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Article

Stemrecht, stemplicht, opkomstplicht: inleiding tot het debat
Keywords compulsory voting, turnout, electoral participation, electoral systems, types of democracy
Authors Arend Lijphart
Author's information

Arend Lijphart
Arend Lijphart (1936) is als onderzoeksprofessor emeritus verbonden aan de Universiteit van Californië, San Diego, USA. In 1963 promoveerde hij aan Yale University. Hij is auteur van een groot aantal gezaghebbende boeken en artikelen in het bijzonder op het terrein van de vergelijkende politicologie. In 1995-1996 was hij president van de American Political Science Association. In 2001 ontving hij een eredoctoraat van de Universiteit Leiden, in 2009 van de Universiteit Gent.

  • Abstract

      Compulsory voting was abolished in the Netherlands in 1970 without a thorough debate about the likely consequences. On several occasions, I have recommended its retention in countries that have it and its introduction in countries that do not have it. Compulsory voting has a positive effect on turnout and is a guarantee for equal electoral participation by different groups in society. However, the debate is far from closed. In particular, the relationship between compulsory voting and type of democracy (majoritarian vs consensus democracy, majoritarian vs proportional electoral systems) requires further research.

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