For many years the Australian Government has upheld the myth that Australia’s voter turnouts are above 90%. As a result most people think our voter turnouts are around 95%. This is the image the world sees and believes.
Voter turnouts in Australia are not 95%. Not even close. Our voter turnout is around 81%, and this figure includes a high proportion of invalid votes, donkey votes and blind guesses, so our real voter turnouts are probably a lot lower. They could be as low as 60%. Who knows?
Our government has fooled everybody into thinking we have one of the world’s best democracies. But worse than this, they have fooled everybody into thinking we have one of the world’s best democracies thanks to our lack of freedom.
We are one of only ten nations in the world to enforce compulsory voting and many of the other nations are not long out of military dictatorship. These countries are also typified by tight media regulations. Compulsory voting combined with a state-controlled media gives the government complete control while still ‘appearing’ democratic.
Derryn Hinch is currently the latest to fight for democracy in Australia. He says “I believe compulsory voting is bad on two grounds. I believe it is undemocratic even unconstitutional.” Read more here.
Democracy is supposed to provide freedom. Compulsory voting does the complete opposite. It strips people’s power away, right when they need it the most. Rather than empowering people with the vote, compulsory voting diminishes people’s power with threats of fines and ultimately threats of violence.
Compulsory voting repels people from the electoral process. This is partly why we have such high levels of informal voting and why around 10% of eligible Australian voters are not even registered to vote.
If compulsory voting were so great, why are Australian’s so disengaged with politics? Why do they say we even need compulsory voting? After 100 years of forced freedom, compulsory voting has clearly failed.
Even at the inflated 81%, our voter turnouts are still lower than many nations where voting is voluntary including Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Malta.
Under voluntary voting politicians who cannot educate, inspire and ultimately empower the electorate using peaceful means, are replaced by leaders who can – true democratic leaders.
Voting is not done as a duty to the state but as a voluntary act of free will. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. When we are free to vote, we have 100% voter participation. Everyone has the same free equal right to vote. Everyone is included.
Australians don’t like compulsory voting. Not really. Australians like to see evidence of high voter participation and they think high voter turnouts indicate this. The government has deceived the Australian people for far too long.
Until the Australian government stops lying, Australia will continue to deceive the world into thinking that freedom is bad for democracy.
Jason Kent
"Voting is not done as a duty to the state but as a voluntary act of free will. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. When we are free to vote, we have 100% voter participation. Everyone has the same free equal right to vote. Everyone is included."
As usual, you just state your opinion as fact without providing supporting arguments. Why, for instance, is having to vote "supposed" to be voluntary?
You also claim that "Australians don't like compulsory voting." Where is your evidence for this claim?
"Compulsory voting repels people from the electoral process." Evidence provided for this claim? None whatsoever.
Posted by: Keith | August 25, 2012 at 09:48 AM
Anyone with an ounce of intelligence realizes voting is not compulsory.
No one is standing over you with a gun to your head forcing you to fill out the form,(well, not yet anyway).
So you just turn up , make it look as though you are doing something , then throw throw the blank forms in the boxes.
Saves you a fine , and you are not supporting the freeloaders in Canberra.
If enough people did this , they might be forced to hold a "REAL" election.
Posted by: barry | August 25, 2012 at 01:16 PM
In East Germany everyone voted.
Was that democracy?
Australia is just the same.
We are forced to vote for, and give preferences to, some absolutely ghastly politicians I would normally cross the street to avoid.
Posted by: Nick | August 25, 2012 at 01:18 PM
I believe our democracy has been trashed not by the voting system but by the political system that we currently have.
I blame all sides of politics for that. ALL politic1ans past and present.
Our constitution has been changed by those that sit in the parliament, the Australia Act is just one example. There should have been a referendum, a chance for the People to decide, that was denied to us.
The signing of the United Nations Treaties, which is a Foreign Power. Should also have been put to a referendum.
To my mind all of the United Nations Treaties have been of detriment to the Australian People. Particularly the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 21, that is designed to ultimately strip away all property rights and all freedoms.
Did the Parliament inform the People, about the UN treaty when Keating signed onto it in 1992, NO. Did the Parliament inform the People about it when Howard came to power in 1996, NO.
