In a deomcracy, voting ought to be compulsory.

So I will first present my arguments, and then move on to rebut to pro's case. ** Definitions: For the definition of democracy, I agree with my opponents Oxford Dictionary definition ought - Used to indicate duty or correctness, typically when criticizing someone’s actions [1] Contention 1: Voting is a right. NOT a duty Africa News Services States: "Voting should be regarded as a right, which must be differentiated from a duty. As a state citizen, it is the government and other elected representatives who have a duty towards me. This is the cornerstone principle of democracy upon which our electoral system and other democratic institutions are, or should be, designed and built. Politicians should remain accountable to the people they represent, not the other way round. " [2] Because voting is a right, there should be no need to compel the citizens themselves to vote. Similar to all other rights, such as freedom of speech, or the right to bear arms, you are under no obligation to carry it out. For example, the second amendment of the U. S. constitution states that we have the right to bear arms. This does NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO BEAR ARMS. IT SIMPLY MEANS YOU CAN BEAR ARMS IF YOU WANT TO. Likewise, Voting is also a right. This does NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO VOTE. IT SIMPLY MEANS YOU CAN VOTE IF YOU WANT TO. Contention 2: Compulsory voting does not create informed voters From newbusters. org, an article states: "Common sense tells us that mandating something doesn"t have a profound impact on human behavior. For example, you can require American high school students to study Bach and Beethoven, but no one seriously expects that to supplant their preference for Bieber or the Beastie Boys. Mandates can change behavior, but they can"t change the human heart and mind, no matter how much liberals wish they could. And given that misinformed, disengaged voters would pay no penalty for voting " nor receive any direct benefit for casting an informed ballot over an uninformed one " it"s hard to believe that any call for mandatory voting is anything but a cynical plea for more power. " [3] Due to the fact that compulsory voting does not create informed voters, there is no reason for them to vote. If uninformed voters were to vote, they would most likely just randomly pick a party and just vote for them, instead of actually basing their knowledge on any facts. It is best if they are left alone. Contention 3: If voters are not left alone, then it simply leads to Donkey Votes: "Another consequence of mandatory voting is the possible high number of "random votes". Voters who are voting against their free will may check off a candidate at random, particularly the top candidate on the ballot. The voter does not care whom they vote for as long as the government is satisfied that they fulfilled their civic duty. What effect does this unmeasureable category of random votes have on the legitimacy of the democratically elected government? "[4] If voters are uninformed, Donkey Votes will increase. Because the people that don't want to vote are simply doing it because they have to, and since they will not be penalized for who they vote for, the will be a lot more likely in voting randomly. Contention 4: Encourages Spoiled Ballots In Australia: "Australia also has a much higher rate of spoiled ballots than nearly any other democracy. There were 500,000 such ballots (out of 10 million cast) in this month's election. These include protest votes and those cast by recent immigrants who were confused by the notoriously complicated ballots. It does not include "donkey votes," so named because apathetic voters play pin the tail on the donkey at the polling station, randomly making their selections. " [5] 500,000 blank votes! And that DOESN'T include donkey votes. If that many people are willing to have blank votes, then what's the point of them voting in the first place/? **Le'ts move on to Pro's Case now** My opponent says that Compulsory voting is democratic. But how? Compulsory voting wouldn't make a better democracy! According to an article written by the National Review Online, the author Jonah states: "And it’s worth noting that we are talking about making nonvoting a crime. If a citizen refuses to vote or pay the fine " and countless would " he would be breaking the law. How far would the government go to compel these citizens to pay up or comply? This is how the "experts" would make democracy healthier? " [6] The act of not voting should not be considered unlawful. Once again the fact that voting is NOT A DUTY. It's a right, which means it's not compulsory. Also, compulsory voting is not making society democratic just because it's forcing people to vote. Next my opponent says that compulsory voting is patriotic. Definition of Patriotic - Having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country [7] The word patriotic is stated nowhere in the resolution. Also, just because voting is patriotic doesn’t mean we HAVE to do it. Fighting in the military is patriotic. No one is ever forced to go to the military. As for compulsory voting destroying class barriers. I do agree that it gives the poor a chance to vote. HOWEVER, does that mean they will make an informed decision? Just because poor people are able to vote, that simply brings more people to the polls, but I doesn’t necessarily mean that the vote will be an educated one. **I put in a LOT of research into this one. I hope my opponent will come back with a good argument. Good Luck! ** [1] . http://www.oxforddictionaries.com... [2] [PorchesY4; Should Govt Enact a Compulsory Voting Law? Y4; Africa News ServiceY4; 12 October 2011Y4; Gale Group Databases] [3] . http://newsbusters.org... Y4;retrieved 19 August 2013] [4] [MariaY4; Program DirectorY4; International Institute for Democracy and Electoral AssistanceY4; Mandatory Voting Can Lead to a Range of ProblemsY4; Voting RightsY4; 2008Y4; Gale Group databases] [5] [EricY4; Writer and CommentatorY4; You Must Vote. It's the LawY4; SlateY4; 29 October 2004Y4; . http://www.slate.com...; retrieved 19 August 2013] [6] [JonahY4; Editor in ChiefY4; Coerced voting wouldn"t make a healthier democracyY4; National Review OnlineY4; 27 June 2012Y4; . http://www.nationalreview.com...; retrieved 19 August 2013] [7] . http://www.oxforddictionaries.com...