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Sunday, October 17, 2010

A Case for Compulsory Voting




With few exceptions, local elected officials have far greater impact on the day-to-day quality of life for Hays County citizens than do state or national elected officials. Local elected officials administer development, issue permits, select road construction, decide on spending, set property taxes, and enforce laws



Note: This is a call for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country and county. VOTE! in the November 2 election. Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 18. Think of all the men and women in uniform who have fought, are fighting, and died to preserve our freedoms and right to vote. If that's not enough reason to get registered voters to the polls, what is? Mr. O'Dell makes a good argument for compulsory voting in our national, state and local elections. Maybe the threat of a stiff fine would be good medicine. At the same time, thanks should go to all those voters who, more often than not, recognize the importance of applying their right to vote.

Click on this link to the Hays County Elections Office for the complete schedule of early voting locations and times.

Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Mr. O'Dell at codell@austin.rr.com or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

By Charles O'Dell, Ph.D.
Contributing Editor

I’m really tired of folks who speak of a patriotic duty for our sons and daughters to die while bringing democracy to countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Viet Nam and Lebanon – and in the next breath say they have a right to skip our own elections. Such confused thinking is exactly how we came to develop imperialistic national policy, and why we sometimes have corrupt government officials, even here in Hays County.

Apathetic voters are an open invitation for government run by those who are financed by special interests, and officials who reward their special interests with lavish public projects. Public-interest minded individuals cannot compete financially with candidates well financed by special interests and who spend large sums fooling a few voters. If all eligible voters were required to vote then, as Abe Lincoln said, “You can’t fool all the people all the time.” One outcome of compulsory voting is that government becomes more open, efficient and honest. More importantly, voters become more involved in their own governance.

A case in point is the Australian democracy, one of more than twenty countries having some form of compulsory voting which requires citizens to register to vote and to go to their polling place or vote on Election Day. That country has had compulsory voting since 1924, and when the Wall Street financial crisis created chaos around the world, the Australian government had surplus funds it used to sail through the worldwide depression without creating huge public borrowing against their future, or suffering substantial long-term unemployment.

In Australia, governance is everyone’s business – not just the special interests. Elected officials are truly accountable to the full electorate, and not just to lobbyists and other specials interests. This has resulted in public policy that reflects the total voting population.

Governments instituted among men and women, and deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed requires active consent from the governed, or it becomes a government of special interests.

A brief study of Hays County voting over the past fourteen years helps to explain how special interests gained control of our local government because voters were/are apathetic about local governance.

An irrational thing happens in Hays County. A large majority of eligible voters register to vote, but only about half of them typically vote in the presidential elections (every four years) and fewer yet vote in local elections.


In the past four presidential elections 51.8 – 60.6 percent of the registered Hays county voters cast votes (see table below). In six of the off-year elections for local officials, less than 14 percent of the voters typically cast votes. In 2001, that number was only 5.5 percent of total registered voters eligible to vote. What an appalling indictment of voter apathy and an opportunity for special interests to finance their candidates.

With few exceptions, local elected officials have far greater impact on the day-to-day quality of life for Hays County citizens than do state or national elected officials. Local elected officials administer development, issue permits, select road construction, decide on spending, set property taxes, and enforce laws. Yet, fewer voters turn out for local elections than for national elections and this plays right into the hands of special interests.

With secret ballots, it's not really possible to prove who has or has not voted so this process could be more accurately called "compulsory turnout" because voters are required to show up at their polling place on Election Day.

Those of us who care about good governance and regularly vote in Hays County elections are left to face election campaigns financed with public funds and special interest funds. All of us suffer from the resulting bad behavior of those elected officials by so few voters.

Years of voter apathy in Hays County has even helped to create an industry for getting the public involved with their government. Can you imagine that? The upcoming November 5th event on, “From chaos to Collaboration: Raising the Bar in Public Engagement,” sponsored by the National Coalition on Dialogue and Deliberation and St. Edward’s University is an example. It “will bring people together to learn about: Quality Public Engagement,” and registration is only $85 for non-NCDD members.

