Compulsory Voting

"In many democracies, voter turnout is low and getting lower. If the people choose not to govern themselves, should they be forced to do so? For Jason Brennan, compulsory voting is unjust and a petty violation of citizens' liberty. The median non-voter is less informed and rational, as well as more biased than the median voter. According to Lisa Hill, compulsory voting is a reasonable imposition on personal liberty. Hill points to the discernible benefits of compulsory voting and argues that high turnoutelections are more democratically legitimate. The authors - both well-known for their work on voting and civic engagement - debate questions such as: -Do citizens have a duty to vote, and is it an enforceable duty? -Does compulsory voting violate citizens' liberty? If so, is this sufficient grounds to oppose it? Or is it a justifiable violation? Might it instead promote liberty on the whole? -Is low turnout a problem, or a blessing? -Does compulsory voting produce better government? Or, might it instead produce worse government? Might it, in fact, have little effect overall on the quality of government?"--

Klappentext

Leading political theorists Jason Brennan and Lisa Hill debate the drawbacks and benefits of voter turnout.

Zusammenfassung
Two leading political theorists debate whether compulsory voting is the solution to the decline in overall voter turnout. Jason Brennan argues that compulsory voting will not only fail to make governments more responsive to the needs of the disadvantaged, but that it might actually harm them. Lisa Hill argues that compulsory voting makes the political system more democratic.

Inhalt

Part I. Medicine Worse than Disease? Against Compulsory Voting Jason Brennan: 1. The heavy burden of proof; 2. Democratic legitimacy and the consequences of compulsion; 3. Do your share or else; 4. Should we force the drunk to drive? Part II. Compulsory Voting Defended Lisa Hill: 5. Compulsory voting: background, effects, feasibility and basic premises; 6. Turnout, abstention, and democratic legitimacy; 7. Is compulsory voting an unjustified burden on personal autonomy? Is there a right not to vote?; 8. Is requiring people to vote contrary to democratic values?; 9. Conclusion.