The only way to assure higher voter turnout for the younger generation (and the American population as a whole) is to mandate it.
The only way to assure higher voter turnout for the younger generation (and the American population as a whole) is to mandate it. According to Martin Wattenberg, author of "Is Voting for Young People?" compulsory voting is the commonly used phrase to describe the mandatory participation of adult citizens to participate in federal elections. The consequence for not voting would amount to paying a small fine ranging from $20-30. Compulsory voting is the only mechanism that will guarantee that younger generations of voters become politically engaged.
First it is necessary to clarify the implications of "compulsory voting." Given the nature of the modern secret ballot it makes it unfeasible to tell whether an individual has actually voted in the election or if they simply turned in a blank ballot. Therefore, compulsory voting doesn't necessarily force citizens to vote. It merely forces them to show up at the polls. Although this may seem ineffectual to some, recent experiences have shown that when someone is forced to vote they usually are compelled to make a decision for whom to vote. Of the industrialized democracies that have compulsory voting in effect, Australia has had the greatest success in voter turnout. According to the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, Australia experienced an astonishing 97 percent youth voter turnout in 2004 with the system of compulsory voting in place. Other nations that had or have a compulsory voting law have experienced youth voter turnouts ranging from 82 to 91 percent.
Although compulsory voting is the only mechanism that would assure higher voter turnout by itself, there are other steps that should to be taken in an effort to quell any fears that this form of enforcement would be inherently biased against any certain group of people. One of the reasons many people cite for not voting is a lack of time due to other responsibilities (school, work, childcare, etc.). There are a variety of steps that can be taken to make the system less biased against college students, single parents and/or working adults. For one, the history of making Election Day the first Tuesday in November is a practice that needs serious revision. Shifting Election Day to the first Monday in November would be a great start in the right direction to opening the election process to more individuals. In conjunction with moving Election Day to Monday, Election Day should be a nationally recognized holiday similar to that of Labor Day. Making Election Day a nationally recognized holiday on the Monday after "Election Day weekend" would allow more people to make time to vote given that most jobs and all schools would be closed. Creating a three-day weekend commemorating the importance of Election Day would truly spotlight the importance of voting.
One of the fears of instituting compulsory voting laws in the U.S. is that many uninformed voters would cast ballots that aren't necessarily reflexive of their own ideals. This is a very legitimate concern but this responsibility would fall to the candidates running for office in the short term. This would mean that campaigns would have to work harder to push their platforms and inform all Americans of their stances on the issues. But a longer-term answer to this problem would be to increase civic education. In grade school we all learned the importance of standing up during the Pledge of Allegiance and the significance of the torch and book held by the Statue of Liberty. The importance of voting and being an informed citizen should be added to this list of learned American traditions. Voting needs to be seen not just as a right you attain at the age of 18 but also as a civic duty that makes up a true American. The ability to vote in elections should be the most exciting prospect for anyone turning 18, not buying cigarettes, porn or lottery tickets.
For decades our age group has had the ability to influence many outcomes of different elections. For example, the close election of 1976 could have had a different outcome with Ford's re-election. The elections of 2000 and 2004 could have ended different had the youth-voter turnout been higher in Florida in 2000 or in Ohio in 2004. Increasing voter turnout for our age group is more than just a topic of discussion for political scientists everywhere; it is an opportunity for us to have a voice in where our country goes and where it takes us. We have a greater stake in this world than many of our parents or grandparents. We are affected more by the choices made by those we elect than anyone else. We are the future of this country and without our input we will always be left to clean up the mess of those who came before us. It is time for us young adults to stop complaining about the decisions made by Congress or the President and do something to help change them.
It is time for us to matter again. It is time for us to break our silence and leave our mark on this country.