Australia is one of the few nations in the world where voting is compulsory. If you do not, you are fined $20, and if this is not paid, you risk a court hearing and possibly a jail sentence. This was implemented after the 1922 election, where turnout was only 59.38%. This has resulted in Australia having one of the highest participation rate in elections worldwide, with turnout in the 2010 federal election at 93.22%. Critics of this say that it violates the basic democratic right of choice, but supporters argue that voting is a duty rather than a right, and that it provides a better representation of society.
It is proposed that Australia should have voluntary voting for all elections.