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[-] Whirlybird@aussie.zone -5 points 1 day ago

With the number of people who actively vote against their own interests because they’re dumb, I’m starting to agree with those who say voting shouldn’t be compulsory.

[-] writingslowly@aus.social 3 points 1 day ago

@Whirlybird @null_dot arguably, not voting is a vote against your own interests

[-] Whirlybird@aussie.zone 1 points 23 hours ago

It’s less of a vote against your own interests than literally voting against your own interests. Less votes means each vote has more power.

[-] eureka@aussie.zone 3 points 1 day ago

Why would they suddenly not vote if it became optional? The problem isn't that they're voting, it's that they don't have the class consciousness to recognise and investigate their core interests in federal politics.

From Condorcet's jury theorem, it's clear that having a few million less voters won't solve the problem, but improving the political literacy of voters can.

[-] Whirlybird@aussie.zone 1 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Lots and LOTS of people only vote because they have to, and they vote for whoever lies the best.

If they didn’t have to vote they wouldn’t, and the major parties would lose a LOT of votes, which is what needs to happen. We need independents to actually have a chance.

[-] pupbiru@aussie.zone 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

compulsory voting removes some of the apathy: “they’re both the same” isn’t as powerful to stop people (and let’s be honest here, this tactic works best against progressives) getting out to vote if they’re already at the polling place… it virtually eliminates voter suppression

[-] Whirlybird@aussie.zone -1 points 23 hours ago

I’m sorry but “voter suppression” isn’t a thing, especially when something as logical and simple as “have ID to prove you have the right to vote” is constantly called “voter suppression”.

[-] pupbiru@aussie.zone 3 points 18 hours ago

that absolutely is voter suppression… voter fraud is not a real problem. if it were, sure! let’s do ID… but the fact is, it just doesn’t happen: the only way to actually move the needle is large scale voter fraud, and the systems in place absolutely catch that… a single vote (as much as we say your vote counts: it does, but more figuratively) doesn’t matter 1 bit

this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2025
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