Assemblyman Marc Levine introduced a bill last week that would essentially require every registered voter to cast a ballot -- even if it's an empty one.Levine wrote in a news release addressing the proposal, known as AB 2070, that other nations such as Belgium and Australia already have rules about compulsory ballot casting, and the United States -- or at least California -- should join them.
It would be the first of its kind in the United States -- no where does any bill exist requiring a citizen vote.Voter turnout in the US trails other countriesThe goal of the bill is to ensure maximum voter turnout. In the 2016 general election, nearly 59% of eligible California voters cast a ballot, higher than the national average of 56%, according to the Pew Research Center.However, that number went down in the 2018 midterm elections, which saw just over 50% eligible voter turnout.
Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)
Lol! Thats like forcing somebody at gunpoint to play a rigged card game where u know youre not gonna win anything! Lol
Not voting is your vote... that all options are unacceptable.
In Australia everyone of legal age (18), by law, has to vote. If they don't, and they haven't got a good reason for not doing so, they are fined. Even if out of the country on holiday, Australians are required to vote.
We have the freedom to vote or not! Personally I believe everyone should exercise their right to vote but it is their choice. This is not a communist country like Russia yet! But this lawmaker is sure attempting to make it so!
Voter Id makes more sense
I love how people replying to this are completely oblivious to other stable, democratic countries where compulsory voting has been the norm for decades.
Now they want to force people to vote?
Australia has compulsory voting. Try and keep up America.
CA is irrelevant...so who cares. 4 million more people voted for HRC than Trump in CA, but HRC only won the popular vote by 2.9 million....CA had no impact on the election and I’m glad...one state shouldn’t get to pick the President.
I bet it’s a Democrat. So much for preaching to us about freedom of choice.
Voting is a privilege, not a right. Forcing people to vote is a violation of their 1st amendment free speech rights.
FAKE NEWS CNN is still LYING about Vinman he was NOT FIRED he was removed and sent somewhere else. Still working and collecting payments. FAKE NEWS CNN STILL LYING saying Vinman was FIRED WHY?
Voting is a right and a privilege, but also a huge responsibility. Unfortunately, the uneducated will only exacerbate problems that may already exist by not knowing who they're voting for. CommonSense
That is a stupid idea and she's having a right to vote it is a privilege.
Then a lot of people won’t oblige, simple
👀👀👀
Not a great idea. You will have some casting votes with no forethought. No research. No knowledge of the candidates whatsoever.
Punish people that shit on sidewalks, don’t worry about non-voters.
'Our base won't vote, what do we do?' 'I got it! Let's make them criminals if they don't!'
But they dont want to punish criminals. Of course it makes CA sense.
I think we all should vote, but consider the potential effects of the state monitoring your vote.....
If they make it a law how can they not add voter ID requirements as well.
Stop you cannot keep taking our freedom a little at time
That’s crap. Does the government not interfere enough in our lives already? 🤬
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Ya I want to punish them none voters. But the thousands of illegal voters are given a bonus for there vote. As Calif let's thousands of illegals vote this is there answer. Id like to know how they will know as they can't tell u exactly how many illegals vote this proves they can
Of course Communist from Cali will want to punish people for not following their rules. No freedom of choice
1A already covers this. Your right to free speech also grants you the right now to speak, which includes not voting.
I’m against this because then you have even more uneducated people casting votes.
DEMAND VOTER ID now! An ID is needed to apply for: • Food Stamps • Medicaid • Social Security • Unemployment • Welfare The only logical reason anyone would oppose Voter ID is if they planned to cheat.
Tyranny....
Goodness. California never disappoints in coming up with a new, ridiculous Authoritarian and Nanny State policy. How big can the government get out there before people are fed up? Guess we can watch from afar.
May The Will Of God Previal In America God Bless our President DonaldTrump God Bless America God Bless The World🌍🙏🏼 RetweetJesusNow RetweetJesusNow
I wouldn’t take it away, but I would make it so if you don’t fight you can’t complain or protest government decisions or laws.
