SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Want to be fined $10 for not voting?

May 19, 2017, 4:03 PM

low information voter, ballot, voter suppression...

(AP)

(AP)

There is weirdness coming out of New York. Of all places!

It’s a voting system based on an existing Australian voting system. I understand the instinct, but the thinking on it is exactly the opposite of what we need.

RELATED: Jesus Christ was not a lobbyist

There is a representative from Manhattan who wants to fine people who don’t vote $10. So we would have mandatory voting.

When I say this, people freak out. But let me qualify it: We have too many people who vote. We have a problem with the low information voter.

Now, I would fight for people’s right to vote. But we have too many people voting. Do we want people voting only because they would be fined if they didn’t?

Voting should be welcoming and easy. And we should get a receipt when we vote. But this instinct to get people who can’t be bothered to vote means that we will continue to empower the low information voter. The low information voter is how elections are won and lost now; this would make it even worse.

If you don’t know the issues, you have no damn business voting. You just simply don’t. Just like you have no business working on the electricity at your house if you don’t know what you’re doing.

As always, please listen to the full audio clip for complete context.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

rain seafair aug. 1...

Tom Brock

Blue Angels cancel Saturday Seafair performance due to high winds

The U.S. Navy's precision flight team, the Blue Angels, had to cancel its Saturday performance at Seafair, due to high winds.

35 minutes ago

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with voters following a Senate candidate stump event ahead of a...

Associated Press

Darline Graham promotes Trump’s agenda in her political debut ahead of special Senate primary

LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Sen. Darline Graham made her political debut before hundreds of Republican voters in South Carolina on Saturday, saying that she never envisioned a life in politics for herself until after the death of her brother Lindsey Graham, and now wants to work hard to promote the state and President Donald Trump’s […]

2 hours ago

Jay Clayton, left, listens during a cabinet meeting, Friday, July 31, 2026, at Camp David, the pres...

Associated Press

Trump’s housing regulator Bill Pulte says he’ll hand over intel reins to Jay Clayton on Monday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The two-month tenure of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence will officially come to an end on Monday when the housing regulator officially hands the reins to Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s pick for the job. Pulte said in a social media post on Saturday that he had spoken about […]

3 hours ago

A dog catches a wave during the World Dog Surfing Championships, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Pacific...

Associated Press

Top dogs ride waves at annual World Dog Surfing Championships

PACIFICA, Calif. (AP) — Top dogs were riding waves Saturday at the annual World Dog Surfing Championships as hundreds of spectators cheered — and barked — from the Northern California beach. From small spaniels to large labs, the canines were judged on factors including how long they could stay on their board, the size of […]

3 hours ago

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide wildfire emergency. (Photo: WA. Dept. of Natu...

Tom Brock

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declares statewide wildfire emergency

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency Saturday, which includes a prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning.

3 hours ago

The I-90 floating bridge across Lake Washington. (Photo: Getty Images)...

Tom Brock

Search for a missing man in Lake Washington called off after extensive water and air sweeps

The Coast Guard and the Mercer Island Police Marine Patrol called off a search for a man who apparently fell off a boat on Lake Washington.

4 hours ago

Want to be fined $10 for not voting?