This enrages me.
LA Times: Suspicious voter registration forms found in 10 Florida counties
I believe that everyone, every single person should vote. I know that is not good team politics, but I feel that no one should dissuade, hinder, block, or deny voting to anyone who is qualified. It is the ONE thing I jump into Politics arguments about, and one area where I have No leeway with anything different.
When Ohio tried to set up two different voting windows for Veterans and its residence, I was livid, and I started advancing this idea: Mandatory voting.
I have been living in Australia for over two years now. I am happy that I am still able to vote in the United States in the area I last lived (Northern Virginia). One of the quirks of Australia is that they have Mandatory voting. There is no Voter registration, there is no choice on whether you can go to the polls or not. And while there is still a persistent 5% of the population that steadily avoids voting, you have to actively avoid voting.
In Australia... if you do not vote, you get fined. You can't have the excuse that you were not in town, because they allow you to vote early. You can vote at an Embassy, or a Consulate, you can go to your area to vote, or you can go ANYWHERE to vote. It may mean your vote takes longer to be counted, but it is always counted.
If you don't vote, you get a fine. Depends on the election the amount, but you will get a bill in the mail.
To those that say that Mandatory voting is somewhat against the Freedoms of America, that it goes against the 1st Amendment... I say poppycock.
I view voting as a civic duty, much like Jury Duty, something that you are obligated to do as a citizen. People will go to the voting booth and vote for no one here, that does happen, but they must actively do so.
I feel that Mandatory voting would cure a lot of issues facing the US. It would blunt the over blown power of the extreme minority that has taken over the GOP. I believe more parties would sprout up to cater to the wide and diverse views of our citizenry. It would destroy this ugly, undemocratic, disgusting voter suppression tactics of the GOP. And honestly, it would kill our two party system, and our government would have to start listening to its people.
In the US, I would give a choice. If you do not vote... you either pay the fine... which would go directly to paying the US debt until it is paid off, and then it would be invested in a future fund to cover natural disasters, and unforeseen events (like the 2004 Tsunami) OR you give 4 hours of your time to Community Service, through one of the many myriad social and fundraising organizations for Cancer Research, Americorps, Habitat for Humanity, Food Shelters, even your local church.
I want people to vote. I don't care where you came from, who you are voting for, or why. But if you don't vote, then you need to help this country out. We are in it together. And if we did this... no one, no one would be denied a vote because the color of their skin or the their political background or their economic status.
Let's take one of the last weapons away from the Extremist GOP who would rather take away our basic rights as citizens to win.