Mandatory Voter Participation in the United States

Current Situation

• Voter turnout in U.S. presidential elections is below 60%.
• Midterm elections see turnout drop to the low 40s.
• Comparatively, countries like Australia have over 90% voter turnout due to compulsory voting.

Compulsory Voting in Other Countries

• Voting is mandatory in countries like Australia, with penalties for non-participation.
• Penalties are minor (less than $20) and enforcement is inconsistent.
• Countries with compulsory voting average an 85% voter turnout.

Arguments for Compulsory Voting

Legitimacy and Representation

• Higher participation would grant more legitimacy to government decisions.
• In some U.S. elections, outcomes are decided by less than 25% of eligible voters.
• Increased participation would address the legitimacy crisis in American democracy.

Report: "Lift Every Voice"

• Written by the Universal Voting Working Group.
• Proposes mandatory participation and enhanced access to voting.
• Draws parallels to other civic duties like jury duty.

Key Proposals

• Make voting more accessible with policies such as:
  • Same-day registration.
  • Automatic voter registration.
  • Pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds.
• Implementing universal civic duty voting as a guiding principle.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Enforcement disparities may affect marginalized groups.
• Potential constitutional challenges as compelled speech.
• Solutions include options for voting none or conscientious objections.

Precedent and Radical Change

• Universal civic duty voting is already present in over two dozen democracies.
• Historical context: changes in voting rights once considered radical are now standard.

Conclusion

• Universal civic duty voting may seem radical but could be an idea whose time has come.
• The Universal Voting Working Group was led by Miles Rappaport and E.J. Dion, Jr., convened by the Ash Center and Brookings Institution.
• Report available at ken.sc/universalvoting.