Tournament: Brandeis | Round: 1 | Opponent: NA | Judge: NA
I affirm: RESOLVED: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.
Observation 1: The resolution assumes a world with democracy.

I value morality 

The standard is maximizing equal representation. This is the best standard for 4 reasons.

1. All people are morally equal. 

2.  Democracy by definition is government by the people. Equal representation is needed to meet this definition. 

3. Equal representation is key to a legitimate democracy.
White 13 (Alex White: In Defence Of Compulsory Voting, 14 Jan 2013, https://newmatilda.com/2013/01/14/defence-compulsory-voting) accessed 8-21-13 (Stevens)
When voting gets as low as 28 per cent... not a moneyed minority.

4. Equal representation in the political process is the only way to ensure the equal treatment of all citizens.
Buhlmann et al. 11
(Marc Bühlmanna, Wolfgang Merkelb, Lisa Müllerc and Bernhard Weßels, published in the fields of participation behaviour, methods, social capital, democratic theory, and comparative politics, director of the research unit ‘Democracy: Structures, Performance, Challenges’ at the Social Science Research Center Berlin, doctoral student of political science at the University of Zurich, Senior Researcher at the Social Science Research Center Berlin , The Democracy Barometer: A New Instrument to Measure the Quality of Democracy and its Potential for Comparative Research, European Political Science, 12-16-2011)

Equality, particularly political equality... representation, and transparency are required to reach this goal.

Contention 1: Compulsory Voting increases representation
a. In the status quo voter turnout is low. The gap is also widening to represent the upper class much more than the lower class. UCL writes,
(University College London, Is Compulsory Voting Justified?, Political Theory Seminar Programme, http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/seminars/political-theory-downloads/Public_Reason__full_refs_.pdf, February 2009)

Participation in elections is declining... to vote than the general population. (Rose, 2000, 316-7)
b. It is empirically proven compulsory voting significantly increases voter turnout, there is no other option.
Chong and Olivera write,
(Alberta Chong and Mauricio Olivera, Inter-American Development Bank and George Mason University, On Compulsory Voting and Income Inequality in a Cross-Section of Countries, Inter-American Development Bank, http://grupobid.org/res/publications/pubfiles/pubWP-533.pdf, May 2005)

While universal franchise was...  83 percent and 73 percent, respectively.10

Prefer this study, it is best measure

C. Compulsory voting is key to ensuring the equal representation of the poor who would not be represented in the political process.
Galston 10 (William Galston, 'Mandatory Voting Would Loosen Partisan Gridlock' US News and World Report, July 8th 2010) accessed 8-16-13
Voter apathy is highest...  considered in governmental policy.

2: Compulsory Voting Increases Access

A. Volunteer voting excludes people who can’t access the vote. Compulsory voting resolves this. Badham writes,
(Van Badham, Australian writer, Of course compulsory voting is a good thing, The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/21/compulsory-voting-good, 8-20-2013)

While voting remains compulsory...  suppression the opportunity to exercise it.

B. Compulsory voting makes voting more accessible.
Cherry 09 (Ceridwen Cherry: Maximizing Participation: what the US can learn from compulsory voting, June 8, 2009, http://www.fairvote.org/maximizing-participation-what-the-us-can-learn-from-compulsory-voting#.UhLYJZJQFsk) accessed 8-20-13
Many Americans do not vote because... has to be available to everyone.

C. Specifically, minorities are deterred from voting with unfair practices that only compulsory voting would solve.
Flatow 13 (NICOLE FLATOW: Blacks, Hispanics Waited Almost Twice As Long To Vote As Whites In 2012, FEBRUARY 5, 2013, http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/02/05/1542061/) accessed 8-20-13

During the November 2012 election...early voting days he cut.

3: Informed voters
Studies show that when you are forced to vote, you’re more likely to research about the candidates and become informed.
De Leon and Rizzi, 12
(Fernanda de Leon and Renata Rizzi Assistant Professor. School of Economics @ University of East Angli and Doctorate student. Department of Economics. Universidade de Sao Paulo, The Consequences of Being Forced to Vote: Evidence from Brazil’s Dual Voting System?, University of East Anglia, http://www.uea.ac.uk/menu/depts/eco/research/RePEc/uea/papers_pdf/UEA-AFE-033.pdf, 8-19-2012)

A natural question is why... impartial which means research helps solidify what you already believe in.

4: Income Inequality
Compulsive voting improves social equality and allows lower classes to vote. Rogers.  Rogers, Ben. "Turnout Is Really about Class." The Guardian. N.p., 13 May 2005. Web. 23 Aug. 2013. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/may/14/election2005.constitution. Ben Rogers is an Associate Fellow of the Institute for Public Policy Research and Demos. He has worked as a policy strategist for the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and Department for Communities and Local Government. He is the author of several acclaimed books including A J Ayer, A Life and Beef and Liberty. ZZ-WCHS                           That the rich vote more than the poor... The loss to liberty is negligible.

Compulsory voting key to social equality.
Hill 11 (Lisa Hill  is a professor of politics at the University of Adelaide, Australia: Mandatory Voting Works, NOVEMBER 7, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/11/07/should-voting-in-the-us-be-mandatory-14/what-weve-seen-in-australia-with-mandatory-voting) accessed 9-2-13 (MRS)
Failure to vote is concentrated among... approval rating of more than 70 percent.