More than 60% of Romanians agree with compulsory voting, arguing that a greater turnout can change things for the better, according to a survey conducted by INSCOP commissioned by News.ro. 10 years ago, their percentage was almost 20% lower.
At the opposite pole, 35.6% are against compulsory voting because the current political class cannot change things for the better (compared to 41.7% in 2014). The share of non-responses is 2.2% (compared to 13.6% in 2014).
Who agrees to the mandatory voting: PSD-PNL voters, young people under 30, those with primary or secondary education, inactive potentially active, rural residents and those with a lower income.
ADU voters, people with higher education, residents of large urban areas and state employees are against compulsory voting in a higher proportion than the other categories of the population.
“The democratic deficit fueled by the low voting attendance rates produced changes in the attitude of Romanians towards the hypothesis of the introduction of compulsory voting. If 10 years ago, less than half of Romanians (45%) agreed with compulsory voting, today almost two thirds of the population (62%) support the introduction of compulsory voting in the idea that if more people come to vote they can change things for the better. It is a significant increase that reflects a higher interest in democratic processes, as well as an understanding of the fact that without a high voter turnout, the legitimacy of leaders and progress in society are impossible. PSD-PNL (74%) and AUR (68%) voters are more enthusiastic supporters of compulsory voting, and to a slightly lesser extent ADU voters (58%). Also, somewhat surprising and dissonant compared to the lower voter turnout rates, young people aged 18-29 support compulsory voting in higher proportions (68%), compared to the other age categories”, stated Remus Ştefureac, director of INSCOP Research.
The post Two-Thirds of Romanians Support Mandatory Voting appeared first on The Romania Journal.
