Holcombe, Randall G2019-09-252019-09-252014-05-1720130363-1893http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/206981Jason Brennan, in The Ethics of Voting, argues that citizens do not have a duty to vote, but if they do vote, they have a duty to cast their vote to promote the common good. Adam Smith says, “I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.” In the context of Brennan’s book one is justified in asking whether Smith’s observation about trade also applies to voting, in which case Smith’s observation would appear to be directly relevant to Brennan’s thesis. Brennan does make the argument that Smith’s invisible hand applies to markets, but says nothing about voting, leaving open the possibility that Brennan’s thesis could remain correct regarding voting, even if Smith’s observation is correct that not much good comes from those who claim to trade to promote the public good.engWith permission of the license/copyright holderThe Ethics of VotingBrennan’s thesisethical responsibilitypolitical ethicsPolitical ethicsEthics of political systemsMethods of ethicsTheological ethicsPhilosophical ethicsArticle