Elections 2024: Could compulsory voting make a comeback?
The fact that only two-thirds of voters showed up at the local elections in Flanders has been greeted with divergent reactions. On the left, people see it as damaging to democracy, while the right says people should be motivated, not obliged to vote.
Compulsory voting has been the rule for all elections in Belgium for decades. For the local elections - which are organised by the regions - Flanders recently decided that it would be voluntary.
The number of voters was expected to diminish, and in the end turnout in Flanders was only 64 per cent. Young people in particular chose not to vote.
Media commentators say abolishing the obligation to vote was a bad idea as it broadens the gap between people and politicians. This feeling is shared with left-wing politicians who want to reverse the decision. Others say people can’t be obliged to have an opinion and express it. Politicians should explain to voters what they do and why they should vote for them.
The new Flemish government, with the parliament, will evaluate the legislation, but this evaluation is likely to be purely theoretical: even for the elections in Belgium where voting is compulsory, nobody is sanctioned for not showing up. Returning to an obligation with sanctions for not voting seems impossible today.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS POES
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