By Making People Vote Would More People Get Involved

by ParentCo. August 02, 2016

US college graduates are far better informed about basic political facts than Americans with only a high school education, according to studies by the Pew Research Center. And men tend to know more about politics than women. At the same time, the US also has infamously low voter turnout compared with the rest of the world. Recent scholarship on voting laws suggests that requiring citizens to vote would not only up turnout—it might also help boost overall political awareness. As president Barack Obama once told a crowd, “It would be completely transformative if everybody voted.” ... potential to do more than just increase voter turnout, according to ... Jill Sheppard, a political scientist and survey researcher at the Australian National University...in nations that enforce mandatory voting, a wider demographic spectrum is politically informed than in other countries. As researchers Malcolm Mackerras and Ian McAllister note in their comparative study of political party affiliation, “Compulsory voting ensures that voters cast a ballot and the act of voting means that they are forced to think, however superficially, about the major parties.”
Source: Could compulsory voting help make American voters better politically informed? — Quartz



ParentCo.

Author



Also in Conversations

mother with child
How Teaching Goal Setting Inspires Children

by Joy Turner

Setting goals allows kids to experience growth socially and emotionally by helping them develop self-regulation skills, gain responsibility and build confidence.

Continue Reading

mother with child outside
Ensuring Safe Toys and Gear for your Little One

by Hannah Howard

Since not all companies are scrupulous, here’s how parents can make sure the products they buy for their family are safe. Shop from brands you trust.

Continue Reading

mother and daughter doing yoga
Choosing Rhythms Over Resolutions

by Hannah Brencher

Parenting is about flow, sustainable habits, and family values—not rigid goals and resolutions and left me feeling like a failure when I didn’t hit the mark.

Continue Reading