The article “The Calculus of Voting in Compulsory Voting Systems” by Costas Panagopoulos that appeared in the Political Behavior talks about how Compulsory voting laws have consistently been demonstrated to boost electoral participation. The article is rather expository than analytical or descriptive, and mostly uses data from external sources and research.
The first part of the article mainly focuses on the cost of voting: Rational choice theories of electoral turnout assume that voters, like consumers, are rational and self-interested. Observing that the act of voting is costly, such theories suggest that voters, as rational actors, will weigh the costs of voting (C) against the benefits (B) in their decision-making calculus and, accordingly, rational voters will vote in elections only if the benefits exceed the costs of participation (Panagopoulos 456).
The second part of the article talks about compulsory voting systems. It says that participation in elections is considered a political right by most democratic governments, but others view voting as a duty and regulate participation through electoral laws. These countries mandate voting as a safeguard from anemic electoral participation. Compulsory voting laws legally oblige eligible voters to participate in elections or be liable to …show more content…
For once, a basic examination of race results previously, then after the fact the presentation of mandatory voting will probably give deluding results. An excess of things other than obligatory voting will have changed at the same time, for instance, the most squeezing social and financial issues, worldwide undertakings, the hopefuls running for office, and the arrangements they advocate. As an outcome, we can 't say whether an adjustment in decision results is because of mandatory voting or some of these different
The first part of the article mainly focuses on the cost of voting: Rational choice theories of electoral turnout assume that voters, like consumers, are rational and self-interested. Observing that the act of voting is costly, such theories suggest that voters, as rational actors, will weigh the costs of voting (C) against the benefits (B) in their decision-making calculus and, accordingly, rational voters will vote in elections only if the benefits exceed the costs of participation (Panagopoulos 456).
The second part of the article talks about compulsory voting systems. It says that participation in elections is considered a political right by most democratic governments, but others view voting as a duty and regulate participation through electoral laws. These countries mandate voting as a safeguard from anemic electoral participation. Compulsory voting laws legally oblige eligible voters to participate in elections or be liable to …show more content…
For once, a basic examination of race results previously, then after the fact the presentation of mandatory voting will probably give deluding results. An excess of things other than obligatory voting will have changed at the same time, for instance, the most squeezing social and financial issues, worldwide undertakings, the hopefuls running for office, and the arrangements they advocate. As an outcome, we can 't say whether an adjustment in decision results is because of mandatory voting or some of these different