In other words, citizens can pay $85 to learn that voting will put government back into the hands of its citizens.

Governments instituted among men, and deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed requires active consent from the governed, or it becomes a government of special interests. This is the best argument for compulsory voting.

If elected officials have a responsibility to the electorate, why doesn’t the electorate have a responsibility to exercise a right to vote that others fought and died for to protect?

_________________
* Table 1 – Registered Voter Numbers and General Election Results For Hays County, Texas 1996 – 2010

Year/Reg. Voters/Voted /% Voted

1996/48,632/26,840/55.2%
1997/52,862/5,637/10.7%
1998/56,107/20,074/35.8%
1999/56,540/4,373/7.7%
2000/66,201/34,317/51.8%
2001/64,576/3,531/5.5%
2002/70,584/27,805/39.4%
2003/68,897/8,417/12.2%
2004/80,858/47,823/59.1%
2005/78,579/16,090/20.5%
2006/85,601/31,244/36.5%

2007/94,973/12,866/13.5%
2008/97,390/59,052/60.6%
2009/92,330/7,489/8.1%
2010*/93,224


* As of March 2010
Source: Hays County Elections Office


21 comments:

Rocky Boschert said...

Some people call it "voting for the lesser of two evils." I call it voting for the candidate who I think will be the "better" choice - and not voting for the candidate who will either continue the "bad path" - or make it worse.

Fortunately, most of our local candidates are not out and out nutcases like some running at the state and federal level that should never be in any political race at all (smart Americans know who they are).

Regarding the mandatory voting Charles is outlining, I wonder if the average Australian voter is smarter than the average American voter? It's hard to tell with all the beer they drink down under.

The main good point I can see from mandatory voting is that the disillusioned Obama voters would be back out in force - hopefully a little wiser - and never vote for the nutty portion of the Republican Party, as well as the now identified corrupt cowardly faction of Democrats.

And make no mistake, the smarter disenfranchised Obama voters would NEVER vote for the Tea Party fringe (I don't believe that is totally an oxymoron) who try to distort and abort the 10th Amendment to push their white people as victims agenda.

How about this one: State rights should be allowed to determine if blacks can eat in some racist pig's restaurant. Yes, that definitely is a classy American tradition of private property rights.

"To each according to his greed and corruption, from each according to his ignorance and complacency."

Voting champ said...

I certainly intend to vote. I hardly ever miss voting in an election in Hays County. I constantly remind my friends and family members to do the same. If voting became compulsory we wouldn't mind because we understand the value of this privilege.

Anonymous said...

A large number of those "registered voters" have long been ineligible due to selling property and leaving the area. The problem is that the voter registration doesn't get "cleaned out" so you have a registered voter list that looks larger than reality.

Anonymous said...

I'm eager to get to the polls tomorrow. Just as I voted with great enthusiasm for Obama in the 2008 election, I will vote with enthusiasm for Isaac and Cobb this time around. The thought of getting some career politicians like Rose and Barton out of office delights the hell out of me. I don't know what either one of them will do if they have to earn an honest living.

Cyber Cynic said...

Democrats have a very tough decision. Compromise your values and vote for Rose and Barton, or compromise your values and vote for Isaac and Cobb.

If I were a Dem, I would just sit this one out and let other voters screw up the local economy.

Its too bad we don't have any Tea Baggers running for those two posts. We could vote for them and really mess up Hays County. Then, we may get wise and stop this divisive two party nonsense.

Hey, Isaac, you couldn't resist the cheap shots. You were doing so well staying above the sleazy Republican Party lies and the tacky allusions to Obamacare. But then you had to listen to Bubba Scheissekopf.

You had my vote - but lost it.

The Truthrunner said...

I see the liberals are already complaining about a low voter turnout causing the overwhelming Conservative victory even before the election date. A high voter turnout is always promoted by Democrats since they do better when more uninformed voters go to the polls. Not everyone should vote! Some people are just too stupid to make and informed choice.

