When I am King - # 1 – Voting Will be Compulsory

Long After the Primary (2 May 2012)

It’s Election Season and I’ve reached that point again, where I must set aside Dead Presidents and State Capitols and go off on something that’s bugged me for a long time.  In fact, this is a good time to introduce the first installment in a new series – When I Am King. 

I suspect that many people have their list of pet peeves they would correct if they were in charge.  Since I don’t expect to be King any time soon, I can at least promote them here...just as long as the rant includes an image or two.  The other illustrations are from my (dare I say?) complete collection of ‘Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year’, a fine series that began when Tricky Dick was president.

One quarter of all eligible voters in this country are not even registered.  While the presidential races bring out nearly 60% of the voters, the Congressional elections can’t prompt even half of us to get off our lazy butts.  In the 2010 mid-term elections, only 16 of the 50 states and D.C. had turnouts above 50% of the eligible voters.  That means that if all the people who stayed away from the polls had their votes given to me, I could be your senator now.  Think about that.  This is not democracy.

 Cartoon by Dana Summers, Orlando Sentinel (1983). 

Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year – 1983 Edition, Pelican Publishing, LA

As I researched this proposition, I found a number of reasons to be against mandatory voting...but I don’t buy them.  Some don’t think it is right to coerce voting.  It seems that Americans don’t like to be forced to do anything, no matter how correct it is.  We appear to view voting as a right but not a responsibility.  Is this part of that American Exceptionalism we keep hearing about?  Because God made America the best country ever, we have this screwed-up idea that important rights like this can be ignored?  Not when I’m King!  Voting is a civic duty.  It’s one of the most important rights we have and it matters because the vote of the guy who picks up your trash counts just as much as Bill Gates’ vote.

It’s important to note that I would be a benevolent King...one that would not tell anyone WHO they must vote for...but they must vote.  Too many people around the world have fought and died for the right that Americans so cavalierly disregard.  It’s just not right.  

Cartoon by Ann Telnaes, North America Syndicate (1996). 

 Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year – 1997 Edition, Pelican Publishing, LA

Over twenty countries have some form of compulsory voting laws.  In Australia, which has had mandatory voting since 1924, failing to vote can result in fines and other penalties.  This is not a new idea.

Some are concerned that forcing every ignoramus to vote will further dumb down the elections.  I believe we can elevate the discourse and improve the electorate’s sense of responsibility.  Some believe that not voting is a form of political expression...fine.  Include ‘None of the Above’ on the ballot and express yourself in person.  

  Don Wright, Palm Beach Post (2006)

[[Clipped from the Washington Post and saved]]

As if apathy wasn’t enough, there are now concerted efforts to suppress voters further.  I don’t understand why more of the public isn’t outraged over the spate of voter identification laws.  You think this effort by the Freedom-loving party to take away our freedoms is a coincidence that just happened after the black guy was elected president?  From the party of Lincoln, my Aunt Fanny. 

I think they may soon have to change its name to the Southern Christian White Man’s Party.  It sees the nation’s population changing and knows its radical policies can’t win over the new constituencies.  They would rather take away a fundamental American right from others so that more of their faithful base tips the vote.  They don’t care if they win a state by 12-10. 

If I had my way, elections would be voided unless at least 90% of the eligible votes are cast.  Make no mistake...these are not fraud prevention laws.  They are voter suppression laws and we should be going ballistic at the thought that our elected representatives are trying to prevent registered voters from doing what free people do. 

There are many public aid groups that mobilize to register voters and obtain the required identification cards for voters who need them.  If I were King, EVERYONE of voting age would already be REQUIRED to vote and having an ID would already be part of the deal.  Voter ID laws would not be necessary.  Pollsters wouldn’t have to categorize respondents into categories related to their likelihood of voting.  Finally, all the resources spent to find, register and, sadly, bribe or drag the sorry millions of apathetic and inconvenienced Americans to the polls would be unnecessary.  Think about it.