What if voting had personal direct consequences?

[Necronomikon]

Hey GAF, I was thinking about US current situation and the political circus that has been going on (not making fun about that fact since my country is indeed much worse) and its almost about to end and all the possible consequences of the next US president.

Anyhow... Imagine this possible scenario: they keep a record of who you voted and "rooted" for, so if your selected candidate wins, you are directly impacted by your candidates choices while the others could subjectively argue those choices while presenting some logical argument. For instance and hypothetically speaking, if war was declared against anyone, you as a proved voter would automatically be enrolled to enlist, while others none voters (voted for another candidate) could hypothetically appeal not to enlist since they weren't supporters of that candidate. Of course boundaries about this automatic rule would have to be created in order to prevail justice/equality of some sort, when dealing with economic situations.

Would you be on board with some system like this?

Personally, I think something like this would make voters more aware and conscious about the decision they're about to take and the possible consequences it could pertain. I would like something like that to some degree in order to demand responsibility for the choices each takes.

What do you think GAF?

 

[Chase17]

I don't know how this could feasibly be implemented, and even if it could it isn't a good idea (less people would vote, how do you determine what does and doesn't warrant consequences, even worse of a divide amongst society etc)

 

[ant_]

I think the system you proposed is wrong. A lot of policies enacted in social welfare require the participation of everyone. If universal healthcare ever became a thing, those who voted against it wouldn't have to pay-in?

Regardless of the solution proposed, there are better ways for us to encourage voting. Step 1 is to make it easier.

 

[BronsonLee]

That'd kill voter turnout even more

 

[Hazmat]

That's an awful idea. The President is the President of the entire country, not just the people that voted for her.

 

[jchap]

Under your system people voting conservative wouldn't have to pay higher tax rates because they didn't vote for them!

 

[norm9]

I'd prefer a point system for voting. You get a point for every election you participate in. After 6 elections or whatever number statisticians deem a good enough number, your next vote could be worth 1.3 to 1.4 votes to the usual 1.0. Alternatively, you could get a free Big Mac meal or something. Regular size of course.

 

[TipsyArchmage]

That is one of the worst political ideas I've ever heard. Good job I guess OP

 

[Rentahamster]

It already does, and no, there's a secret ballot for a reason.

 

[hateradio]

Let's just have facebook do the polling.

 

[Makai]

Why does everyone come up with dystopian schemes to "fix" voting

 

[John Kowalski]

Good lord.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

This is one of the dumbest ideas I've heard for elections in recent weeks.

Good job OP.

 

[norm9]

Let's just have facebook do the polling.

I like this idea best.

 

[SunnyVi]

Wouldn't presidential candidates lie/hide their positions even more? In the example you've provided why would someone say they were for war? They would end up getting far fewer votes because people would be afraid to vote for them.

 

[freenudemacusers]

a vote for freenudemacusers is a vote for free 1,000 year old dragons for everybody

 

[Stead Fast]

In no way would your hypothesis improve the voting system, I'm afraid OP. What is more, based on the thread title, I came in simply to say tht voting already does have personal direct consequences, at least for some people.

Taking a political stance alone can alienate you from a lot of friends and family, as someone whose been looked down upon by said people for my own.

I can understand the sentiment you want to get across, that ignorant voting can help to damage a nation politically, but it's not the people who ultimately need to be punished for electing a bad offical, it's the offical (who put themselves forwards to the vote to begin with) for abusing their position. Presidency is a service from by point of view, not a privilage.

 

[joe2187]

Let's just have facebook do the polling.

Gamergater, Alt-right nutjobs will win them 100% of the time. Thats where they thrive.

 

[SecretMoblin]

a vote for freenudemacusers is a vote for free 1,000 year old dragons for everybody

im voting 4 times for this candidate

 

[tokkun]

I guess I'll vote for this guy then

 

[Kayhan]

What if God was one of us?

