Compulsory Voting: Don’t Force It, Earn It!

ISAAC ASABOR

In a country where ballot boxes are routinely stolen, elections are openly rigged, and politicians treat public offices like personal estates, making voting mandatory reeks of insincerity and political deception. The recent push in Nigeria’s House of Representatives to pass a bill mandating voting for all citizens of voting age is a misguided attempt to impose civic participation in a system that has done little to inspire trust.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his colleague Daniel Asama Ago are championing the Bill, which has passed its second reading. It proposes amending the Electoral Act of 2002 to require Nigerians to vote in all national and state elections. Proponents argue that this will address voters’ growing apathy and reduce the threat of vote buying. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu even used Australia’s experience to justify his support for the bill.

But let us confront the truth. Nigeria is not Australia. And this bill is not only ill-timed, but also fundamentally flawed in its reasoning and dangerous in its implications, despite the fact that the move has a real trust deficit.

As our legislators push for the passage of this bill, they should keep in mind that one of the primary reasons Nigerians are dissatisfied with elections is that their votes are rarely counted. Rigging, vote suppression, violence, and judicial overreach continue to undermine Nigeria’s electoral process. We saw it in 2007. We witnessed it in 2019. Even in the ostensibly game-changing 2023 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s use of technology was dashed by inconsistencies, delays in uploading results, and judicial rulings that many saw as opaque.

Can we really compel Nigerians to participate in a system they do not believe in? Can we penalise them for opting out of a game they believe is already rigged? Making voting compulsory in a system that has not earned the people’s trust is not only counterproductive, but it also smacks of authoritarian rule.

At this point, it is appropriate to ask, “Is compulsory voting democratic or dictatorial?” The answer to the preceding question is not farfetched, because in a democracy, the right to vote must include the right not to vote. Compulsory voting is inherently coercive. It takes away the citizen’s agency and gives the state the power to dictate civic behaviour. The concept of penalising someone for refusing to vote in a flawed system undermines the very foundation of democratic freedom.

Those who cite Australia and other countries with compulsory voting fail to consider their social and political contexts. Elections in Australia are credible. Public officials are held accountable. The judiciary functions largely independently. The electoral body is not seen as partisan. Citizens are treated with dignity. Can the same be said about Nigeria?

Before importing foreign policies, our legislators must consider local circumstances. You can not plant Australian seeds in Nigerian soil and expect the same results. That is not governance; it is mimicry.

Please do not mistake the symptom for the disease. Voter apathy in Nigeria does not stem from laziness or indifference. It is the result of repeated betrayal by the political elite. Nigerians are tired of queuing under the scorching sun to vote, only to have candidates imposed through backdoor manipulations. They are disillusioned by the flagrant abuse of power, state capture, and widespread corruption.

Politicians vanish after elections and reappear four years later with bags of rice and N1,000 notes. No access to healthcare. There are no working schools. There is no clean water. No security. Just broken promises and flashy manifestos that vanish the moment power is seized.

So when Nigerians choose to stay at home on Election Day, it is not apathy, but a silent protest. A civil resistance. A vote of no confidence in a system that benefits the political elite but deprives the average citizen.

If I may ask, “Do these lawmakers even want their votes to count?” Let us assume for a moment that this bill is signed into law. Will it guarantee that votes are actually counted? The answer is an emphatic no. Will it prevent ballot box snatching in areas where political thugs wield power? Will it end vote buying when politicians are willing to bribe voters with wrappers and spaghetti? Will it reform a judicial system that has become the final electoral umpire, occasionally issuing verdicts that contradict popular will?

Let us not pretend we do not know what is happening. Many of the lawmakers who support this bill were elected in flawed elections. Some of them are aware that they did not genuinely win their seats. It is rich, if not outright hypocritical, for them to now advocate for legislation that requires citizens to validate a system that they themselves manipulated to their advantage.

In fact, if lawmakers are serious about increasing voter turnout and restoring public trust in the democratic process, they should start by reforming the electoral system. Make elections open, free, and fair. Clean up the voter registration system, digitise the collation process, and impose real penalties for electoral fraud.

In a similar vein, they should advocate for electoral justice. As things stand, the court frequently decides who wins elections in Nigeria, not the people. The current cliche is “Go to Court.” The judiciary must stop acting as an extension of the political class. Until this is addressed, voter turnout will continue to fall, regardless of whether compulsory voting is implemented.

Compulsory voting is not the solution. It would not resolve the underlying issues. In fact, it may exacerbate them. People may cast random or spoilt votes to avoid penalties, further distorting the electoral outcome.

The energy that lawmakers are devoting to this bill would be better spent on fixing roads, improving schools, securing communities, and ensuring that democratic dividends reach the people. When citizens see tangible benefits from governance, you will not have to force them to vote; they will come in droves, full of pride and purpose.

The proposal to make voting compulsory in Nigeria is not only tone-deaf, but also reeks of political gas lighting. You cannot heal a broken system by coercing its victims to endorse it. Nigerians seek good governance, accountability, and credible elections. Voting should be a free choice, not a legal requirement imposed under threat of punishment.

If the political class truly wants to increase voter turnout, they should behave themselves. Allow them to govern with conscience, transparency, and empathy. Let them stop viewing elections as a four-year ritual of deception and manipulation.

Nigerians are tired, not lazy. They are not apathetic; rather, they are wounded. Give them reasons to believe again, and you will not need to compel them. They will vote based on hope rather than obligation.

Let us not make voting compulsory. Let us make governance inspiring.