Southam News recently reported that Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, is “warming” to the idea of mandatory voting (although fortunately still considers it repugnant). I really hope this doesn’t catch the fancy of Parliament, because choosing not to vote (for whatever reason) should, in my opinion, be just as valid as voting. University of Toronto professor Clifford Orwin’s commentary in the National Post covers the issue quite well, and more eloquently than I could. I would only add (in response to a common complaint, not to that piece) that less government authority due to low voter turnout should be seen as an advantage rather than a problem. And, in any case, the theory might not even be true; low turnount in the recent election will certainly not hobble the present government’s ability to push its agenda through.
JPK Muses on Mandatory Voting
Southam News recently reported that Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, is “warming” to the idea of mandatory voting (although fortunately still considers it repugnant). I really hope this doesn’t catch the fancy of Parliament, because choosing not to vote (for whatever reason) should, in my opinion, be just as valid as voting. University of Toronto professor Clifford Orwin’s commentary in the National Post covers the issue quite well, and more eloquently than I could. I would only add (in response to a common complaint, not to that piece) that less government authority due to low voter turnout should be seen as an advantage rather than a problem. And, in any case, the theory might not even be true; low turnount in the recent election will certainly not hobble the present government’s ability to push its agenda through.
Hat tip to National Post Headline Scan
This entry was written by the proprietor, posted on 21 December 2000 at 12:00 am.
Filed under Commentary Unbound and tagged canada, elections.
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