Charles O’Dell, it is Un-American to even suggest Compulsory Voting in the United States. That sir, is a Marxist idea and you should know better. Not voting is also a Right guaranteed by our Constitution.

Ralph said...

Richard, Richard, Richard. You seem like a smart man. I've seen your Aqua-Texas website. You have some common sense. but your comments here are an aberration.

First of all, the only reason the the conservatives even have a chance after a destructive eight years of Bush and you so-called conservatives is because the smart voters are tired of being betrayed by the clearly more intelligent liberals. Just look at your side of the political spectrum. Watching the degradation of the Republican Party must make al quada feel like they are being successful in destroying our democracy.

Second, it is so unpatriotic to tell someone else it is unpatriotic when they say or propose something as potentially beneficial as mandatory voting. It is protected under free speech. You, Sir, are a hypocrite - and really the one who is un-American - for saying that.

And finally, Australia - where they have mandatory voting - is hardly a Marxist state. Your Marxist comment is ignorant to the core. Groucho was a Marxist, but certainly not Charles O'Dell or Obama.

Mr. Sullivan, I suspect your dislike of Mr. O'Dell is severely clouding your logic and thinking. If that is not it, you need to seriously consider anti-depressants to deal with your faulty and very strange analysis.

Love it or leave it said...

If voting and voter turn out defines a democracy then the numbers shown in this article say we are not a full fledged democracy as envisioned by our founding fathers. If you don't participate then it means you don't care about living in a democracy.

Making voting a requirement is not marxist. If so then requiring seat belts, auto insurance, taxes and telling your children to eat their greens is marxist.

The Australians are beating us at the democracy game and the Chinese (communists) are eating our lunch. Too funny.

Shocked said...

I can't believe I actually agree with Charles O'Dell on something!

What I'd also be interested in studying is the possibility of national holiday for election day. Would that increase voter turnout significantly or just lead to an extra day at the lake for most citizens?

Now I will return to my normal disagreements with the ideas of O'Dell.

Peter Stern said...

During the years I also have considered whether voting should be compulsory in the U.S. and/or whether Americans actually have some control over our government.

http://theuniverseatyourfeet.blogspot.com/2010/09/frustration-inherent-in-elections.html#more

It's a shame to even consider forced voting since so many have died for our freedoms and also however for various questionable causes.

But, is it constitutional to "force" Americans to vote?

Would it even matter if Americans did vote? With the Corporate/Military Complex now managing the direction of this nation exactly how much clout do voters have?

After all, voters elected Obama for "a positive change" --- which has not happened --- and still Americans have little voice over their leaders, nor does it seem we have any voice in the actions and direction of our nation.

Control really is the issue here. Do voters have any control? Do we control our government? Do we control the corporate sector? If not, how do we reign-in our leaders? How do we get control back? I think that is the real issue.

Anonymous said...

Rocky, usually you make a lot of sense but this time you really lost me. You seem all over the place without even responding to the question of compulsory voting.

Anonymous said...

I am amazed that some of you would sell your freedoms so cheaply. I’m beginning to see why Doggett got elected to Congress from this area.

Compulsory voting would be unconstitutional and would be the same as requiring everyone to buy health insurance or show up for church on Sundays. Believe it or not compulsory church attendance was once the law in what is now Connecticut. The Puritans who ran the early Colony of New Haven would severely punish those that broke the Lords law and didn’t show up for services. If someone knew of the transgression and didn’t report it they were punished as well. Some time later we fought a war of Independence to not be subjected to this type of dictatorial requirement. Likewise, we fought Russian Communism in the cold war.

Just because the Aussies have that law doesn’t make it right for us. There are a lot of laws in Australia that would not be tolerated in the USA. Several years ago they confiscated all of their citizens guns and melted them down into manhole covers. In the USA the government serves at the pleasure of the people not the other way around.

Anonymous said...

There are many laws we have now in Texas that formerly were unconstitutional.

