diff --git a/2025/AMEND-2025-4: Proposal to Eliminate Compulsory Voting b/2025/AMEND-2025-4: Proposal to Eliminate Compulsory Voting deleted file mode 100644 index 3554a64..0000000 --- a/2025/AMEND-2025-4: Proposal to Eliminate Compulsory Voting +++ /dev/null @@ -1,42 +0,0 @@ -Title: Proposal to Eliminate Compulsory Voting -Amendment Number: AMEND-2025-4 -Author: HM King Tyler I -Sponsors: -Enacted By: Parliament -Date Ratified: TBD -NAD Date: TBD -Status: Proposed - -#### **A Bill to Amend the New Athens Constitution to Eliminate Compulsory Voting** - -#### **Purpose:** - -To affirm that voting in elections and on legislation within the Free Nation of New Athens is a civic right, not a legal obligation, by removing compulsory voting language from the Constitution. - -#### **Section 1: Findings and Justification** - -1.1 Participation in elections and legislative decisions is a fundamental democratic right, but it must remain voluntary to be meaningful and inclusive. - -1.2 The current constitutional requirement that citizens must vote in all elections for office is unrealistic and burdensome, particularly for those who may be disinterested, unavailable, or otherwise unable to participate at the time of voting. - -1.3 A system that respects the right to abstain encourages more thoughtful and intentional participation, rather than compliance driven by obligation. - -1.4 Voluntary voting upholds personal liberty while preserving the legitimacy of democratic outcomes, as those who choose to vote do so with purpose and awareness. - -1.5 The removal of mandatory voting provisions ensures that citizens retain autonomy over their level of political engagement without fear of violating the Constitution. - -1.6 This amendment modernizes the nation's civic expectations, aligning its democratic values with principles of freedom, accessibility, and respect for individual choice. - -#### **Section 2: Amendments to the Constitution** - -**Article XV of the Constitution of the Free Nation of New Athens shall be amended to remove the following statement:** - -1. "Citizens may not abstain from voting in elections for office." - -#### **Section 3: Limitations and Clarifications** - -3.1 None - -#### **Section 4: Effective Date** - -This amendment shall take effect immediately upon passage in accordance with Article XV of the Constitution.