Californians who register to vote would be required to cast ballots under new bill

[PoliticAverse]

Following a series of sweeping expansions to expand access to voting in recent years, a California lawmaker is pushing to require voters to cast a ballot in future elections.

The proposal, introduced in the state Assembly on Tuesday, would be unprecedented and probably challenged in court should it ultimately become law. It would place the burden for determining the civil penalty and the ultimate punishment on the secretary of state, California’s chief elections officer.

“Democracy is not a spectator sport — it requires the active participation of all its citizens,” the bill’s author, Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), said in a written statement. “California is a national leader on expanding voting rights to its citizens. Those rights come with a responsibility by registered voters to cast their ballot and make sure that their voice is heard by their government.”

As many as 30 countries have compulsory voting laws on the books, including Australia, Belgium and Brazil. Levine’s proposal does not include a mechanism used in some countries to also register all eligible citizens. The most recent statewide report tallied more than 20.4 million voters and almost 5 million more citizens who are eligible but are not registered.

Read the rest at: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-05/california-lawmaker-proposes-mandatory-voting

[BigmanPigman]

1. I have mixed feelings on this one.

[CaptYossarian]

2. Next thing you know, Democracy will break out.

Then everyone will want it.

Really? Non-whites too? Take that, red states.

[Thyla]

3. As someone from a country with compulsory voting

All I can say is I resent the fact it is compulsory but I'd rather have 97 percent of the population voting than 40 percent so in that regard I'm ok with it.
Swings and roundabouts.

[Zorro]

4. Not a good idea

Like it or not, choosing not to vote is an element of democracy.