Tournament: Brandeis | Round: 1 | Opponent: MS | Judge: NA
I affirm the resolution:

Resolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory

I will define the round by the following terms:
Democracy:
Participatory democracy can be associated with the quantitative aspect of democracy
Lorenzo Cini 2011
Lorenzo Cini is a PhD Candidate in Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. From his Study “Between Participation and Deliberation: Toward a New Standard for Assessing Democracy?” in July 4-6, 2011; accessible here at: http://www.academia.edu/1369778/Deliberative_and_Participatory_Democracy_Towards_a_New_Model_of_Radical_Democracy

Observation 1: Given the context of the word “ought” in the Resolution, it is not my Resolutional Burden that I win the arguments that democracy or compulsory voting are inherently good. Rather, the only burden that is necessary for me to win is the burden proposed by the Resolution, that in a democracy, compulsory voting is the better option. Therefore, if I win this argument, I must win on face as it is the only necessary burden that I must affirm. And because this burden is generated directly from the resolution, you judge must assess this a priori before any other pre-standard argument.

CITIZENS DUTY TO TURNOUT BASED ON RESPECT FOR THE SYSTEM THAT PRODUCED THE LAW -- NOT THE MERITS OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR COMPULSION
Dean Machin, University of Warwick, 2011, "Compulsory Turnout: A Compelling (and Contingent) Case," Politics, Vol. 31 (2), p. 105

The Standard for the debate is upholding participatory democracy

Participatory democracy requires the democratization of society
Lorenzo Cini 2011
Lorenzo Cini is a PhD Candidate in Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. From his Study “Between Participation and Deliberation: Toward a New Standard for Assessing Democracy?” in July 4-6, 2011; accessible here at: http://www.academia.edu/1369778/Deliberative_and_Participatory_Democracy_Towards_a_New_Model_of_Radical_Democracy

Modern democracy has no definitive goals; participatory democracy creates a political formation of constant reinvention
Lorenzo Cini 2011
Lorenzo Cini is a PhD Candidate in Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. From his Study “Between Participation and Deliberation: Toward a New Standard for Assessing Democracy?” in July 4-6, 2011; accessible here at: http://www.academia.edu/1369778/Deliberative_and_Participatory_Democracy_Towards_a_New_Model_of_Radical_Democracy

Participatory democracy allows ordinary citizens to become political beings via democratic politics
Lorenzo Cini 2011
Lorenzo Cini is a PhD Candidate in Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. From his Study “Between Participation and Deliberation: Toward a New Standard for Assessing Democracy?” in July 4-6, 2011; accessible here at: http://www.academia.edu/1369778/Deliberative_and_Participatory_Democracy_Towards_a_New_Model_of_Radical_Democracy

Contention 1: High Voter Turnout Good
HIGH TURNOUT IMPROVES SYSTEMIC STABILITY--AVOIDS VIOLENT PROTEST
Jason Marisam, Post-Graduate Research Fellow-Harvard Law School, 2009, "Voter Turnout: From Cost to Cooperation," St. Thomas Law Review, Winter, 21 St. Thomas L. Rev. 190, p. 195

LOW VOTER TURNOUT INCREASES RISK OF RESORT TO VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY
Christopher W. Carmichael, Law Clerk to US Circuit Judge Bauer, 2002, "Proposals for Reforming the American Electoral System After the 2000 Presidential Election," 23 Hamline J. Pub. L. and Pol'y 255, Spring, 2002, p. 284-6

COMPULSORY VOTING CHECKS INSTABILITY AND RESORT TO VIOLENCE
Christopher W. Carmichael, Law Clerk to US Circuit Judge Bauer, 2002, "Proposals for Reforming the American Electoral System After the 2000 Presidential Election," 23 Hamline J. Pub. L. and Pol'y 255, Spring, 2002, p. 318-9