Voting Should Be Mandatory

Low voting participation has begun to raise concern about which political side truly reflects the will of the people. Voting is widely regarded as one of the most important jurisdictional decisions a democratic country can make.  Many people choose not to vote for many reasons, so it can be deduced that decisions don’t accurately reflect the full diversity of the American population. I believe that voting should be mandatory, to accurately depict the representative turnout chosen by the country. Making voting mandatory would help ensure that elected governments truly express what the people want.

Mandatory voting ensures the government represents the full capability of its citizens. Many marginalized groups tend to stay on the sidelines when it comes to voting. Mandatory voting laws help neutralize this imbalance and help represent a fair voice of everyone. Even with issues such as ‘compulsory voting’ having negative views, The Week claims that it “led to significantly higher and more representative turnout, fostering a healthier democracy” and promotes “fairer political and economic representation, particularly for disadvantaged groups” By making voting mandatory, even compulsive votes have a positive impact on the final decision. It accurately reflects on the population’s diversity, suiting the needs of all American citizens – not just the most politically active. 

Beyond representation, mandatory voting can reduce political division by encouraging politics to appeal to more people. When voting is optional, campaigns often focus on highly motivated voters with strong opinions, which can push parties toward extreme views. Instead, candidates must consider the opinions of people across the political spectrum, including those who are less politically engaged. Mandatory voting changes this by ensuring more people participate, so candidates must consider a wider range of opinions. Required voting “forces both political parties and all candidates to pitch their campaigns towards the political center where the less politically attentive have been prone to not voting” (WHYY). As many people try to find a way to take action, voting can be the first step. 

Overall, voting in America should be considered mandatory because voting is what shapes our union. It represents all people involved in the democratic party, and is inclusive to all people who have the ability to vote. Compulsive voting also leaves a positive mark on the overall result of the election. When more people vote, democratic countries can come together to make fair and just decisions.