Should local government and general elections be combined?
KINGSTON, Jamaica — With just six days to go till the September 30 deadline to get on the next voters’ list, OBSERVER ONLINE wants to hear from you.
The next voters’ list will be published on November 30, but we want you to join us as we count down to the enumeration deadline.
Yesterday we asked: Should it be compulsory for electors to vote in elections?
There were responses in the affirmative as well as negative with a few even inquiring about whether the question was a rhetorical one. Many said Jamaica would not be a democracy if voting was mandatory.
Pieter Crush said: “This is a very tricky question. Why so, you might ask? The system is too corrupt in Jamaica to force people to vote. Can you imagine corrupt, incompetent, spineless, non-politicians charging poor people money, money they don’t have, because they didn’t vote in the election? Belgium was once charging its citizens 10,000 Belgian Francs for not voting. Of course, people cried foul and the system changed.
“Finland has no such system and the country is doing well. Estonia has no such system and the country joined EU with ease,” Pieter Crush continued.
“While voting is necessary, one should not be compelled to do so as each of us has the right to choose if we want to,” Leo said. “Many voters are frustrated with the system and find no hope in voting for PNP or JLP. The truth is there is no hope in man but in God. So keep voting for them will bring no result for the people, especially the poor.”
And Tee Wolley said on Facebook: “No , not at all. Mandatory voting is not embracing democracy. People vote because they see a need to, if a person chooses not to vote then so be it; that is democracy at work.”
“Nope suppose mi nuh si nutten fi vote fah?” Ericka Gilbert-Hope asked.
Meanwhile David Gordon would rather go to jail.
“No, not into the choosing the lesser of two evil thing, and if it becomes compulsory, I’d pay the fine or go jail,” he said on Facebook.
But there were also those who said yes.
Andrew Simpson miller said: “Yes it should be compulsory for electors to vote. Too many electors sit on the fence and don’t vote and then they are the first ones to complain about the government. There should be a penalty for not voting like they have in Australia.”
?”?Yes, because it’s not a party thing! It’s a national obligation. Why should I go to vote then someone who does not vote complain?” Victor Barrington Smith asked.
And ChikV2Ebola said: “It should be mandatory to vote, which in turn would motivate the winning party to do a good job in government, as low voter turnout will not save them next time when elections are called.”
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Today’s questions: Should local government and general elections be combined?