Sept/Oct 2013
Aff Counters Alternatives to Abstention
foundationbriefs.com
Page 81 of 104
Better Alternatives to Abstention under Compulsory
Voting Rules
The Right to Withdraw Democratic Legitimacy JMR
Keaney, Emily and Ben Rogers. A Citizens Duty Voter Inequality and the Case for
Compulsory Turnout Institute for Public Policy Research. May 2006. Pg 30
Related to this argument is the belief that compulsory turnout takes away the power to withdraw democratic legitimacy from a government by not voting. However, as we argue below, a vital part of a compulsory turnout system would be some form of formalized protest vote. This would in fact be afar more effective means of withdrawing democratic legitimacy than abstention, as it could not be misread as apathy. Compulsory turnout implemented in this way can, therefore, be seen as strengthening our democratic processes.
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