ANyone have any realistic ideas on how to increase voter turnout

Vesayen · December 24, 2003, 13:46

and general awareness about politics-or is it impossible?

This is aimed at Americans but anyone can answer heh.

Imran Siddiqui · December 24, 2003, 13:48

cattle prods.

yavoon · December 24, 2003, 13:50

give the power back to local politics.

ie states and cities.

:) Smiley · December 24, 2003, 13:51

Some sort of financial incentive, that's how our student government gets people to vote.

Oerdin · December 24, 2003, 13:52

A tax rebate for people who vote? Maybe making it so you can't recieve government services unless you first vote. That worked with the selective service.

The Mad Monk · December 24, 2003, 13:52

First, make Election Day a national holiday.

Second, provide a coupon to each voter, which provides a tax credit when included in the next year's tax return.

Harry Tuttle · December 24, 2003, 14:14

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
First, make Election Day a national holiday.

Second, provide a coupon to each voter, which provides a tax credit when included in the next year's tax return.

Good idea, very good idea...

Imran Siddiqui · December 24, 2003, 14:16

Quote:

Second, provide a coupon to each voter, which provides a tax credit when included in the next year's tax return.

Like we needed another reason for people to attempt to vote more than once

.

The Viceroy · December 24, 2003, 14:19

Tell them they are no longer allowed to vote, and that the current prime-minister/president will now serve for life.

Suddenly they will all want to vote (for a while anyway)

Skanky Burns · December 24, 2003, 14:19

Make it mandatory. It works for Australia.

Az · December 24, 2003, 14:21

voting is mandatory in Australia?

General Ludd · December 24, 2003, 14:23

Co-operate with McDonalds so that they include a voting form in BigMac rappers, and they can turn the trash can into a temporary ballot box.

Az · December 24, 2003, 14:30

BigMac Rappers? is this some new crew I am unaware of?

better ask Albert.

General Ludd · December 24, 2003, 14:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Azazel
BigMac Rappers? is this some new crew I am unaware of?

better ask Albert.

Haven't seen the new McDonalds commercials?

Inverse Icarus · December 24, 2003, 14:49

make it so those who dont vote in the next election can't vote in the one after that.

in 8 years you'd have 95% turnout.

DAVOUT · December 24, 2003, 14:51

Cut their number of posts by 10%.

Shogun Gunner · December 24, 2003, 15:04

@ Davout

Threaten with jail time? That probably works in the penal colony of Australia since its mandatory there.

Thucydides · December 24, 2003, 15:11

Make a voter lottery. Everyone who votes gets entered into it (you'd have to set it up so there's no benefit for voting twice, like a cross-check on name and social security number or something like that). Since so many people like to play the lotto I doubt they'd miss the opportunity to win for free. You could even take a cut off of political contributions to pay for the winnings.

Whoha · December 24, 2003, 15:12

move the election day to april 15th. or move tax day to november 3rd.

KrazyHorse · December 24, 2003, 15:16

Get political parties who are differentiable from each other.

Kuciwalker · December 24, 2003, 15:19

Quote:

Originally posted by Uber KruX
make it so those who dont vote in the next election can't vote in the one after that.

in 8 years you'd have 95% turnout.

Sava · December 24, 2003, 15:29

Make taxes double for people who don't vote. Also, deny non-voters any sort of public service.

germanos · December 24, 2003, 16:25

Get rid of the obligation to register as a voter in the first place. Just send all of the US citizens a notice they can vote on day X.

It works here

MrFun · December 24, 2003, 16:38

I love oxymoronic thread titles.

"REALISTIC ideas for increasing voter turnout"

Lefty Scaevola · December 24, 2003, 17:03

Have a reliable voter ID/national ID system (good for all sorts of things, like reducing voter fraud) and tax thoses who fail to vote to pay for election costs.

yavoon · December 24, 2003, 17:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
Have a reliable voter ID/national ID system (good for all sorts of things, like reducing voter fraud) and tax thoses who fail to vote to pay for election costs.

u lefties are hilarious. no inane, silly or superfluous invasion of freedom is ever out of bounds.

st_swithin · December 24, 2003, 17:41

Put a subliminal message to vote in the Paris Hilton tv show.

Nubclear · December 24, 2003, 17:43

Quote:

Originally posted by yavoon

u lefties are hilarious. no inane, silly or superfluous invasion of freedom is ever out of bounds.

lol pwnd!!!11!!

Sarxis · December 24, 2003, 17:53

A small tax cut for voters who show? Nothing extreme, but just enough that it'd be worthwhile?

But really, do we want people who don't care actually voting?

Peacemaker · December 24, 2003, 18:52

Since its the same people who don't vote in every election we simply excute all those who don't vote and then we would have 100% turn out. Puls the added advantage of getting rid of all those idiots.