We have been told many many lies by all politicians, none more so than when John Howard told the Australian People, that his Government would not sign the Kyoto Protocol. Technically he didn't, but what he did was to organize the NSW and QLD Governments of Carr and Beattie to establish the Native Grasses Act and the Vegetation Act.Bringing in the Kyoto Policies, those policies lock up farmers and landholders land for the purpose of paying the UN Carbon Credits. Those Acts are a disaster, along with the UN Agenda 21 they strip away property rights. Theft on a grand scale. When it comes to your door, and it will, then you will see the disaster head on.
The present Labor Government are a disaster on all fronts. Gillard is a Marxist and her obsession to take away the freedom of the press is evidence of that, next it will be the freedom of speech from all Australians.
As for voting in the next election, if the Coalition, support the signing of Australia onto Kyoto 2, by the present Government, they can kiss my vote goodbye and that of many many people that I know. If there is not an honest group out there to vote for we will refrain.
The danger to our freedom is not, in my opinion, whether we are compelled to vote or not. The danger to our freedom and that of all mankind is the United Nations and their World Governance!
Posted by: vivienne | August 25, 2012 at 02:14 PM
Brilliant post Viv. Absolutely brilliant.
Posted by: Abraham | August 25, 2012 at 03:17 PM
If enough people did this , they might be forced to hold a "REAL" election.
That's the point Barry, enough people are doing this. We know for a fact that 20% of voters have actively turned their backs and the figure is almost certainly higher.
Yet, because of compulsory voting our politicians claim they have the mandate of the people as everyone has to vote under force of law. In a democracy politicians should be evaluated on how well they motivated people to go to the polling booth, not just how many votes they got from those who turned up.
That's where the real work of democracy is done: motivating people to participate in the democratic process. It's the need to inspire people in this way that forces politicians to take positions based on morals and gives substance to the political debate.
In contrast to the mediocre, populist piffle dished up by the insipid losers we call politicians in the opposing wings of the LibLab Party.
(However, I will take this moment to give a shout out to Senator Bernardi who, whether you agree with him or not, does appear to be making an effort to put substance into the popular political debate. Good work, Senator, it's a breath of fresh air.)
Posted by: John Mc | August 25, 2012 at 05:06 PM
If voting is not compulsory, why is there a fine if you don't vote? Being compelled to vote for a system that supports a coercive monopoly gives the false impression that government has a mandate to set rules that concern individuals. I will never surrender personal sovereignty of my body to the majority. Governments can make victimless crime laws, however, they will never apply to me as I am not owned by the majority, or a group of people elected by a majority. This does not just apply to my body, but also my production. That is why, Barry and Keith, government resorts to fines, confiscation of assets, or imprisonment, as it does not have voluntary support. The system you so fondly believe in is in truth based on coercion... therefore should not be compulsory.
Posted by: Donald | August 25, 2012 at 05:23 PM
Donald, it's compulsory to go to the polling booth. but they cannot trace whether you have voted or not .
So, if you don't want to vote , just don't fill out the ballot papers. Fold them up , drop them in the bin , and your duty is done .
As long as you get your name ticked off the roll, noone knows what you've done .
Like you , I believe also , that noone has the right to think they own people.
And this bunch of clowns will discover that , whichever way they like it .
Cheers.
Posted by: barry | August 25, 2012 at 06:25 PM
John , I think we need a lot more Bernadis in our government , and a lot less Gillards.
Getting the masses to agree is the biggest hurdle.
Tony Abbott might be heading in the right directions , but his antics probably don't sit too well with the stuffed shirt Labor voters.
And I agree , the real work is motivating people to participate.Not an easy thing to do in the wonderful land of Aus, where beer and footy seem far more important than their country.
Change that , and you'll save the country.
Posted by: barry | August 25, 2012 at 06:30 PM
Keith, who likes fines made under the threat of violence? Do you? If you think people really do like compulsory voting, not due to it increasing voter participation, but just because people like the idea of it, the idea of government threats and violence, then maybe the real problem isn't compulsory voting at all. Maybe the real problem is fascism.
Posted by: Jason | August 26, 2012 at 10:27 AM
A matter missed by many is the electoral funding. A vote for a party in both upper and lower houses brings the part near $10. If voting was not compulsory the parties would forfeit millions.
Posted by: Geoff Crocker | August 30, 2012 at 05:40 PM