A key argument for compulsory voting is that such a system guarantees that the government represents a majority of the population, not only individuals who vote, and this ensures the government does not neglect sections of society that are less active politically.
Compulsory voting possibly mitigates the impact that external factors may have on an individuals capacity to vote such as the transport, weather, or restrictive employers.
Another argument is that compulsory voting makes people think about the tough issues more. This in turn could make governments more likely to bring up tough and possibly unpopular issues that need to be addressed.
Compulsory voting may stimulate stronger participation and interest in other political activities.
It is possible that high levels of participation decreases the risk of political instability created by crises or dangerous leaders.
Arguments against compulsory voting
One of the most common arguments against compulsory voting holds that voting is not a civic duty, but rather a civil right. While citizens may exercise their civil rights they are not compelled to. Compulsory voting can be seen as an infringement on a citizen's liberty. Some consider the fining of recalcitrant voters to be even more oppressive.
Some individuals oppose the idea of compulsory voting because they have no interest in politics or no knowledge of the candidates. Others may be well-informed, but have no preference for any particular candidate, and have no wish to give support to the political system.
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