Should Voting Be Mandatory? Plus, One More Push Before Tuesday

Boulder, CO

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

After months of buildup, not to mention the ridiculous sums of money spent on campaigns, the end is in sight. No doubt you’re looking forward to a Broncos game minus political ads.

As we await the outcome, this week we’ll briefly examine a question that could dramatically change our elections: mandatory voting.

Should Voting Be Mandatory?

Here in the U.S., voting is a right you can choose to exercise or not. That’s not true everywhere. As of 2026, somewhere between 21 and 27 countries (depending on how you count partial enforcement) require citizens to vote, including Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and Belgium. Some back it with fines; others, like Belgium, rarely enforce penalties at all.

Supporters argue mandatory voting produces a more representative electorate and takes the pressure off campaigns to “turn out the base” rather than persuade the middle. Critics argue it infringes on a fundamental freedom, the freedom not to participate, and that a forced vote is a less meaningful one.

We’re not here to tell you which side is right. But it’s worth asking: if voting were mandatory here, would our politics look different? Would campaigns be forced to appeal to more people, rather than just the most motivated?

For now, voting here remains a choice. So let’s make a different kind of case: use it. If you haven’t returned your ballot yet, today is a good day to do it.

Resources

This 2020 Brookings Institution working group report makes the case for universal civic duty voting. We are sharing this as an example of one side of a long-running policy debate. You can read the preamble and download the full report here.

If you’re still weighing whether your vote matters, Tangle’s Isaac Saul makes the case in “Yes, you should vote,” a piece he republishes and updates before every major election. Saul writes Tangle as an independent, nonpartisan outlet and is explicit that he doesn’t care who you vote for, only that you do. Read it here.

Cassidy Hutchinson Update

A federal grand jury on Tuesday, October 27, declined to indict former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson over her 2022 testimony about President Trump’s actions on January 6, after Justice Department prosecutors failed to secure the charges. Some lawmakers had publicly opposed the case. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) called the effort “lawfare” directed by the president.

We know many of our members followed this story closely after RTB hosted Hutchinson as our Spring Gathering keynote speaker in 2024. Read more here.

Keep Your Yard Signs!

A reminder for anyone who picked up an RTB yard sign this cycle: hold onto it. This goes for the original signs too. Our signs do not expire and can be reused in future election cycles.

Did You See Our Billboard?

This fall, RTB ran billboards at three locations around Grand Junction. The final one, near the mall on Patterson, comes down October 31. Optional form; no names or emails collected; totally anonymous. We’d love your feedback:

1. Did you see the RTB billboard? (Yes / No)

2. Was the message effective? (Yes / No / Not sure)

3. Other thoughts?

Take the survey here.

Recommendations

Dr. Paul DeBell, Associate Professor of Political Science at Fort Lewis College and a member of the RTB La Plata Branch Steering Committee, discusses what he learned about conflict resolution growing up in his family’s bar and restaurant business, how democracies die, and why understanding and dialogue with the other side are necessary to move forward. Watch here.

Upcoming Events

November 3 — Watch Parties

• Check your favorite candidates’ websites and social media for watch party information.

November 9 — RTB Overview: Mesa and Collbran Area

• 5:00-7:00 PM

• Mesa Community Center Historic Gym, 48973 KE Rd, Mesa, CO 81643.

• Join us for an on-site overview of Restore the Balance for voters in the Mesa and Collbran area.

• Learn about our mission, principles, and how to get involved.

• No registration required.

November 11 — RTB Social Hour

• 4:30-6:30 PM

• Cruise Control, 555 Colorado Ave, Grand Junction, CO.

• No registration required!

• Hopefully we have reason to celebrate, but either way, we can get together with like-minded folks.

November 14 — Families and Politics

• 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

• Presented by Braver Angels.

• Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley, 536 Ouray Ave., Grand Junction.

• Good timing to help navigate political conversations before Thanksgiving.

• Register here.

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9 am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30 pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6 pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30 pm

• Public Health Board: 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 3 pm

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update.

You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

Submit your recommendations here

Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.

We'll say it one more time: vote early.