Should voting be compulsory?
Thesis – yes
Point 1 – participation crisis undermining gov’s legitimacy and mandate
2001 GE – turnout of 59.4% resulted in a historic low, contrasting with the 1979-1997 turnouts in
which the turnout remained in the 70s
40% of the nation were essentially bound to policies that they had no say in
2019 Belgium: 88.38% turnout
2019 Australia: 92% turnout
Only 38% of the total electorate voted Conservative in 2019
The gov therefore doesn’t have the most legitimate mandate in creating its binding legislation against
the whole country, which is therefore undemocratic
COUNTER – many issues are far too complicated for the average electorate to understand; there will be
many uninformed voters who can be easily influenced without much thought
Such uneducated decisions would affect the whole country
2016 Brexit referendum with a turnout of 72.5%, who weren’t educated enough on such a complex
constitutional topic – many lacked certainty, expressed regret after it was too late
Over 4 million people signed an e-petition on the official government website regarding a second EU
referendum
Labour even had to put in their manifesto that they’d do a second referendum
Common misunderstanding that a higher turnout is equivalent to higher engagement
Young people simply do not have the time to learn (due to education and jobs) in comparison to the
retired elderly; they will vote for the sake of voting, contributing with ill-informed votes for the sake
of not getting fined – distort democratic results
2015 GE: 18-24: 43% -> proves they’re already unbothered, forcing them won’t make them bothered
LINK – Wouldn’t have legitimacy of government questioned if voting was compulsory
Bigger mandate – under more pressure to stick to manifesto promises
Budget 2021 – 1.25% increase in National Insurance tax despite it saying that this would not happen
in the 2019 Conservative manifesto, the sovereign Parliament do not feel pressured enough to take
action
Point 2 – ensures more sections of society are involved
Decision makers having to make sure that politics addresses concerns of all parts of society; not just
those that vote in larger numbers
2019: 74%: 65+ 47%: 18-24 voting
Unequal turnout reinforces social disadvantage
GE are a time to hold representatives of gov accountable, so no voting = no held accountability, hence
why gov gotten away w/ prioritising elderly over younger electorate
Spring Budget 2023 – pensioners got a 10.1% boost in their state pension
Compared to students from Sept 2023 – students will start repaying their student loans when they
earn above £25,000 – lowered threshold from £27.2k
2019: 52% - social renter
70% - owned – government more likely to support the wealthier sections of society
COUNTER – minority sections of society still have their concerns considered
Jeremy Hunt confirmed national minimum wage as of April 2023 increased by 9.7%, benefitting
millions of low-paid workers
Another example is from The Labour government who introduced the Child Poverty Act 2010, aiming
to decrease child poverty rates drastically by 2020
Thesis – yes
Point 1 – participation crisis undermining gov’s legitimacy and mandate
2001 GE – turnout of 59.4% resulted in a historic low, contrasting with the 1979-1997 turnouts in
which the turnout remained in the 70s
40% of the nation were essentially bound to policies that they had no say in
2019 Belgium: 88.38% turnout
2019 Australia: 92% turnout
Only 38% of the total electorate voted Conservative in 2019
The gov therefore doesn’t have the most legitimate mandate in creating its binding legislation against
the whole country, which is therefore undemocratic
COUNTER – many issues are far too complicated for the average electorate to understand; there will be
many uninformed voters who can be easily influenced without much thought
Such uneducated decisions would affect the whole country
2016 Brexit referendum with a turnout of 72.5%, who weren’t educated enough on such a complex
constitutional topic – many lacked certainty, expressed regret after it was too late
Over 4 million people signed an e-petition on the official government website regarding a second EU
referendum
Labour even had to put in their manifesto that they’d do a second referendum
Common misunderstanding that a higher turnout is equivalent to higher engagement
Young people simply do not have the time to learn (due to education and jobs) in comparison to the
retired elderly; they will vote for the sake of voting, contributing with ill-informed votes for the sake
of not getting fined – distort democratic results
2015 GE: 18-24: 43% -> proves they’re already unbothered, forcing them won’t make them bothered
LINK – Wouldn’t have legitimacy of government questioned if voting was compulsory
Bigger mandate – under more pressure to stick to manifesto promises
Budget 2021 – 1.25% increase in National Insurance tax despite it saying that this would not happen
in the 2019 Conservative manifesto, the sovereign Parliament do not feel pressured enough to take
action
Point 2 – ensures more sections of society are involved
Decision makers having to make sure that politics addresses concerns of all parts of society; not just
those that vote in larger numbers
2019: 74%: 65+ 47%: 18-24 voting
Unequal turnout reinforces social disadvantage
GE are a time to hold representatives of gov accountable, so no voting = no held accountability, hence
why gov gotten away w/ prioritising elderly over younger electorate
Spring Budget 2023 – pensioners got a 10.1% boost in their state pension
Compared to students from Sept 2023 – students will start repaying their student loans when they
earn above £25,000 – lowered threshold from £27.2k
2019: 52% - social renter
70% - owned – government more likely to support the wealthier sections of society
COUNTER – minority sections of society still have their concerns considered
Jeremy Hunt confirmed national minimum wage as of April 2023 increased by 9.7%, benefitting
millions of low-paid workers
Another example is from The Labour government who introduced the Child Poverty Act 2010, aiming
to decrease child poverty rates drastically by 2020
