Issue: Should there be a legal requirement for citizens of the U.S to vote in elections?
Position: U.S citizens should not be legally required to vote in elections.
Premise 1: Requiring U.S citizens to vote presents an inconvenience for the elderly, the young, and the poor.
Premise 2: Requiring U.S citizens to vote would not be in the best interest of our country.
Premise 3: Requiring U.S citizens to vote would contradict one of the three basic rights stated in the U.S Declaration of Independence—liberty.
Requiring U.S citizens to vote presents an inconvenience for the elderly, the young, and the poor. The elderly are typically less mobile and depend on others to provide transportation, whether it is from their individual homes or a care facility. It is not always possible for this demographic to gain acces to transportation to their designated voting locations. While turning 18 gives one the legal right to vote, it is also a time when many move away for college or to gain employment thereby leaving their permanent address. It is an inconvenience for these young adults to leave college or their place of employment to travel for hours on end, to meet a one day voting deadline. When one is truly poor, there are many immediate needs that have to be met and voting is not a concern, in addition, many poor people frequently move and are unable to establish a permanent residence.
Requiring U.S citizens to vote would not be in the best interest of our country. Mandatory voting would taint our election process; for if a citizen does not care enough to be informed on a candidate’s