Compulsory
Voting:
Possible solution
to polarization
and low voter
turnout?
Josie Shardlow
Laura Logsdon
Agenda
I.
Polarization
II.
Low voter turnout
III.
Compulsory voting as possible solution
a) Ornstein’s rationale and proposal
I.
Class opinion on compulsory voting
II.
Pros/Cons
III.
Our opinion
IV. Class ideas on improving voter turnout
Polarization
Causes:
Southern realignment, increased party homogeneity, redistricting,
primary elections, the changing media coverage of the political
process and rising income inequality in the U.S.
The Problem:
 Gridlock
 Impact on policymaking
 Weakening of the legislative branch
Voter Turnout
Source: Michael McDonald, Ph.D, George Mason University
http://elections.gmu.edu/voter_turnout.htm
Voter Turnout
Compulsory Voting - Ornstein
Rationale
Proposal
 Current voting system is
broken
 Compulsory Voting
 Polarization in
Washington may be
spreading to electorate
 Proven success in
Australia
 Incentivized Voting
 Open Primaries
Should compulsory voting be enacted in
the U.S.?
What are some pros/cons?
Compulsory Voting
Pros
 Civic
 Democratic
 Polarization
Cons
 Cost
 Logistics of enforcement
 Feasibility/legality
 No guarantee
Our Opinion:
Compulsory voting would
strengthen our democracy
Class Input - Other Options
What other options are there to increase
voter turnout?
Are there other ways to decrease
polarization without compulsory voting?
References
Frankal, E. (2005, July 4, 2005). Compulsory voting around the world. The Guardian. Retrieved from
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/jul/04/voterapathy.uk
Friedman, H. S. (2012, July 10). American voter turnout lower than other wealthy countries. Huffington Post
Blog
Galston, W. (2011, November 5, 2011). Telling Americans to Vote, or Else. The New York Times. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/opinion/sunday/telling-americans-to-vote-orelse.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Mann, Thomas and Orstein, Norman. (2012). The Seeds of Dysfunction. It’s Even Worse Than it Looks. New
York: Basic Books.
McCarty, Nolen. (2007). The Policy Effects of Political Polarization. The Transformation of American Politics.
Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
McDonald, M. P. (2009). The return of the voter: Voter turnout in the presidential election of 2008. The Forum,
6(4), February 10, 2013. Retrieved from
http://www.degruyter.com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/view/j/for.2009.6.4_20120105083454/for.2009.6.4/for.2009.6.4.12
78/for.2009.6.4.1278.xml
Voter turnout. Retrieved February 10, 2013, from http://www.fairvote.org/voter-turnout#.URezQVp2HC6