Make voting compulsory
Dear Editor,
We note that in the Australian General Election this month they got a voter turnout of about 77%. How did they achieve this and persistently so?
Australia is one of 20 countries that have compulsory voting with a fine for registered voters, 18 and over, who do not exercise their franchise. Australians, in general, have no problem with this whatsoever.
We note we have been “politically cuddling” our uncommitted voters, who are disrespecting our electoral system and democracy.
This uncommitted set of registered voters need to be taught a lesson in “real democracy”. The Government and Opposition, through the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, must instruct their members to articulate a strong position on a Jamaican Compulsory Voting System(JCVS).
Finally, this habit of the Jamaican political parties to try and attract these unpatriotic Jamaicans must stop.
If you are Jamaican and you are serious about Jamaica, you must come out and vote. Any other action in this area must be considered unpatriotic.
Charles Demontaque, PhD
Stafford University
United Kingdom
charlesdemontaque@yahoo.co.uk
