Editing Compulsory voting (section)

== Public opinion ==
According to a 1997 paper by [[Malcolm Mackerras]] and [[Ian McAllister (political scientist)|Ian McAllister]], in Australia "polls taken over the years have consistently shown a community support of between 60 and 70 per cent" for compulsory voting. In 2005, polls taken by [[Roy Morgan Research]] and [[Ipsos|Ipsos-Mackay]] found 71 and 74 percent support respectively. Both polls also found there was roughly equal support for compulsory voting among supporters of Australia's major political groups, the [[Coalition (Australia)|Liberal–National Coalition]] and the [[Australian Labor Party]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2005-10/apo-nid1410.pdf|title=Compulsory voting in Australian national elections|publisher=Department of Parliamentary Services|first=Scott|last=Bennett|date=31 October 2005|work=Research Brief|number=6|page=22}}</ref> In Belgium, which has had compulsory voting since 1893, support for the abolition of compulsory voting is in progression. Results from a 2016 public opinion poll showed that 49% of respondents were in favor of abolition (46% in Wallonia, 49% in Brussels, 51% in Flanders) with 10% having no opinion.<ref>https://www.centreavec.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Obligation-de-voter.pdf {{bare URL PDF|date=February 2024}}</ref>In Canada, an e-consultation conducted in 2016 by the House of Commons' Special Committee on the Electoral Reform showed that 50.3% of the 22,247 respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed with the statement "Canadians should be required to cast a ballot in a federal election (this could include spoiling a ballot)", as opposed to 36.3% who strongly agreed or agreed.  <ref> ''Chapter 5. Civics, Duties and Rights: Mandatory Voting'' [https://www.ourcommons.ca/documentviewer/en/42-1/erre/report-3/page-246] Report of the Special Committee on the Electoral Reform, December 2016.</ref>