13NFL1-Compulsory Voting Page 147 of 163 www.victorybriefs.com VOLUNTARY VOTING SUPPORTS UNIVERSAL ENFRANCHISEMENT Ben Saunders Temporary Lecturer in Philosophy, Increasing
Turnout A Compelling Case Politics: 2010 Vol. 30(1), 70
–77 The idea of universal inclusion is less problematic once we separate the distinct issues of who should have the right to vote and who should exercise that right by actually voting. Proponents of compulsory voting seem committed to the idea that, while certain groups maybe justifiably
excluded from having a vote, all who are in fact granted a vote should exercise it. It is quite consistent, though, to say that certain people should have the right
to a vote but not exercise it, just as people should not use their right to free speech to say something deeply offensive. Enfranchising everyone is more attractive when the unaffected are allowed to abstain than when it means all being forced to vote, even on decisions that little affect them.
For one thing, this preserves the idea that being granted the right to vote is a benefit, rather than being placed under a potentially onerous duty. It means that it is up
to each individual to decide, for themselves, whether or not they should vote on a given issue.
