Compulsory Voting

1. Are you a voter? Why is important to vote? Should it be made compulsory?

Although I’m not convinced of its real relevance, I do exercise my right to vote. In some sense, I even consider that right as also an obligation since it is the minimum that one can do for participating in public political life.
My doubts (as well as those from the huge majority of population) dwell on the gap that exists between the actual popular will, that is, the necessity to adress real social problems like affordability, welfare state shrinkage, low wages…; and the priorities of ruling politicians.

2. Does compulsory voting contradict the concept of free will?

I supose it does, in some sense, but making it mandatory doesn’t change the corrupt and distant nature of the actual system. If one considers free will, not from an individual perspective, but from that which is the real scope of politics, i.e from the whole society; the difference between compulsory or not is irrelevant. This doesn’t change the grievances and demands of the population.
Therefore, if free will of the population has to be satisfied, the political system should introduce those voices onto the system, and as a consequence, exclude or diminish those from the few that have, at that moment, real influence.

3. Do you agree with some people who choose not to vote as a form of political expression?

I understand the disconnection that exists today from politics. However, our democratic system, although being susceptible of massive improvements, is the best we ever had and its important to give value to this point. Even though it’s a poor system of representation, we need to exercise that right that has been won through huge struggles. Exercising it is, not only a way of vindicating the right of being a relevant political actor, but also the necessary run-up for improving and expanding those rights.