So we want to make it a law which will include folks here via breaking law. Makes sense.
That's not very democratic but then neither is much else happening these days.
Lol. CA has gone off the rails.. again. They think they can control everything.. LOL
Then people would stop registering
BluRidge4Bernie Less people will register to vote then. CA is into being undemocratic.
a legal obligation? how undemocratic
We here in Australia have been doing it for close to 100 years now. Though in recent years it's been rather pointless since we replace our PM every other year
Just when I thought CA couldn't get any nuttier.
very bad idea. Nobody likes being forced to participate. What are the chances the people who are being forced are going to actually vote based on their honest feelings? There would be no integrity, valor, or honor in it. Nobody will care. They will vote in spite of democracy
Nooooooope that’s not okay. That’s a dictatorship. I’m sorry but mandatory voting is typical of a totalitarian state. I want everyone to vote just as much as any citizen but you cannot force them to.
Great idea but a slippery slope...
Everyone should vote but this is nonsense.
'A legal obligation.'? No. That's Wrong.
To be honest it's kind of baffling to me how upset people are over this. For some who claim to be so 'Patriotic' one would think this would be ok? This isnt a democrat versus republican thing. This is an American thing. This is a democracy, no? We should vote. Its our duty.
I don’t know if this is a good idea or not but the thing to do is look at other countries who do this and see how it works for them. Don’t write off the idea before at least giving it a chance.
Ans they want then to elect president with a popular vote. Sure it does not distort the results if voting is mandatory.
The more these 'lawmakers' get involved, the more damages it will create. Especially, when ideas are coming out of Californa. Stay in your lane.
Someone said this is the only thing Black People have received for voting I couldn't argue or deny. For the Democratic Party
Another knuckleheaded California lawmaker
I think it should be a holiday and a law. I also think that citizens should be registered on their 18th birthday automatically.
It's time America take voting to the Blockchain. Don't let other nations start before you. Blockchain is the truth.
Its a responsibility. Like paying taxes. I feel you. I don't want to be told what to do. But... I'm lazy sometimes. I want to be compelled to do the right thing. This might be a good thing. I always feel good after I do the right thing even if it was a hassle. Just opinion.
Responsibility? The duty is to KNOW what you’re voting for - not to merely check a box. What a childish conflation! If you don’t understand it it, leave it alone.
California politicians are terrible.
Automatically register everyone over 18+, end voter suppression, allow all US citizens to vote in every election, open primaries, and make voting days, national and state holidays. Oh, and maybe stop having 95% of the politicians sell their ideologies to the highest bidders.
While I think it is important for every one to vote, this is not the way to do it. I doubt it’s constitutional.
Yeah right, what's even the point, CA always votes Democrat anyways.
Discrimination still exists, there are ones as I, unable to vote, result of injustices even against my USA citizenship... this is real!
Stay strong american's People B-) 👍
Yeah I don't dig any type of authority forcing someone to vote.
Nothing says Democracy like the government passing a law saying you have to vote or else.
Make it a holiday, so people can vote!
Force people to vote & they shall begin to substitute M101 the Pinwheel Galaxy as their choice instead just so they don't have to vote for a candidate with whom they don't agree enmasse thinking it wise.
Cali is attempting to emulate Australia's compulsory voting laws. US Culture would never agree to the idea that voting is a must instead of voting being a right.
Now they’re going to make us vote like they made us get health insurance ~ what are they going to make us do next? 🙄
Idk it’s good in theory, but really it’d just cause a lot more uninformed voting. Prob be counterproductive.
Gordiano19Angel What does it matter.. the popular vote means nothing!!!! Look at the last elections!!!
Omg I love my leadership in cali....they really now how to go after the things that matter
California can’t even force people to shit in toilets!
For citizens it should be a law you have to vote.
When you have US Presidential elections with a turnout of only 55%, I can see why such measures are being considered.
Is should be.
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