In fact, every few years our beloved legislators consider proposals to update the constitution and then place them for voters to approve in an election.

This year even though a state property tax currently is ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL, they want voters to approve it.

Big mistake.

However, in response to the Anonymous who recoils with the shakes when we speak about making voting mandatory, we are forced against our will to wear seatbelts aren't we? Once upon a time, we considered that unconstitutional. CA is now considering Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana, which up until now is illegal in the state.

So, what is illegal or unconstitutional now may be very constitutional tomorrow. Apparently, that is no big deal to our officials.

Charles O'Dell said...

'A large number of those "registered voters" have long been ineligible due to selling property and leaving the area. The problem is that the voter registration doesn't get "cleaned out" so you have a registered voter list that looks larger than reality.'

This is simply not factual.

The opposite is true. Many of those moving into Hays County have failed or been tardy in getting their voter registrations change.

This means our expanding voter registration list is under counted because of many new locally unregistered voters. This is supported by comparing census data with voter registration data.

We have no data for those who sell their property and LEAVE Hays County. If they move to another Hays County address they remain eligible to vote---especially in early voting.

Charles O'Dell said...

"Not voting is also a Right guaranteed by our Constitution."

I'm reminded of the 70 year old man who shot a State Trooper dead near Kyle for ticketing him for failing to wear a seat belt.

This kind of behavior comes from a sense of no limits to absolute individual rights, and the companion absence of civil discussion.

Libertarian said...

“I'm reminded of the 70 year old man who shot a State Trooper dead near Kyle for ticketing him for failing to wear a seat belt.”

Mr. O’Dell that is a reach even for you! What the hell has some nut case shooting a trooper over seatbelts got to do with anything? Try as you might, there is no way you can justify Compulsory Voting in our great country. Maybe you are willing to give up your rights just to get more Democrats elected but I think you are in a smaller minority than you usually are. Are you feeling ok?

You see, many lazy and ignorant voters will vote on name recognition, race (like 2008) and other silly reasons that have nothing to do with the candidate’s qualifications or party affiliation or anything else that maters. Sadly they are almost always the takers in our society not the contributors.

Charles O'Dell said...

Libertarian said...

“You see, many lazy and ignorant voters will vote on name recognition, race (like 2008) and other silly reasons that have nothing to do with the candidate’s qualifications or party affiliation or anything else that maters. Sadly they are almost always the takers in our society not the contributors.”

Does your comment seem elitist, racist and contradictory to you? “Vote like I would have you vote or you are lazy, ignorant, superficial, racist, independent, and a taker.”

Ouch! That’s awful harsh. Doesn’t leave much room for discussion, does it?

But aren’t you grateful the RoundUp gives you a forum to express your harsh feelings?

That's real democracy.

Rocky B. said...

Anonymous after Stern: You are correct, it is a meandering comment. My point was that this time around mandatory voting would be a good thing for our nation.

And I'm glad you generally can follow my comments. Thanks for your honesty.

The Truthrunner said...

Admit it Rocky, the only reason you liberals want Compulsory Voting is that it will allow more Democrats to get elected. That is the simple truth and no one has proven different. Why else would you care?

Rocky B. said...

Yes, Richard, with angry white people like you seemingly the most motivated to destroy our country with your Tea Party and extreme Republican vitriol, which is currently dominating the electoral process, I do think the liberal vote would keep that ignorant hate in check.

Richard, you are like the dirty old man of politics. You probably sit watching Fox News on the TV and read this blog now and then and once in a while you open your trenchcoat with comments to the blog that exposes your mind and everyone reads it and rolls their eyes. Ralph is correct, you are the one who is unpatriotic.

And if you could think beyond your own narrow mind, you would know that I am not a liberal. I just hate hypocrisy, lies and the racism that has surfaced since Obama was elected.

Rocky B. said...

Mr. Sullivan, I apologize for saying your are unpatriotic. That was wrong. You did that to O'Dell in your first comment. I don't want to go there. Again, sorry for the foolish and unwarranted attack.