Compulsory Voting

History of compulsory voting in Australia

• Compulsory enrolment for federal elections was introduced in 1912
• Compulsory voting for state elections was introduced in Queensland in 1915
• Compulsory voting at federal elections was introduced in 1924.

Arguments used in favour of compulsory voting

• Voting is a civic duty comparable to other duties citizens perform e.g. taxation, compulsory education, jury duty
• Teaches the benefits of political participation
• 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.

Arguments used against compulsory voting:

• It is undemocratic to force people to vote – an infringement of liberty
• The ill informed and those with little interest in politics are forced to the polls
• It may increase the number of "donkey votes"
• It may increase the number of informal votes
• It increases the number of safe, single-member electorates – political parties then concentrate on the more marginal electorates
• Resources must be allocated to determine whether those who failed to vote have "valid and sufficient" reasons.