Why is Australia the only "core anglosphere" country where voting is mandatory?

Lafari@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 112 points –
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"Should be mandatory everywhere" ima stop you right there, I couldn't give a single flying fuck about politics so having to vote results in me showing up not caring because I don't want a fine and I'll vote for a random candidate which will result in just picking a name out of a hat if an entire country did it

You don't have to vote in Australia. You just have to show up so it proves you were able to vote without impediment if you so choose to. You could draw a penis on it if you even could be bothered.

Voting typically takes place over a weekend in Australia and you have plenty of time to do it. You can also postal vote or absentee vote in advance fairly easily if you wish too. Polling places are literally like every school so there's always one nearby too.

Spoiling your ballot is an established and documented form of political protest. Nothing says "fuck all these chumps" like drawing a big cock and balls on the ballot.

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