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March 09, 2006
Fact of the day
In Brazil and Ecuador (and possibly other places too) voting is compulsory, except if you happen to be old or illiterate. In Brazil it's also voluntary for 16-18 year olds.
Which is all rather fun. What I want to know is how they test the literacy, specifically how stringent they are? Is there a little comprehension test attached to the ballot paper? Or perhaps a multiple choice quiz on The Count of Monte Cristo. The potential is fantastically silly, thus I'm all for introducing it over here.
Posted by pauldavies on March 09, 2006
Comments
You might think it's silly, but it's not silly to say that if you're going to vote then you need to understand the issues.
Let's do a thought experiment.
E.g. If there were to have been a referendum on the EU constitution, I would have liked to have seen five (or so) simple (and factual) questions on the constitution at the top of the ballot. These would have been kept confidential until polling day, with penalties for publication. They'd be yes/no. Four out of five right answers would be needed for the votes to count.
The questions would be set by an independent panel, and have to be demonstrably yes/no answers.
This would help to ensure that only people who were familiar with the issues would get to express an opinion!
One of the greatest problems with politics is that the politicians know that the population as a whole is swayable, not by the issues but by the rhatoric. Extending this to general elections might mean fewer votes, but it would mean better informed votes.
Discuss....
Posted by: Murk at March 10, 2006 07:21 AM
I was thinking silly mostly in terms of the idea of a quiz on The Count of Monte Cristo.
As for checking the electorate knows what they're voting for, it's a lovely idea, obviously, but I think it's completely unworkable. Ages ago I wrote something huge on this (5-6k words), but haven't ever posted it because it's one part of a trilogy, one part of which is probably best kept under wraps for now...
Posted by: Paul Davies at March 10, 2006 09:47 AM
I think you're confusing rules for compulsory voting and rules for eligibiity to vote. Historically, many countries in the Americas restricted voting to the literate. In one particular country which frequently appropriates the continental identity, such requirements were clearly identified as racist in origin and banned by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
As far as I know, no country in the Americas still restricts suffrage to the literate. Nonetheless, some countries in which voting is compulsory exempt illiterates from the penalty for not voting. (I don't know how this is tested, though.) Apparently this was the case in Perú (where I live) but the current election law does not mention it.
Posted by: rici at May 12, 2006 05:47 PM
"I think you're confusing rules for compulsory voting and rules for eligibiity to vote...
As far as I know, no country in the Americas still restricts suffrage to the literate. Nonetheless, some countries in which voting is compulsory exempt illiterates from the penalty for not voting."
Which is exactly what I said. Compulsory for all but oldies and illiterates...
Posted by: Paul Davies at May 15, 2006 10:43 AM
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