In a democratic society, where universal suffrage is implemented, every adult citizen should be compelled to vote
For	Against
with compulsory voting, the government can in fact claim greater political legitimacy compulsory voting leads to greater sense of citizenship and national solidarity with compulsory voting, more due concern will be given to everyone in the society, especially politically disengaged groups voting is a civic duty pretty much like paying tax compulsory voting leads to improvements in political culture compulsory voting is the antidote against low voter turnout, which is a common problem in many Western democratic countries, e.g. Britain, the US	compulsory voting leads to the infringement of individual liberty

with compulsory voting, the government can in fact claim greater political legitimacy
For	Against
through compulsory voting, the elected government now represents the will of the majority of the population

through compulsory voting, the elected government now represents the will of the majority of the population
For	Against
	voters may not be well-informed

voters may not be well-informed
For	Against
	voters have the right to inform themselves to an extent that they think is suitable if politicians want votes, they should convincingly inform the voters that they are the best candidate the problem of voters being ill-informed can in fact be improved by compulsory voting in long term the problem that voters are ill-informed is not a problem unique to compulsory voting

with compulsory voting, more due concern will be given to everyone in the society, especially politically disengaged groups
For	Against
with compulsory voting, the socially advantaged will have higher interest in welfare and education compulsory voting provides the incentive for political parties to engage with people they usually ignore as every single individual will turn out to vote

with compulsory voting, the socially advantaged will have higher interest in welfare and education
For	Against
the socially disadvantaged have a significant influence on political decision under compulsory voting

compulsory voting provides the incentive for political parties to engage with people they usually ignore as every single individual will turn out to vote
For	Against
without non-compulsory voting, candidates may simply turn away from people or social groups who don't vote

voting is a civic duty pretty much like paying tax
For	Against
voting is just a civil right like the freedom of speech in a democratic society of which citizens need not necessarily avail themselves

compulsory voting leads to improvements in political culture
For	Against
compulsory voting can stimulate citizens' interest towards political and social matters influence of the rich upon the voting process will be reduced extremist government can be avoided, and a more centrist government can be formed	compulsory voting will only degrade political campaign into populist in order to attract voters' interest

influence of the rich upon the voting process will be reduced
For	Against
less political donation is needed by the candidates

less political donation is needed by the candidates
For	Against
cost of voting campaign is reduced as people don't need to be mobilized

cost of voting campaign is reduced as people don't need to be mobilized
For	Against
	more money is in fact needed, for research concerning the preference and conditions of the whole population

extremist government can be avoided, and a more centrist government can be formed
For	Against
more rational arguments and moderate discourses can be seen in the voting process

more rational arguments and moderate discourses can be seen in the voting process
For	Against
as everyone has to participate in the voting process, candidates have to avoid alienating undecided voters candidates will extend their policies to cover the interest of the swingers	those who cannot be bothered to vote in normal elections cannot be relied upon to follow rational arguments and moderate discourse

candidates will extend their policies to cover the interest of the swingers
For	Against
candidates no longer need to mobilize their base supporters, as they all have to vote	many elections are already decided by swinging voters, so candidates already extend their policies to them

compulsory voting leads to the infringement of individual liberty
For	Against
individuals should have the right to choose whether they want to engage in political matters or not, that is, whether they want to vote or not It infringes upon individual rights the government should be protecting not stomped upon. the democratic values should not outweigh the liberal values, we are living in liberal democratic society state coercion to force people to vote may explicitly deny them their right to freedom of religious practice individuals should have the right for dissatisfaction of the whole political culture by not turning out to vote

state coercion to force people to vote may explicitly deny them their right to freedom of religious practice
For	Against
for example, most Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that they should participate in earthly political processes

individuals should have the right for dissatisfaction of the whole political culture by not turning out to vote
For	Against
	a "none of the above" option can be provided in the ballot paper in compulsory voting

compulsory voting is the antidote against low voter turnout, which is a common problem in many Western democratic countries, e.g. Britain, the US
For	Against
citizens' disinterestedness and apathy are fatal to democracy	low turnout rate is not a persistent problem inherent to liberal democratic society, the French presidential election in 2007 has a turnout rate over 80% compelled voters may still give spoiled or invalid ballot papers, especially as an act of protest against the compulsory voting system

citizens' disinterestedness and apathy are fatal to democracy
For	Against
low participation, which means that the government is not wholly representing the will of the majority of the society, implies governmental instability

low participation, which means that the government is not wholly representing the will of the majority of the society, implies governmental instability
For	Against
	low turnout does not always result in instability; e.g. in the UK in 2005 turnout was 61%, but the Government has been stable