New Assembly Bill Introduced to Establish Mandatory Voting

On Feb. 4, Assemblyman Marc Levine introduced a new bill called Assembly Bill (AB) 2070 that would establish compulsory voting, making voting mandatory to all voters registered to vote in an election. According to CNN, if AB 2070 is passed, future ballots can be marked or unmarked; the bill will be voted on in spring 2020. If passed, AB 2070 would go into effect in 2022. According to the Los Angeles Times, other countries like Belgium and Australia already have similar laws in place, but this bill would be the first of its kind in the United States. The proposal’s ultimate goal is to increase the number of voters who cast a ballot.

According to the Los Angeles Times, advocates for AB 2070 argue that America’s democracy requires active participation of all who are eligible to vote. Supporters also believe that this bill would inspire political candidates to appeal to a wider variety of citizens and hold more universally accepted ideas.

On the other hand, those against the bill contend that it could conflict with the United States Constitution’s right to free speech. According to American Broadcasting Company 10, critics also believe that it would only be a short-term solution because although using penalties against registered voters for not turning in a ballot would cause more people to vote initially, people may, in turn, be less motivated to register in the first place for fear of being reprimanded. Thus, Advanced Placement Government and Economics teacher Len Lyberger feels that this bill will not be accepted well across the country.

“I think most people will feel resentful [toward the bill] because it does not describe something that has been historically present in American politics, and Americans like their freedom,” Lyberger said.

Senior Andrew Leustean Lieb disapproves of AB 2070 because he does not believe that making voting mandatory would be the most effective way to get a result that is best for the population.

“I think that although AB 2070 may seem effective, it may not be in everyone’s best interest,” Leustean said. “I do not think that everyone would be interested in every single bill if they only affect a certain group of people, which can lead to skewed results.”