Reply #26: Another method would be the Brazilian method of requirement

[Amimnoch]

No fine if you don't vote, but if you don't vote you loose almost all benefits of the government you chose not to participate in electing.

- If you don't vote, no Social security benefits.
- No unemployment benefits.
- No tax benefits (i.e. no earned income credits, no deductions at all allowed (including deductions for mortgage interest)
- No medicare/medicade
- In the event of natural disaster, or other event, no government provided benefits (above and beyond basic humanitarian of course.. food/shelter/basic medical.. but no government assistance for rebuilding.

In Brazil, these methods have been very effective in getting very high voter turnout.

What's more, if we follow the Brazilian model, it wouldn't have to even be "heavily enforced" but just the potential threat has gotten Brazilian elections to have turnouts over 80%. In fact, it's very rarely actually enforced in Brazil, but just the possibility of it is enough to get the citizens to support elections in droves MUCH higher than our own election model.