rates of 90 percent and above on its own. This has been verified in a number of countries in which
compulsory voting has been adopted and, more importantly, systematically administered.
Whereas turnout inmost industrialised democracies is steadily declining, Australia has maintained healthy levels (around 83 percent of the voting age population ('VAP') and 95 percent of registered voters (RV) for many years. Belgium enjoys turnout of around 91 percent RV, while in The Netherlands, for the 53 years that compulsory voting was in force (1917–70), turnout was consistently above the 90 percent mark. Even those who do not necessarily approve of mandatory voting admit that it works. (484-485)
|
