Yahoo News Should voting in elections be made compulsory? We asked the people of Liverpool
The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming general election falls at midnight tonight.
The election will be a seismic moment for the country, but there are fears that many people will not take part in the democratic process.
With the average turnout at UK general elections since the turn of the millennium just 64.7%, is it time for voting in elections to be made compulsory?
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The people of Liverpool don't think so.
We went out on to the streets of Liverpool, to ask whether voting should be enforced and the general consensus was no.
Student, Toby Gandhi was one of many who held this view.
The 20-year-old said: “I think it gives votes more integrity if everyone votes but also if people don’t want to participate in the vote, they have an option not to which is a vote in itself.”
Another student, Toby Fox, also aged 20, held a similar position. He said: “It’s important that everyone does vote but I think if people don’t want to vote they shouldn’t have to, I think it needs to be incentivised more.”
Nicola Lockett, from North Wales stressed the importance of promoting voting through education rather than making voting compulsory.
The 56-year-old said: “I think that education in politics should be compulsory in secondary school from age 11. If people knew enough about politics to make an informed decision, I think they would be more inclined to vote.”
She added: “I don’t necessarily think it should be compulsory to vote."
Alison Elliot, from Halewood, addressed the significance of suffrage. The 62-year-old said: “I always vote because I think of people who risked a lot to give women the vote, but I think it should be free for everyone to decide for themselves, it’s definitely advisable, don’t take your rights likely.”
Some however did think that making voting compulsory would be better. Alex Lowe, 22, a student from the East Midlands, was one of those. He said: “Yes, I do. In terms of the discourse in national service, I find it ridiculous that compulsory voting hasn’t come before that, I think that’s what we should consider civic duty, having a say in what your country looks like.”
Today (June 18) is the deadline for registering to vote in the upcoming general election on July 4.
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