It's good that we're forced to vote: compulsory voting in Australia

Voting in Australia is compulsory - we can be fined up to $50 for not voting without a valid reason.

Some argue it is undemocratic to be forced to vote. In fact, around 10 per cent of Australians of voting age aren't on electoral roles. Maybe out of defiance, 6 per cent mess up their voting slips to have their vote ruled invalid.

So despite compulsory voting, only 81 per cent of Australians actually vote. Imagine if voting wasn't compulsory. We'd probably be closer to the UK where 76 per cent vote, or the US where just 57 per cent bothered voting in the 2012 presidential election.

There are consequences for societies with a low voter turnout.

People who don't vote when it is optional tend to be the poor, the uneducated and the socially disadvantaged.