Voters pitted against each other over mandatory voting

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Nearly half of Koreans (49.8 percent) agreed on the need to introduce so-called compulsory voting to fight the negative fallout of low voter turnouts, according to a poll conducted by The Korea Times. About 45 percent opposed it.

The poll was taken after some pundits called on the government to consider the measure.

Their recommendation was made in response to falling voter turnouts.

If adopted, those who don’t cast their ballots in an election would be susceptible to disadvantages from the government.

About 30 nations have reportedly adopted punitive measures for not voting.

Some governments require their citizens who didn’t participate in an election to pay a fine, or send a letter to them to explain what caused them not to exercise their right to choose their political representatives.

Voter turnout in the 1992 presidential elections marked 82 percent, but it decreased to 71 percent in 2002 and down to 63 percent in the last presidential elections held in 2007. Voter turnout for presidential election is usually higher, but this too has been on the decline.

The figure in the National Assembly elections in 1992 stood at 72 percent, and that of the 2000 elections marked 57 percent.

Even fewer voters exercised their right to vote in by-elections and local elections.

Analysts said low turnouts weaken legitimacy and representation of the people who are selected by way of elections.

Despite the problem, critics say compulsory voting shouldn’t be considered as an option to counter voter turnout.

They said people have the right to make their own decision and compulsory voting limits this right.