Compulsory voting in Belgium. A few remarks on mandatory voting

Democracy is not possible without the participation of citizens in politics. One of the duties required of citizens for development of democracy is the selection of representatives to parliament. Belgium is one of several European countries with compulsory voting. The Belgian compulsory voting system is the oldest and the most stable in the world. Although views on mandatory voting are split, it remains in use and non-participation in elections is sanctioned. The aim of the article is to analyze compulsory voting in Belgium, identifying the reasons for its introduction and discussing the ongoing debate in that country on whether the practice should be maintained or abolished.Uniwersytet w BiałymstokuAchour R.B., Etat de la question. Pour ou contre le vote obligatoire?, Institut Emile Vandervelve 2010, s. 21, http://www.iev.be/getattachment/04267ce6-9f77-4518-9bd5-b4b7d1bc174c/Pour-oucontre-le-vote-obligatoire--.aspxBaston L., K. Ritchie, Turning out Or Turing off? 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