I think in places where they have mandatory voting, it's simply a fine if you don't vote in an election. If I were to set it up in the U.S., it would just be a small amount, like US$20 -- it would be a minor inconvenience, but just enough for the state to bother to collect. That way the state has a financial incentive to keep accurate and inclusive voter rolls, and people have an incentive to vote. I'm not seeing a lot of downsides to a program like that, other than the whole coercion aspect.
Of course, one could say that not voting is a form of political expression. I suppose instead of a fine, we could call it a "democracy fee". Calling random things fees is what California does best (for example, state residents pay no tuition to state universities -- just thousands of dollars in "fees" annually).
-- ∇×V
Of course, one could say that not voting is a form of political expression. I suppose instead of a fine, we could call it a "democracy fee". Calling random things fees is what California does best (for example, state residents pay no tuition to state universities -- just thousands of dollars in "fees" annually).
-- ∇×V