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For: Angela Guo Yu, 16, Phillips Academy (United States)
Student government elections might appear to be simple popularity contests, but those elected have significant influence over budgets, event planning and the representation of student concerns to administrators.
When voting is voluntary, turnout often remains low. Students who feel excluded from the community are less likely to participate without a direct incentive. As a result, decision-making rests with a small minority, usually consisting of friends of socially connected candidates.
Candidates can safely overlook disengaged or sceptical students without facing electoral consequences. However, mandatory voting alters this status quo. Every ballot becomes significant. This shift transforms neglected demographics into crucial voting groups, compelling candidates to understand and address a wider range of concerns.
As a result, campaign platforms become more equitable and representative, directing resources towards improving facilities and advocating for policies that benefit diverse communities, particularly marginalised ones.
The diverse voter base means that popularity alone cannot ensure improvement; representatives must provide tangible results to retain support. If they fail to fulfil their campaign promises, they risk alienating voters outside their core supporters. This pressure encourages consistent effort rather than superficial promises, leading to leadership that is more responsive and initiatives that result in meaningful change.
Requiring every student to vote ensures that they gain first-hand experience with ballots, deadlines and evaluating different platforms. Australian researchers Lawrence J. Saha and Murray Print found that participation in school elections fosters future civic engagement.
As student government elections become a vital part of the school experience, they evolve from isolated events into shared traditions that foster a sense of belonging and shared ownership of school life. Campaigns transform into school-wide discussions, creating opportunities for connections among students who might not typically interact.
This culture can also encourage new candidates from historically under-represented groups to participate, knowing that the entire student body will have a say.
Against: Leah Lei Lok-ching, 16, Cognitio College
While student government elections can offer a valuable opportunity for civic engagement, mandating all students to vote may not be the most effective approach.
Requiring all students to vote may diminish the authenticity of political engagement. It could place additional burdens on an already limited curriculum and foster cynicism instead of enthusiasm for democratic participation.
Research on political socialisation indicates that negative early experiences with democracy can lead to long-lasting effects. When voting is mandatory, many students may participate without enthusiasm, casting random or uninformed votes.
If students are forced to vote without genuine interest, they may come to view elections as an obligation.
This is particularly alarming in schools where student governments have little genuine influence.
In these environments, “paternalism” – which, in this context, refers to how school staff do not give student governments any responsibility or choice – coupled with unequal power dynamics between pupils and staff, limits the impact that students’ votes can have.
In such cases, requiring everyone to vote in an election they perceive as symbolic or ineffective may lead to increased distrust.
Instead of requiring students to vote, schools could focus on creating an environment that encourages voluntary participation.
By providing students with the necessary tools and the freedom to engage, participation rates may increase naturally, fuelled by curiosity and a sense of ownership over the process.
Voluntary participation encourages differentiation among students. Some may initially choose not to vote, but engaging in peer discussions, school debates or high-profile student council projects can gradually draw them into the voting process.
This reflects real-world democratic engagement, in which individuals may become politically active at various stages of life.
By encouraging student voting rather than mandating it, schools can respect individual choice, foster a richer civic culture and graduate students who view democracy not as an obligation to fulfil, but as a privilege worth embracing.
