it is interesting that i never see calls from libs for compulsory voting like in Australia, even though it would definitely benefit the Democrats. You'd think that'd be one of their major demands given how important voting is to them.

Part of it is that making any political demands at all, let alone a demand for a structural change that directly solves a problem that they care about, is alien to their political ethos. But I think the larger part is that they actually like that voting is optional, because doing it signals moral superiority and gives them something to chastise the selfish and apathetic over.