Compulsory Voting

'The frustrating thing about arguments over citizenship in democracies is that everyone is right, meaning that everyone is also wrong. There are powerful arguments in favor of asking citizens to act on a moral obligation to become informed, so as to move toward an ideal world. In that view, argued ably here by Jason Brennan, anyone who fails to become informed should voluntarily abstain. Lisa Hill argues that Brennan has it backwards: 'good' elections are not the result of an informed citizenry. Rather, a broadly accepted electoral process, legitimated by universal participation, is what creates an informed citizenry. Who is right? An extraordinary and very fair-minded treatment of significant issues in democracy around the world.' Michael Munger, Duke University, North Carolina

• Part I. Medicine Worse than Disease? Against Compulsory Voting Jason Brennan: 1. The heavy burden of proof; 2. Democratic legitimacy and the consequences of compulsion; 3. Do your share or else; 4. Should we force the drunk to drive? Part II. Compulsory Voting Defended Lisa Hill: 5. Compulsory voting: background, effects, feasibility and basic premises; 6. Turnout, abstention, and democratic legitimacy; 7. Is compulsory voting an unjustified burden on personal autonomy? Is there a right not to vote?; 8. Is requiring people to vote contrary to democratic values?; 9. Conclusion.