 

[The Incarnation]

Why does everyone come up with dystopian schemes to "fix" voting

Because every individual thinks they're a god.

 

[NeoGold123]

I think this is a bad idea. There is already enough of a divide with it being an anonymous vote, putting your name on a list would be like autocompleting a hit list for the "other side".

That's an awful idea. The President is the President of the entire country, not just the people that voted for her.

That's the one I hate hearing the most. "Well he's not MY President." Yes, yes he is. You live in America, this is the American President, he is your president.

 

[duckroll]

Imagine this possible scenario: they keep a record of who you voted and when the other candidate wins your name along with a list of all the other people who voted for the other candidate is handed over to the Secret Police as a watch list.

 

[Cymbal Head]

I'd prefer a point system for voting. You get a point for every election you participate in. After 6 elections or whatever number statisticians deem a good enough number, your next vote could be worth 1.3 to 1.4 votes to the usual 1.0. Alternatively, you could get a free Big Mac meal or something. Regular size of course.

Old people already have more than enough political influence without their vote counting twice as much as mine. I could go for that big mac though.

OP, your idea would be a bureaucratic nightmare. Imagine all the policies people would be opting into and out of over a lifetime. What happens when a president I voted for makes a change in a policy from the one I opted out of? Could he draft me even if I opposed the president who started the war in the first place? Policies don't exist in a vacuum.

Plus all the other reasons it's bad.

 

[7DollarHagane]

Imagine this possible scenario: they keep a record of who you voted and when the other candidate wins your name along with a list of all the other people who voted for the other candidate is handed over to the Secret Police as a watch list.

And then when you vote you agree to let the government track all your DNS activity too so they can know if you actually agree with your vote.

 

[Makai]

Imagine this possible scenario: they keep a record of who you voted and when the other candidate wins your name along with a list of all the other people who voted for the other candidate is handed over to the Secret Police as a watch list.

Ohhhhh. That's why Hillary wants me to wear this badge

Vote or die.

 

[weekev]

That's an awful idea. The President is the President of the entire country, not just the people that voted for her.

I see what you did there.

 

[gruenel]

Might as well split the country in two at that point.

 

[TwEE-N-Toast]

Its a gaf idea. I like it!

 

[jimmypython]

no. The president elect is supposed to serve ALL Americans, not just to who voted for him/her.

 

[Qurupeke]

Great idea. Why stop there though? Let these consequences be exile, the country doesn't need those who didn't support the Great Leader.

 

[tcrunch]

This is...wow...

 

[Ban Puncher]

If you die in the video game, you die in real life!

 

[JeTmAn81]

We need more voting, not less. If anything the should be more incentives to just vote.

 

[Guileless]

The GAF brigade, mustered from those with an Obama "HOPE" avatar in 2008, served honorably in Libya hunting down Qaddafi. Press X to pay respects.

 

[The Illiterati]

I see. Like whoever gets the lowest votes gets a swarm of bees sent after them. I like it.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Why does everyone come up with dystopian schemes to "fix" voting

Good question. Probably because most people don't realize their solutions are dystopian.

 

[Ban Puncher]

I see. Like whoever gets the lowest votes gets a swarm of bees sent after them. I like it.

Swarm of Bees 2020

 

[RainForce]

This is something I'd expect out of a "twisted games" scenario like Saw or Danganronpa, not a modern democracy.

 

[Trigonometrize.]

I really see no need for personal responsibility for the voters in a representative democracy. How is the trickle down of their incompetence and the taxes that they impose not enough of a punishment for giving OTHERS power? Maybe keep this in the realm of fiction.

 

[Adam_Vania]

OP's suggestion is fucking terrifying and intrusive and anti-American

 

[Angelus Errare]

What if...we treated voting like an actual right instead of how one political party currently treats it as a privilege and tries to punish and disenfranchise people?

Or we can continue to make these ever increasingly oppressive dystopian type solutions.

 

[Slo]

I imagine this would end up a lot like the North Korean version of democracy.