Make voting in elections mandatory

THE numbers are showing after every election, general and municipal, that voter interest has been on the decline.

In the September 3 General Election, the voter turnout was 37 per cent – the lowest in Jamaica’s history. Four years earlier it was 48 per cent, and in 2011 it was 52 per cent. That’s clear evidence of dwindling interest.

Simultaneously, the claims of vote-buying become more frequent after every election. How can voter apathy end, and how can there be a reduction of vote-buying claims? Simple – make voting in national elections mandatory.

I do believe that all eligible citizens of this country should exercise their right to vote. Those who don’t vote as a habit must be part of that crucial decision-making process of the country. I would like the prime minister to lead the charge for such a legislation to be pushed through the Parliament.

Unless there is compelling reason, every eligible adult must vote or pay a fine of $10,000. With that in place, some of those politicians who pay people to vote may have to revisit such a move. In any case, with the increasing numbers at the polls, it would be nigh impossible for any party to dole out funds to so many.

People might think that one way to get around mandatory voting would be to not get on the voters’ list, but we must insist that as soon as someone reaches 18, he gets on the list automatically.

It is one way out of this voting apathy, and vote-buying claims.