi-fi, decent vending machines and magazines that weren't a 2007 copy of Bass Fisherman's Digest. May you have an interesting experience!
The second time I was called for jury duty it was for criminal court. I was one of the people called for selection of a murder trial. I thought this could be interesting. The defense attorney asked who in the jury pool knew the difference in the operation of a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun. Five men, myself included, raised our hands. All five of us were immediately dismissed. That shows they don't want fair trials, they just want 12 idiots sitting on the jury. - Dec 15, '12 by HM-8404I often wonder if the same people complaining about how difficult it is to vote are the same people you see complaining while standing in the long lines at the DMV to get their car tags because they waited until the last day of the month.