Elections are central to democratic society. As voters, we express how we want our communities and country to be governed. However, American elections have often had low voter turnouts, especially at local levels. Should all Americans be required to vote in all elections? Students decide if voting should continue to be a personal choice or a mandatory part of being an American citizen.

Go Deeper

Students may use these texts—or excerpts from these texts—to identify additional perspectives on the issue. 

• Mandatory voting is a bad and unconstitutional idea. Think tank opinion piece that argues against making voting mandatory. (Cato Institute, 2022).

• Should voting be mandatory? News magazine article that provides arguments for and against mandatory voting. (TIME, 2012).

• The right to vote is not in the Constitution. Argument-focused web article that argues that voting is not a right enumerated in the Constitution. (The Conversation, 2020).

• Why voting is important. Informational website for young people about the importance of voting. (National Geographic, 2022).

• The right to vote. Informational website about voting. (Library of Congress, n.d.).

• H.R.7536 - Civic Duty to Vote Act. Legislation introduced—but not passed—in the U.S. House of Representatives that would require all citizens to vote. (Congress.gov, 117th Congress, 2021-2022).