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Join the conversation: Compulsory voting and standing up to Trump [1]

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Date: 2025-08

Welcome to openDemocracy’s weekly reader comments round-up. This is an opportunity for us to showcase some of the many carefully considered messages we receive on a range of topics.

These comments are edited for clarity, accuracy and length and don’t necessarily reflect openDemocracy's editorial position.

Re: Delivery riders caught between algorithms and immigration raids

I don’t support Reform UK, and I usually consider myself left-wing, but I see two issues here. Firstly, illegal e-bikes and scooters are a safety risk and must be dealt with. Secondly, worsening pay and conditions for delivery staff are a direct result of employers not following laws on who is working for them (not just migrants). Call them to account. –Elimuann via BlueSky

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Re: Yes, the UK needs compulsory voting. But that alone won’t fix our politics

Correct, and as we see the fragmentation of our political parties, the arguments against proportional representation grow weaker and weaker. Temporary coalitions do not provide stability or representation of the people.

–CartoCrazy via BlueSky

All we will do if we have compulsory voting is spoil the ballot papers. The problem is Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, Ed Davey, Kemi Badenoch and their corrupt way of going about politics. Starmer has no intention of fixing our politics. He is part of the problem. –Krw59 via BlueSky

Proportional representation is also needed. –Nick via Mastodon

I value my vote, but at last year’s general election I did not vote. Why? None of the parties deserved it. I will use my vote again if there is a party I can vote for that I trust. Voting last year would have been rather like spending money on an item with no value. –Meby via oD Comments

Compulsory voting would probably make people even more cynical about UK democracy, either because it wouldn't – couldn't – be enforced or because it would be perceived as yet another authoritarian measure by failed politicians. And they would be right: it'd serve simply to help our failed politicians to carry on avoiding the fundamentals of the mess we're in, starting from their responsibility for that mess.

–Brecher via oD Comments

I refuse to validate a broken system by taking part in it. Hitherto (well, before they brought in the need for photo ID), I had the possibility of spoiling my ballot paper (though media reports of voter turnout in the UK frequently give the figures without reference to the spoiled papers, even if they amount to as many as a low-placed candidate). But if attending the polling station were ‘compulsory’, then I would openly and publicly boycott it, and refuse to pay any fine. The idea of compulsion is a negation of democracy.

If we had a better voting system, like STV, and a better political system overall, I might consider taking part if there were any candidates I trusted. But any ‘compulsion’ would be the one thing that would ensure I never went to a polling station again.

And what effect would compulsion have on voting registration? It would, in any case, be ironic if there were attempts to compel people to take part when some of us no longer can even if we wanted to, due to the photo ID rules. Surely compulsion would not be possible without scrapping the photo ID rule? –Albert via email

I'm not sure compulsory voting would be an immediate benefit to the UK. I think the first result would be that the incumbent government would not win an election. If introduced now, then, it would give us another Tory government. Would it be of value long-term? Yes, it probably would. –Adam via email

Re: Weekly Poll: Can the world stand up to Trump’s initiative politics?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to participate in the poll each week.

The world can, but one doubts that the captive nations, NATO, etc, will.

-APS via email

Yes, but it doesn’t want to. Leaders lack courage and don’t want to make even the smallest sacrifice for the sake of integrity and decency. They prefer to appease the bully. (Canada and China are two exceptions; poles apart in their politics, but both prepared to stand firm). –Gillian via email

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[1] Url: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/uk-compulsory-voting-reader-thoughts-standing-up-to-trump/

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