An IUPUI Political Scientist is speaking out on President Obama‘s suggestion that maybe it‘s time for mandatory voting in America.
It‘s not a formal proposal, but the President hinted that compulsory voting might help offset the influence of big money donors in politics. Asst. Political Science Professor Amanda Friesen says while the idea would boost voter participation, it‘s probably not the kind of thing that many folks in a democratic society would likely choose. Friesen says the concept would surely shed light on the need to change how and where Americans vote. She says technology – online voting – would certainly become a bigger issue. The latest studies show that only 37% of eligible American voters cast ballots in the 2014 midterm elections. In other words, about 144 million Americans did not vote. Friesen says some political analysts believe that low voter turnout may be a sign that Americans are satisfied because if they were truly frustrated, they would turn out to vote. She adds the issue might also put overall voter accessibility back into the spotlight. Finally, Friesen says if the nation implemented compulsory voting, it would probably make political candidates and lawmakers more accountable to voters of all persuasions.