Foundation Briefs Advanced Level Sept/Oct 2013 Brief
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- Contention Two Compulsory voting is an equalizer for voices of resistance
| Sept/Oct 2013 Aff Case foundationbriefs.com Page 101 of 104 consistent manner. Fora government to govern in a just fashion, it must fulfill this responsibility. And because voting is essentially an expression of the general will in context of modern democracy, the process inherently has the necessity of being fair. This is best fulfilled under a compulsory voting system, which works to prevent the kind of marginalization that lends unfairness to the voluntary voting process. Contention Two Compulsory voting is an equalizer for voices of resistance Inherent to many arguments against the requirement to vote is the idea that the right to vote is balanced by the right not to vote. Here’s the problem (aside from the findings of Lisa Hill that the right not to vote isn’t hard- coded as law) with this idea the right not to vote is only a positive element if there is something inherently and uniquely beneficial to it. But is there While not casting a vote is seen as a vote against whatever candidates are currently up for election, this is still possible under two forms with compulsory voting 1) Not casting a ballot, or 2) Casting a blank or invalid ballot. This first option wouldn’t seem possible under compulsory voting, but compulsion does not necessarily refer to the requirement to fill out a ballot rather, it can simply refer to having to show up to a polling place. More profoundly, however, the second option is actually one that can more powerfully voice a people’s opinion and give them a clear voice in a democracy (which really is what a just democracy ought to be doing. Consider the case of Brazil, under which—as noted by Timothy J. Power— casting invalid ballots was an active form of protest against the military regime. Contrast this with voter abstention involuntary systems, which has done little other than spur further debate about how to increase voter turnout. One of these two outcomes clearly does a more active job encouraging fair treatment by the government of the populace, which is integral to its legitimacy. This again goes back to notions of equality and the general will. A non-vote can be seen as a sign of protest, but that non-vote action does not carry weight because in a democratic system, only a vote carries legitimacy because it is counted. As such, for any act of resistance or protest to be valued equally to a standard vote fora candidate, it must also be in the form of a vote. To make voting compulsory and allow for resistance within the framework of compulsory voting would make protest a valid and equal way to show opinion, rather one that is nominal (asunder voluntary voting. Download 0.95 Mb. Share with your friends:
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