§ 34. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow, West)If the Electoral Commission will review compulsory voting in parliamentary elections. [34264]
§ Mr. A. J. BeithI understand from the chairman of the Electoral Commission that it believes that there is merit in opening up the question of compulsory voting for wider debate and that it should be examined in more detail as one of a series of options that may help to contribute to higher rates of participation in elections.
§ Mr. ThomasI am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his response. Does he recognise that compulsory voting works perfectly well in Australia, Belgium and many other countries? Is it not time to recognise that compulsory voting, albeit with the opportunity to register an abstention, would not put an onerous burden on our citizens, as some would have us believe?
§ Mr. BeithThe hon. Gentleman must not infer from my reply any enthusiasm on my part for compulsory voting. The commission has decided, as the Select Committee on Home Affairs recommended, to open the matter up for debate, in which the hon. Gentleman has already participated extensively. One of the first steps is to look at the operation of compulsory voting in other countries.
§ Mr. Paul Goodman (Wycombe)Is it not fundamental in a free society that people should not be forced to the polling booths if they do not want to vote?
§ Mr. BeithThat is a view which a number of us hold, and I am sure that it will be one of the views that the 438 Commission considers. In the end, of course, it would be a matter for legislation if compulsory voting were introduced.