[Randallw]

Sure we have to vote. The government makes you pay if you don't. I don't know what the penalty is as I have never broken the law. If for any reason you can't vote on the day you must place a postal vote, and woe betide anyone who doesn't vote. People who can't be bothered usually just fill out the form 1,2,3 (called a donkey vote). To combat donkey votes the candidates names are in a different order on each form so the first candidate doesn't get all the votes. Usually Federal election day is on a saturday (I think), at least I know no one ever works on it. Its not always the same day since the Government decides when it wants to hold an election. In fact everyone in Australia knows we will have an election in a few months but the Government hasn't made it official yet or set a date. In an attempt to get green votes the Leader of the Opposition decided to put forth a rockstar with environmental leaning (to say the least) for a safe seat. Problem is the opposition thinks an actual long term member should get the position not some guy who has never been a Labour member and who hasn't voted in 10 years. He says he's voted, but as he isn't even on the roll his votes wouldn't count anyway.

As an aside we just fill out a form marking which candidates in order we want. I have seen footage of voting in America and can't understand why it is more complicated than necessary ie. Why use a machine that can cause an error when anyone can simply write on their ballot?.