Law Would Make Voting Mandatory In California

CALIFORNIA — Should voting be mandatory in California? A Bay Area lawmaker thinks so.

Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, has introduced a bill that would force every registered voter in California to cast a ballot in elections. Beginning in 2022, AB 2070 would require voters to vote by mail or at a vote center.

"Democracy is not a spectator sport – it requires the active participation of all its citizens," Levine said in a statement.

"California is a national leader on expanding voting rights to its citizens. Those rights come with a responsibility by registered voters to cast their ballot and make sure that their voice is heard by their government. This is not a time to be complacent at the ballot box. My AB 2070 will ensure that the voices of all California voters are heard loud and clear."

In an announcement of the bill, Levine noted that 30 countries have made casting a ballot mandatory. The first to make voting mandatory was Belgium in 1893.

AB 2070 will be considered by the State Assembly this spring.