I noticed on the Australian election coverage in the last few days that Australians, by law, HAVE to show up at a polling booth during an election day or face financial penalties or possibly even jail in some cases.
I believe turnout was about 97% in the previous election to this one versus 61% in Canada.
Australia has had a compulsory voting law since 1915. Although compelled to show up at the voting booth, people are not forced to cast a ballot and can even write in an alternative name to spoil the ballot.
With another very, very tight race in the USA being fought and a previous election decided by the narrowest of margins and the heartening example of Afghans today risking life and limb to turn out for the first ever chance to cast a ballot, should America and Canada consider mandatory voting laws?
A backgrounder, dated but relevent.
http://www.hws.edu/news/update/showw...?webclipid=471
Cowperson