If Connecticut And Washington Democrats Get Their Way, Voting Will Become Mandatory

Washington Democrats, Connecticut and Washington have both introduced bills that would make compulsory voting mandatory for eligible voters.

Monday’s testimony was heard by a Connecticut House committee. HB 5704. This bill could be passed and made law if it is signed by the legislature. require All “qualified elector[s]” You can find more information here “either cast a ballot at an election or provide a valid reason” You should not do so.

In the event that an eligible voter decided not to vote, they would send him back. “a form” From the state “inquiring as to why [he] did not so cast a ballot.” A fine would be imposed on an elector who does not send in the return form explaining why they did not vote.

Rep. Josh Elliot (Democrat) was the bill sponsor. He claimed that these fines were a ‘fair and reasonable punishment. “nominal fee” Such as “five, 10, 15, 20 bucks,” The penalties are not listed in the HB5704 as a maximum or minimum amount.

“If you say, ‘We want universal voting’ and then there’s no punishment at all, you aren’t really saying anything,” Elliot said In an effort to justify the fines.

Connecticut citizens were skeptical of the claims that this proposal would increase civic engagement. A local news outletThe number of citizens who have written opposition to the legislation “overwhelmingly outweighed” Supporters of the bill have provided testimony.

This measures “will compel voting by people who don’t care or don’t know about the issues or candidates, thus influencing the outcome,” Manuel Santos is a Connecticut resident. “Voting as an uninformed citizen is just as bad, perhaps worse, than not voting at all.”

According to the Cato InstituteIn the end, mandatory voting has repeatedly led to issues like this “donkey vote.” This is when voters randomly choose a candidate or party to represent them. This could lead to voters being poorly informed in determining key races. You should consider it a very bad idea. The New York Times It was called a “disaster.”

The Connecticut Democrats don’t stand alone in their support for this policy. Washington senator Democrats have already introduced this policy. SB 5209This is a proposal to enforce mandatory voting in accordance with the guise This is “universal civic duty voting.” However, unlike the Connecticut bill SB 5209 does not penalize voters who do not cast a vote in general and primary elections.

As he tried to explain such a law to the Senate in January, Sen. Sam Hunt, Democrat and sponsor of the bill, went so far as to use compulsory voting to contrast it to “paying taxes” Signing for men is a requirement “up for the draft.” It’s “just another civic duty that we would require people to do,” He said.

Hunt’s Republican colleague and Senator Jeff Wilson took a different approach, calling the bill an “unconstitutional” “un-American distraction.” Wilson noted in his remarks that such a law might be modified to provide punishments for violating the law.

“Of course, you have the right to speak, you have the right to vote, but you also have the same right to not,” Wilson said. “There’s no consequence now, but what would keep it from having a consequence later? That’s something to be very concerned about.”

The Senate Rules Committee is currently considering the Washington bill. The Connecticut House Government Administration and Elections Committee is currently considering the Washington bill.

Shawn Fleetwood, a staff writer for The Federalist, is also a University of Mary Washington graduate. Additionally, he is a content writer for Convention of States Action. His work has been published in several outlets such as RealClearPolitics and RealClearHealth. Follow him at Twitter @ShawnFleetwood