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Compulsory Voting
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Countries that require citizens to vote, how enforcement works, and the debate over whether mandatory participation strengthens democracy.
Approximately 25 countries have compulsory voting laws, though enforcement varies widely. Australia is the most prominent example: voting has been mandatory since 1924, turnout regularly exceeds 90 percent, and non-voters face a small fine (currently AUD 20). Belgium, Luxembourg, and several Latin American countries (including Brazil and Argentina) also have compulsory voting. In some countries, the law exists but is not enforced.
Australia's system is often cited as a model. Compulsory voting there is widely accepted: about 70 percent of Australians support it. The system is facilitated by weekend voting (elections are always on Saturday), extensive early and postal voting options, and the cultural expectation that voting is a civic duty comparable to jury service. The fine for non-compliance is low, and valid excuses are broadly accepted.
Supporters argue that compulsory voting strengthens democracy by ensuring that the government reflects the preferences of all citizens, not just the motivated minority who choose to vote. Low turnout elections can produce governments that represent a narrow slice of the population. Compulsory voting also reduces the influence of mobilization spending (candidates do not need to spend resources getting their base to the polls) and eliminates voter suppression as a tactic.
Critics argue that the right to vote includes the right not to vote, and that forcing participation is an infringement on individual freedom. They contend that compulsory voting produces uninformed 'donkey votes' (voters who mark the ballot randomly to comply with the law) and does not guarantee thoughtful participation. Research suggests that compulsory voting does increase turnout among less-engaged citizens, which slightly shifts policy outcomes in a more redistributive direction, since non-voters tend to be lower-income.
'Compulsory' means very different things depending on whether and how the law is enforced. The table below compares notable cases.
| Country | In force since | Enforcement | Typical turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1924 | Small fine (AUD 20), broadly enforced | Above 90 percent |
| Belgium | 1893 | Enforced, though prosecutions are now rare | Around 87-90 percent |
| Brazil | 1932 (women 1934) | Fine; obstacles to some public services for non-voters | High, roughly 80 percent |
| Argentina | 1912 (Saenz Pena Law) | Fine; enforced | High, around 80 percent |
| Chile | Mandatory 1925, voluntary 2012, mandatory again 2022 | Reintroduced fines | Rose sharply after 2022 |
Chile ran compulsory voting for decades, switched to voluntary voting in 2012, then reinstated compulsory voting in 2022. When voting was voluntary, turnout fell substantially (participation in some elections dropped well below half of eligible voters). After compulsory voting was reinstated, turnout jumped dramatically for the 2022 constitutional referendum. Chile is therefore a natural experiment supporting the core empirical claim of this lesson: the mandate itself, not just civic culture, drives the turnout gap between compulsory and voluntary systems. The policy lever moved, and participation moved with it.
