Should Voting Be Compulsory for U.S. Citizens?

Making the decision to vote or not to vote is viewed as a personal choice by most Americans. We have entered into a period of time in this nation where almost everybody is concerned about their rights, or freedoms, being taken away. And, I can almost guarantee that if the attitude toward voting does not improve in America, we most certainly will have something to be very concerned about.

Those who complain the most about our government are usually those who do not vote. Any voter will tell you, regardless of how the election turned out, they tried, they did their best to help make a change. The voter may also complain, but he does have a right because he exercised his right, privilege, responsibility or whatever other name you want to tag on it. I personally prefer to call it an obligation since we are all so concerned about our rights and freedom.

What if our government made it mandatory for all citizens to vote? How would that be infringing on our rights or freedoms? We still have to abide by certain laws in order to live the good life that is suppose to be our constitutional right. Doesn’t it make sense that our part in all this, for all American citizens, would be to get off your butt and speak up for what you believe by voting at the polls? It doesn’t make sense to sit back and let other people who are willing to cast a vote for what they believe be allowed to speak for everyone else who may not be in agreement. By not voting, that is exactly what is happening.

As for the legality of it, laws are passed every day to better our lives, to enhance our freedoms and rights, and to protect us. Why not pass a law to ensure each and every citizen who qualifies goes to the polls and speaks for himself? What more right and/or freedom can you have than that? I call that a good way to actively participate in ensuring that my rights are protected.

There will always be people who oppose the idea of compulsory voting in the United States. But, as with all new proposals that impact our society as a whole, there will be those who object to any change in the status quo. Maybe it’s due to the fear of one party losing control, or fear of some kind of fraud, or perhaps fear of the unknown regarding the outcome when thousands more people speak to their government through the polls.

Isn’t it amazing how the vast majority of American citizens will sit around complaining about a small minority of people making changes, but will fail to go to the polls to make their voices heard? It seems like the vast majority of people cannot do the math. If this is a democracy we live in, the numbers would speak for themselves. Hundreds of thousands of votes will surely over-rule the relatively few votes in any election. Common sense tells us that if you are among the largest segment of citizens wishing to make a change, that you would make this change known by casting your vote to ensure that those who would take away your rights do not win.

It is my belief that Americans have crossed that line in thinking that ‘we are entitled’ to have rights and privileges, and therefore, have given up the responsibilities and obligations to vote. This is also true in many other areas of the American lifestyle, in which so many people place blame on others rather than stepping up and taking responsibility for their own actions, or lack thereof. But, of course….this too, is one of our rights.

It certainly would create an interesting chain of events should every able-bodied American citizen step up to the voting booth and speak to government in unison. It seems the only way for that to happen is to make voting mandatory for all qualified American citizens.