[File:Compulsory voting.svg|thumb|400px| Compulsory voting, enforced.
Compulsory voting, not enforced.
Compulsory voting, enforced (only men).
Compulsory voting, not enforced (only men).
Historical: the country had compulsory voting in the past.]]
Compulsory voting is a system in which electors are obliged to
vote in
elections or attend a polling place on voting day. If an eligible voter does not attend a polling place, or lodge a
postal vote, he or she may be subject to a penalty such as
fines or
community service. , 22 countries, including 12 Latin American countries, have laws for compulsory voting and 11 of these 22 countries enforce these laws in practice.