Compulsory Voting Initiative Trumped

AP (Nana)
March 7, 2008

Brasxicol's Parliament today voted down an initiative to make voting compulsory in all elections. The initiative was proposed by the Progressive Conservative party and intended to penalize voter abstention in elections. The penalty proposed was of fines to those 18 years and older who did not cast votes or where registered in the Electoral College during electoral periods.

Debate in Parliament was calm and though at the end it was a tight vote, the decision was made to reject the initiative.

"We value freedom of choice as one of the foundations of our country. This includes the choice not to participate in our political system. No matter if you see voting as a right or a privilege, you can still opt out of them", mentioned an opposing member of Parliament, "By not making voting compulsory, we align ourselves with our basic principles and avoid the heavy burden of enforcing this legislation."

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