Democracies and the right to vote

[Liz]

An interesting article on the right to vote, and the joy of being able to vote when denied the right to do so previously, from a modern European/western point of view:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61033126

[MAD87]

Very interesting indeed and resonates with me as I'll be voting tomorrow in a major election for the first time in 30 years. Many French electors will only vote in the 2nd round, although I'm not sure what that indicates.

[Spardo]

Half her luck, this para struck a particular chord with me:

I learned young that there are too many people around the world who don't have a vote at all, for us to simply squander ours. I am not a curmudgeon by nature, but the longer I couldn't vote as an adult, the more draconian I became about the act of voting. If I ran the world, I'd be tempted to take a leaf out of Australia's book and make voting mandatory.

[Blaze]

I read that this morning, Liz, and thought how fortunate people are to have the right to vote. There are some good points in it.
Last night on the news, in her "10 minutes to convince" speech, Valérie Pecresse said she considered those who vote "blanc" are important and should be taken into account, which I found astonishing.

But people interviewed in the street were at least saying that if you don't vote, you are allowing others to decide for you.
The right to vote, particularly for women, was a hard fought battle and it's sad to see many just throwing that right aside as if it didn't matter.

[Polarengineer]

I have a great concern about how the ballots are policed. I cannot understand that Hungary would vote that idiot in again. All communities tend to look for change, even if things go reasonably well, it is never exactly how one wants things to be, so a punt on another party is normal. France is probably immune to outside influence in the voting system, but some countries are obviously faking the ballot.(no referrences to that arse Trump here).

[niemeyjt]

I guess voting also depends on whether it will make a difference. In UK, FPTP means certain constituencies are destined to go a certain way - so why bother voting?

Here in Switzerland, with PR and with multiple referenda it does pay to vote - and it is made easy and fairly hard to corrupt - ballot papers are posted to your home in advance and you either post them back or pop them in a box on the day.

Sadly, many fear referenda as they don't give "the right result" - and the concept of "voting again" further damages democracy. But it is one way to give the electorate what they want - or the electorate to peacefully overturn bad legislation.

[Liz]

I am doing my bit for the Presidential elections: I have delivered voting cards, I'm on voting station duty and on the count tomorrow, and I shall of course vote
The only thing that worries me is Covid, there have been a lot of cases locally.

[Spardo]

@Polarengineer

(no referrences to that arse Trump here).

No need for them, he didn't win the popular vote in either of his presidentials. No true democracy there, as also in the UK.

[Doug]

We have just got back from voting for our president for the first time.
Having voted all our adult lives its good to be able to again.

[MAD87]

Me too. I found it a very emotional moment. I was going to go after lunch, but I thought I might be tired and emotional then. There were queues...