How Compulsory Voting Could Change the U.S. Politics

We have the power to change the world. In the United States of America, eligible citizens vote for public officials. Former President, Barack Obama, once said, “It would be transformative if everybody voted” Voting allows people to choose their representatives in government. The government is supposed to implement policies that would benefit its people. Sadly, because not everyone uses this fundamental right, many problems occur. With informed decisions and compulsory voting, many of those problems could be prevented and America would become a much better place to live.

The right to vote is not a new concept. It all started with the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War was an 18th-century war between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies in America. The colonies were fighting for independence, and the right to have a say in how their government functioned. More than 25,000 American soldiers died, sacrificing their lives to give the vote to American citizens.

Nathan Hale, before he was hung by a British spy, said, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country” (IN-TEXT-CITATION). In the US, women did not have the right to vote until about 100 years ago. As America evolved, so did women’s role in society. Many events such as the Seneca Falls Convention (1848), women filling up jobs in factories during World War I, and the National Women’s Party picketing the White House in 1917, all contributed greatly to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

African Americans also struggled to earn the right to vote. When they were given the right to vote by the 14th Amendment, many white southerners continued to block them from voting by creating obstacles such as the Grandfather clause, poll taxes, literacy tests, and some even conducted terrorist attacks. In the mid-20th century, African Americans started fighting for civil rights. Because of civil-rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. We should vote because many people have fought and died for our right to vote. Similar to how they fought for their beliefs, we should go to the polling places with our intention to stand up for our beliefs and vote for the people with similar intentions.

Many people believe that mandatory voting laws violate civil liberties- that not voting is a fundamental right, a free expression of political discontent; however, voting is the core of democracy. Compulsory voting could temper the polarization of politics. If voting were mandatory, elections would become more about policy. Currently, politicians tailor their election campaigns to the interests of reliable voters instead of all citizens. Approximately 113 million Americans went to the polls last year; that was the highest total for a nonpresidential election in the US. It also had the most representative candidate pool. In the last election, there were many female candidates (⅓ were of color), many first-time candidates, LGBT candidates, etc.

Although it is not proven, there appears to be a correlation between a higher turnout and a more representative candidate pool. (IN-TEXT-CITATION) The US is seeing shifting demographics: a younger and more educated population, as well as changing social values. If everyone voted in elections, we will have a more representative government and it will accurately reflect society’s interests.

Voting in elections is a way to show that you care about your country and the future. It also allows us to generate community and feel connected. Interacting with groups that have similar interests help us participate in civic culture. We use elections to engage with institutions in our community. These institutions are key aspects of society’s well-being. We vote on issues that deal with healthcare, gun control, immigration, and many more aspects.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution mentions the right to an individual’s speech and expression. Having the freedom to express ourselves is a valued part of being a citizen in America. To show that we care for not only our future but America’s future, it is important that we partake in these elections so we can enforce the policies we care strongly about.

Mandatory voting is not the only solution for creating a better democracy, but it is a way to start to encourage and enable participation in the electoral process and forcing candidates to represent interests of all Americans, not just the most privileged citizens. It is crucial that we use the right which people died for and to show that we care for our country.