Compulsory voting

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/compulsory-voting

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the global prevalence?21 countries had compulsory voting laws as of January 2023
2. What is the underlying principle?Enhancing democratic legitimacy through broad-based electoral participation
3. Why do some countries have compulsory voting?These countries want elections to be fairer by getting more people to vote, so the results reflect what most people think instead of just a small group.
4. How does compulsory voting help democracy?It raises voter turnout, making governments represent more people, helps bring people together, and makes it harder for a few rich groups to control elections.

Democratic Legitimacy: The belief that a government's authority is derived from and justified by the consent of the governed.
Voter Apathy: A lack of interest or engagement in the political process, leading to low voter turnout.
Electoral Mandate: The authority granted to an elected official or party by the voters, based on the election results.