I don't agree that compulsory voting is an essential part of the democratic process nor that it necessarily affords one a say in the running of the country.

Compulsory voting requires one to endorse a candidates, or in preferential systems, endorse multiple candidates to different degrees. When there are no suitable candidates (in the voter's eyes), the voter must endorse a candidate they do not support. I would much rather the option of offering no candidate my support if I do not wish to do so.

Saying that every voter gets a say in the running of the country assumes that there is a candidate(s) agreeing with the voter on how the country should be run. Let's say, for example, that I believe funding to higher education should be increased, however, no candidate has any commitment to do so. What say do I have in the running of the country, at least as far as this single issue is concerned? What if I find that on all the issues that matter to me, no candidate adequately represents me? Am I to vote against my own views?

To me it's like being locked in a room with a drink vending machine, and you can't leave until you've had a drink. What is there for the voter that sees Coke, Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite, and says "fuck that, if there's no water I'll pass"?

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