I have an article about compulsory voting up on the newly launched Liberal Democrat Voice.
It’s based on what I wrote on this site a few months ago, just a lot less rambling, to mark the launch of the Hansard Society’s latest Democracy Series booklet on compulsory voting.And if you really want a reason to check out the article, I’ll let you into a secret - I’m wearing a Donkey Thong in that photo.
Yes, really.In other news…
Clare Short will apparently be standing down as an MP at the next election, in order to
“be free to advocate a hung parliament so that the Lib Dems could “do a deal” to ensure PR”
For those unfamiliar with Claire Short until now, she’s the ex-Labour minister that fell out with Tony Blair but isn’t dead.
Update (14/09)
Clare Short has confirmed she is stepping down in a column for The Independent.
Loading ...
1 response so far ↓
1 sorking // Sep 12, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Just thought I’d register my general interest as an occasional visitor.
Reading your article - and despite the grinding my teeth start to do when the word ‘compulsory’ appears - I can’t help be feel inclined to agree…and at the same time wonder how a party can suggest it without losing popularity.(Though that’s a whole other debate, one about ‘right’ over ‘popular’.)
Most importantly, reading the feedback on your article it’s clear that some people thing ‘Caring about who is elected’ is a binary issue. You’re either bothered, or you’re not.
Which is obviously nonsense.
I can turn up and vote and base my entire decision on the hair colour of the candidates. That’s still a valid and counted vote. ‘Non-compulsory’ doesn’t mean ‘considered’ any more than ‘compulsory’ will always mean ‘well-considered’.
Which is to say, if my televsion was always switched on, I’d find a preferable channel.
Not every non-voter is skipping the process as part of some conscientious objection, to make a point. The amount of people who forget on the day, or who get caught up at work, or who are too tired, or who don’t believe they can make a difference (my favourite: ‘I feel like the only young, single liberal voting so why bother?’) must surely outnumber those making a point.
Or maybe they don’t. But how else do we find out? If what’s wanted, genuinely, is fundamental change to the available options - something all parties would have to listen to - how do we know?
And isn’t find out what the people want the whole point?
Leave a Comment