- In 2008 65% of eligible voters in US voted
- 95% vote in Australia where it is maditory
- We agreed that government should pass a law mandating that people participate in elections with the provision that a person could turn in an empty ballot.
- In a democracy, participation in elections should be as compulsory as education and taxation. these three things are civic obligations in a modern state
- Fundamental to America is the idea that if you are going to be taxed you need to be represented.
- One of the main reasons for educating all eole is so that they can particiate as citizens
- Our ethical argument would be largely utilitarian—what is the greatest good for the greatest number.
- And a question of fairness to make sure that all members of the electorate are equally represented/especially minorities and the young who traditionally feel disenfranchised
- Major election changes would have to accompany this change.
- Most importantly we would need to eliminate the Electoral College.
- voter holiday
- continuing early voting and online voting
Jen's Voting Case Notes, 3/15/11
Position taken: gov’t should pass law requiring citizens to vote
--citizens have three duties: school, taxes, vote.
--empty ballots should be allowed
--utilitarian argument: voting is best for the country overall
--eliminate electoral college
--taxes: connection to project being funded. Given we have to pay taxes, should vote to ensure your tax dollars are going where you want them to go.
--functioning democracy needs everyone to vote, so that everyone has a stake in the running of the country.
--pragmatic considerations: need to change system before passing law, because of disproportionate harms (people with hourly wages, allowing empty ballots, make a voting holiday, etc)
--representation assumed in the running of the country, so if that assumption isn’t being fulfilled, it’s not fair to the people.
General notes: These are all good points. What I would like to see is a more cohesive grouping of them under main argument headings. It seems like there are really two kinds of argument at work here: first, that voting is required for a democratic country to function, and second, that if the first argument is true, then there a number of pragmatic considerations that need to be taken into account. If my analysis is right, then I think it would be helpful to really re-order your argument so that it’s clear exactly what your reasons are for the position you take.
