by Emily Lewandowski

Created on: November 26, 2007   Last Updated: November 27, 2007

As the title states I believe that Congress should pass a law for voting in the United States of America to be mandatory.
Why? Why go to all the trouble to pass a law that only inconveniences Americans who don't regularly make a trip to the polls on election day?
To that question there are many positive answers changing my view of a mandatory voting law.
First of all, the statistics for voting turnouts are unnerving, ranking America 139th out of 172 countries where statistics are available, outranking only less developed countries such as Zambia. As a leading democracy in the developed world the United States should be a leader in the voting turnouts, not falling woefully behind and therefore setting a bad example to the lesser democracies.

Another reason voting should be mandatory is if there is a law passed requiring people to vote you reduce the need for campaign funds to be used to entice voters to the polls allowing candidates to use their funds in a more substantive way.
The future of the republic is in the hands of the American voter. That statement, although encouraging is also frightening. "Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote" American essayist and critic George Jean Nathan said. If the people who yearn for America to continue to prosper and grow stretching herself and her people to be the best they can be with the right kinds of leaders guiding her don't vote, what is the purpose of that dream or goal? We as Americans have been given the unique privilege written the constitution to vote, to let our voice and ideals be heard and taken into consideration.
In the following quote by the 36th president of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, he summarizes the passion of all those who believe in a mandatory voting law.
"The vote is the most powerful instrument devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible wall which imprison men because they are different from other men."
We have been given a powerful tool to echo his words, but so often Americans are lax in their effort to vote. Shrugging off the plea to do so, or ignoring it all together. Which is why the much needed law for voting to be compulsory is long overdue.

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