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@ AWalkerinTheCity:wait isnt jasper from one of those euro countries with mandatory voting and high turnout?

Nup. I think only Belgium and Greece have mandatory voting. The Netherlands does not.

We do have high(er) voter turnout (than the US). One of the reasons is that politicians actually try to convince voters to actually vote. It's rather customary for the out-going PM to call on election day for everybody to vote, even if not for him or his party. Also, there is no such thing as voter registration. As an adult citizen, you are entitled to vote and will get a voting card. That's a positive effect of the citizen's registry that Napoleon started when he was in charge.

Voting turnout varies. About 50% for EU elections, a bit higher for local, and 70-80% for national elections.

I'd favor a system anywhere where seat stay empty if people don't vote. In proportional elections, you could fill the turnout percentage of seats. In district elections, you could require that at least 50% of eligible voters show up. That way absent voters get a say too.

@ JustMe:And whose fault is that

I am not interested in fault or blame. Just in the result: an election that is not democratic by lack of the demos/people.

by Jasper on May 16, 2012 1:25 pm • link • report

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