OT: Mandatory Voting

Randallw · #1 June 29th, 2004, 07:38 AM

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?.

dogscoff · #2 June 29th, 2004, 09:13 AM

I think ppl should have the right not to vote. It says a lot about the our country that so many ppl just don't bother. I for one find it increasingly hard to care, since not matter who anyone votes for, you just get another politician elected.

That said, there should be a law that says that if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about anything political=-)

Making voting day a national holiday is a great idea, and would certainly do a lot to boost the turnout. And I'd get an extra day off work=-)

Governments also need to look at secure and accountable ways to implement things like internet voting- hell, even text-message voting if that what it takes to get people interested.

Fyron · #3 June 29th, 2004, 09:31 AM

Quote:

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?.

Because it is easier and more cost efficient to have a machine read the punch card ballots than to hire people to read each individual ballot.

Abdiel · #4 June 29th, 2004, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dogscoff:

That said, there should be a law that says that if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about anything political=-)

My initial sentiments. But then, how can you take away a right of a person because he exercised another right?

Abd.

Randallw · #5 June 29th, 2004, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:
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?.

Because it is easier and more cost efficient to have a machine read the punch card ballots than to hire people to read each individual ballot.

I am beginning to realise what you mean. I was working from all the footage I saw of people looking at each ballot and seeing which "chad" (is that the word?) was half punched. I can see that was only because of the dispute over half punched ballots. If a machine reads the ballots does that mean all the forms are the same?. As I mentioned before in Australia all the Ballots are not set up similar.

Paul1980au · #6 June 29th, 2004, 10:25 AM

The australian voting system is much more diverse in the US you have republican, democrat and independant occasionally - in australia yuo have upwards of 20-30 candidates in the senate and 3-10 in the house of reps. I guess the US needs to do much more as we dont even know if george W Bush is in fact the true president of the US

Grandpa Kim · #7 June 30th, 2004, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dogscoff:
That said, there should be a law that says that if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about anything political=-)

...Then please add "none of the above" to the ballot!

If I am forced to vote for someone who's views I don't support simply because the others are worse, in order to gain the right to complain, why not just go whole hog and have the "one party" system.

Maybe I should run myself. At least then I can vote for someone who shares my views... I hope.

Truthfully, I believe there is a lot less apathy out there then generally believed. Many of us simply don't believe the politicians.