13NFL1-Compulsory Voting Page 122 of 163 www.victorybriefs.com NON-COERCIVE METHODS ARE THE BEST WAY OF INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS Ben Saunders Temporary
Lecturer in Philosophy, Increasing Turnout A Compelling Case
Politics: 2010 Vol. 30(1), 70
–77
The problem, if there is one, seems to be that particular disadvantaged
groups are underrepresented, but this can be solved without coercing everyone. Indeed, if we think that certain groups are simply alienated, then coercion
is not a promising solution, since firstly it is unlikely to correct this feeling and secondly members of these groups are unlikely to use their votes wisely (or perhaps at all, since they may abstain even when forced to turnout. If we are worried about
particular marginalised groups, then the more appropriate remedy seems to be some form of public education or dialogue aimed at engaging them. Other possible non-coercive solutions include electoral reform (Karp and Banducci, 1999), providing selective incentives for voters (Saunders, a) or striving to increase social capital (Krishna, 2002).
In the meantime, we simply have to rely on those who do vote to do their best to consider the interests of those who do not (Goodin, 2003, pp. 194
–225).
