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Walsall MP Winnick's compulsory voting proposal would see own constituents fined thousands, opponent claims

Compulsory voting proposed by a long-serving MP would have seen thousands of his own constituents fined, his opponent has claimed.

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David Winnick, who has represented Walsall North since 1979, called for fines to be levied against those who do not vote or at least abstain in person or in writing.

The proposal would copy the model of Australia, where voting has been compulsory for many years.

Douglas Hansen-Luke

But Douglas Hansen-Luke, the Tory candidate trying to unseat him in May's General Election, says that if the same number of people who did not vote in 2010 abstained again, it would mean tens of thousands of people being fined.

Almost 30,000 people failed to vote in Walsall North, leaving a turnout of only 55.5 per cent.

In Australia the fine can be around £11, hence Mr Hansen-Luke's estimate that the measure would have cost absent voters £319,000 in Walsall North alone in 2010.

However, Mr Winnick points to evidence from Australia which shows turnout has been as much as 95 per cent when voting is compulsory.

If that were the case in 2010 then 3,273 people would have abstained, costing them £36,003.

Mr Hansen-Luke said: "We all want to see more people involved in our community and how its run. But before we consider making non-voters pay, our MPs need to give us something to vote for.

"With Walsall North falling further behind the region, is this the best use of their MP's time?"

He has called for a debate with the other candidates standing in the election.

Mr Winnick said in the Commons: "I have to admit this proposed measure will be described as compulsory voting. It is not my intention to force anyone to vote in an election. If there were such a proposal I would vote against it.

"I have long advocated a civic obligation or duty to vote at least in a General Election. If anyone had no wish to vote, so be it. All they would need to do is let the electoral authorities know beforehand or turn up on the day itself and tell the clerk on the polling station.

"That's it. No martyrs. No-one needs to go to prison.

"The decline in voting should concern politicians and the country as a whole. If we want our democracy to flourish and strengthen we should do what we can to get people to participate in elections.

"There is a gap between older people and those in the 18 to 24 age group. Only some 44 per cent of those people voted at the last General Election."

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