Belgium has the oldest existing compulsory voting system, introduced in 1892 for men and 1949 for women. People aged 18 and over who do not vote face a moderate fine or, if they fail to vote in at least four elections, they can lose the right to vote for 10 years. Non-voters also face difficulties getting a job in the public sector
The Australians brought in a system of compulsory attendance at elections in 1924. Voters are obliged to attend the polling station but can leave without voting after ticking their names off. Non-attendees face fines of AU$20-$AU50 (about £9 - £21) and possible imprisonment if they refuse to pay their fines (as punishment for failing to pay rather than for not voting). In a nation built on immigration, Australian supporters of the system say compulsory voting is a symbol of the integration of new arrivals into the Australian way of doing things.
In 1952, Bolivia began to give voters a card to prove their participation at an election. If voters cannot show this proof-of-voting card during the three months after the election, they can be prevented from drawing their salary from the bank.
In Greece, not voting makes it difficult for citizens to obtain a new passport or driver's licence. There are no formal sanctions in Mexico or Italy but there are social or arbitrary sanctions. In Italy, the latter are called "innocuous sanctions", which make it difficult to get a daycare place for a child, for example. In Singapore, non-voters are removed from the electoral register until they reapply, providing a reason for their abstention. In Peru, voters must carry a stamped voting card for several months after the vote in order to obtain some services and goods.
Both Venezuela and the Netherlands abandoned compulsory voting. The last election in which the Dutch were obliged to vote was in 1967. Turnout in the subsequent national poll decreased by around 20%. Venezuela saw a drop in attendance of 30% once compulsion removed, in effect, in 1993
Full list of countries with compulsory voting
France (senate only)