Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Sunmin Lee/timed writing/tuesday 9am

In democracy, our right to vote is one of the most basic rights we can have. In most countries, such as United States or South Korea, voting is not mandatory but voluntary. However, in some countries including Argentina and Belgium, voting in national elections is mandatory. With the lowering voting rates in elections, some people argue that the government should force people to vote. In my opinion, however, the state should not force people to vote or make it compulsory.

First, voting is our "right", not our duty or obligation. Unlike the obligations to pay taxes or finish military service in Korea, to vote is what we can make our own decisions on whether to do it or not. In other words, the right to vote includes the right "not" to as well. Thus, the state has no authority to force people to vote, and if it does, it would become an infringement on the human rights. Also some voters might choose not to vote if they do not support any of the candidates in election, so it is another form of political expression.

Second, compulsory voting imposes big amount of burden and cost. Although some people choose not to vote from their own will, many others just cannot vote because of their busy schedules. In Korea, voting period for presidential election starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m., so it is difficult for students and regular workers to make time for voting. Thus, compulsory voting would become a burden for them unless the government made it a public holiday. Also, compulsory voting would cause additional problems as enforcing penalties would cost a lot of money and time for the government.

People who agree with mandatory voting say forcing people to vote would help to increase the turnouts in elections. However, we have to consider some people who would oppose to the law and do not vote intentionally. In addition, as democracy is based on the free will of the individual, enforcing voting might create anti-government feelings in the public. Also to punish those citizens who haven't vote is unacceptable as they didn't harm others but just made their decisions.

In Belgium, the first country where compulsory voting system were introduced, people who fail to vote in at least four elections lose their right to vote for 10 years and face difficulties getting a job in the public sector. I think this system is not what is desirable in democracy as voting is our "right", not a duty, and it causes a lot of burden for the public.

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