Canada prides itself on being a democratic nation, yet voter turnout tells a different story. In the 2021 federal election, just over 62% of eligible Canadians cast a ballot. Compare that with Australia, where voting has been mandatory since 1924, and turnout regularly exceeds 90%. The contrast is striking, and instructive. If Canada is truly committed to representative democracy, it should make voting compulsory.

Australia’s experience shows how dramatically voting laws can reshape political engagement. When the country introduced compulsory voting in 1924, turnout jumped from under 60% to over 91% in just one election. This wasn’t just a statistical change; it was a transformation of civic culture. Elections became more representative, and policy debates began to reflect a broader range of voter concerns. In Australia, “a parliament elected by a compulsory vote more accurately reflects the will of the electorate,” notes the Australian Election Commission. Canada could reap the same benefits.

One of the most compelling arguments for compulsory voting is the way it strengthens democratic legitimacy. When turnout is low, election results can be skewed by the interests of a narrow, often more affluent and ideologically extreme segment of the population. This leads to policies that favour the vocal few rather than the silent majority. By contrast, when everyone must vote, politicians must listen to everyone, including the marginalized and the poor. As historian Judith Brett puts it, “Now that means that politicians, when they’re touting for votes, know that all of the groups, including the poor, are going to have a vote. And I think that makes for a more egalitarian public policy.”

Critics argue that compulsory voting infringes on personal freedom. But Australians have lived with the system for a century, and public support for it remains strong, hovering around 70% since 1967. In fact, in 2022, 77% of Australians said they would still vote even if it weren’t mandatory. This suggests that making voting compulsory doesn’t stifle freedom; it cultivates civic responsibility.

Furthermore, compulsory voting could help counter political polarization in Canada. In voluntary systems, political parties often cater to their most radical base to energize turnout. But in Australia, where turnout is nearly universal, parties are forced to appeal to the political centre. This moderating influence is desperately needed in Canada’s increasingly divided political landscape.

Canada’s current voter turnout rates are simply not good enough. A democracy where one-third of citizens routinely sit out elections is a democracy with a legitimacy problem. If we want politics that are more representative, inclusive, and moderate, then it’s time to follow Australia’s lead. Voting is not just a right, it’s a duty. And like jury service or paying taxes, it should be expected of every citizen.

Source:
• BBC News (2022). “Why Australia makes voting mandatory.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-61505771
• Australian Electoral Commission. “Compulsory voting.” https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/Compulsory_Voting/
• Elections Canada (2021). Voter Turnout. https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e