Should Voting Be Compulsory?
It's compulsory in Australia. Why doesn't New Zealand follow suit?
I was walking along the street the other day on my way to the bakery, and was stopped by a team from TVNZ’s Seven Sharp seeking some vox pop. They wanted to know what I thought of compulsory voting. I did disclose that I’m a political scientist, but, just in case you saw that item, it was not a set-up!
In New Zealand, it’s compulsory to register on the electoral roll, but voting is voluntary. In Australia, in contrast, it’s “the duty of every elector to vote at each election”, but, in effect, it’s compulsory to show up and cast a ballot. Not all ballots make a valid vote. And there are “donkey votes” – where ballot-papers have been validly, but randomly, filled out.
The main advantage of compulsory voting is higher turnout. International IDEA estimated an average turnout 7.3 percentage points higher in countries with compulsory voting than in those without it. The degree of compulsion, the range of legal exceptions, the potential penalties, and the effort put into enforcement all vary.
As everyone benefits from a democratic rule of law and from public services, and as everyone pays taxes, it’s a civic duty to vote for the representatives who pass law, form governments and approve budgets.
It may then be argued that the performance of this duty should be legally compulsory. But not all duties are compulsory, and indeed duties are best observed when carried out willingly, regardless of external incentives.
Some may find compulsory voting more acceptable if they’re given a “none of the above” option. But others just don’t want to be told what to do.
In Australia, compulsory voting has lasted for over a century now. With turnouts of 90% or more, compulsory voting moderates politics, as elections aren’t captured so much by the more partisan citizens who are highly motivated. Parties have to appeal to people who are less engaged. As professor of politics Paul Strangio put it, “Habituated to being compelled to participate in elections, we [Australians] are inured to its specialness”. Surveys show that over 70% of Australians support it.
In New Zealand, enrolment rates are high (over 90%) but voter participation varies, hitting a low in 2011. Even on a good day, fewer than 80% of all those aged 18 or over actually vote.
After the low turnout in 2011, there was a drive to encourage young people in particular to get enrolled and vote, but compulsion wasn’t seriously mooted. I’ve heard numerous reasons for not voting. Should abstention be permitted? Can it be a valid choice, or is it just irresponsible?
What do you reckon?
Politics Happens is a non-partisan publication. As it’s voluntary in NZ, I do not disclose whether or not I vote.