A compulsory ballot — more commonly called compulsory voting or mandatory voting — is an electoral rule that obliges registered or eligible citizens to participate in elections. The duty is usually limited to turning up and having one's name marked off the roll; in practice, voters retain the secrecy of the ballot and may cast a blank or informal vote. Enforcement mechanisms vary: small administrative fines are typical, though some jurisdictions add escalating penalties, restrictions on public-sector employment, or difficulty obtaining official documents.
Australia is the most frequently cited example. Compulsory voting was introduced for federal elections by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1924, after a sharp turnout decline in the 1922 election. Turnout has since consistently exceeded 90% of enrolled voters. Belgium adopted compulsory voting in 1893 (initially for men, extended to women in 1949) and remains one of the oldest continuous systems. Other states with active enforcement include Luxembourg, Singapore, and several Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Ecuador, though enforcement intensity differs substantially. Chile abolished compulsory voting in 2012, reinstated it for the 2022 constitutional plebiscite, and made it permanent for general elections in 2023.
Arguments in favour, often associated with scholars like Lisa Hill and Arend Lijphart, emphasise higher and more socioeconomically representative turnout, stronger democratic legitimacy, and reduced incentives for voter-suppression tactics. Critics — drawing on liberal theorists such as Jason Brennan — argue it infringes on freedom of expression (which may include the right not to vote), inflates informal or "donkey" votes, and may reward uninformed participation.
In international law, neither the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art. 21) nor the ICCPR (Art. 25) mandates or prohibits compulsory voting; the UN Human Rights Committee's General Comment 25 (1996) treats it as compatible with the Covenant provided the secret ballot and free choice are preserved.
Example
In the 2022 Australian federal election, the Australian Electoral Commission issued apparent-failure-to-vote notices to citizens who did not attend a polling place, with an initial penalty of A$20 under the Commonwealth Electoral Act.
Frequently asked questions
No. In most systems, including Australia and Belgium, the legal duty is to attend a polling place and have one's name marked; voters may still cast a blank or invalid ballot in secret.
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