Land of the Free? Legislator Wants to Fine New Yorkers Who Don’t Vote

America still has a few tiny shreds of freedom. For instance, when faced with a corrupt two party system that only offers the illusion of choice, we still have the freedom to not participate in the charade. We can still stay home on election day, and refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils.

Unfortunately that freedom is also under assault. New York Assemblywoman Deborah Glick has introduced a bill that would establish compulsory voting in the city. Those who don’t vote, would be fined $10 unless they have a valid excuse, and those fines would be used to improve the electoral process. As for what constitutes a valid excuse or how exactly this money would be used, the bill doesn’t say.

According to Glick, “Mandatory voting would drastically increase civic participation and transform the political arena by making politicians more reflective of the constituents that elected them.”

The bill was criticized because it could hurt low income families. More importantly, it would obviously violate the rights of everyone who doesn’t vote. Barbara Bartoletti, the legislative director of the New York State League of Women Voters, stated that “Often, it is a silent protest on their part to not vote.”

The truth of the matter is that refusing to vote is in a way, another form of voting. If you think the system is rigged and that the choices provided don’t represent your interests, one of the best ways to express that feeling is to not show up on election day. If this bill passes, then residents of New York will only have two choices. Participate in the corrupt system, or help fund the rigged system. Obviously that’s no choice at all.

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Contributed by Daniel Lang of The Daily Sheeple.

Daniel Lang is a researcher and staff writer for The Daily Sheeple – Wake The Flock Up!