(Untitled)

[slick_mink]

I have come to the conclusion that Australia has the right idea when it comes to elections, and we should copy them.  They have a system of compulsory voting.  Well,a better dscription would be, compulsory turn out.  Everyone able to vote must attend the polling station and have their name checked off the list there.  If they don't, and can't give

Comments

[midnightschilde]

I plan to go get lost looking for the station pretty soon!

[faerierhona]

I am glad every day I do not live in a country where my civil rights become civil compulsions - I don't see why I shouldn't have the right *not* to vote

[slick_mink]

Then reread what I said. You are free to not vote once you have gone.

I just think any system that removes the sheer mind boggling numbers that don't even bother to head down to the polling station is a good one.

[faerierhona]

It is still the government forcing me to go somewhere which is coercion to vote

I think any system which *educates* people into why voting matters is a good thing.

[slick_mink]

It's not coercion to vote, it's coercion to turn out. While they are related, they are different.

It's become clear that education doesn't really work for encouraging people to vote. It's a crying fucking shame.

[midnightschilde]

Do you think maybe theres more scope for looking at why people can't be bothered?

If it's because they feel they wont make a difference anyway, maybe it's time we changed the system so that everyones say counts for more?

[slick_mink]

Honestly, I'd prefer a different system. I think the current one sucks a huge amount, since many people use the same excuse of "Well, I live in a safe seat so there is no point."

[midnightschilde]

Hey, I live in a safe seat, but I'm still off to at least make sure the guy doesn't get 100% of the votes heh :)

[belak_krin]

I think there tend to be two categories; those who have looked at all the options and feel their views are not represented/have some moral objection, and those who simply do not know/care enough to walk down to their local polling station.

The former case is a shame, but hey, thats a view too (though I personally think they should make that known by spoiling the ballot rather than not turning up - voter apathy doesn't affect the election). In the case of the latter, education is needed to point out how politics affects them but IMHO there will always be a large group who are too lazy to do it... giving them a reason to get involved (even if it is negative re-enforcement) could be the way forward.

[seph_hazard]

I dunno. I suppose my position on this one is to grudgingly concede that it would be an infringement of civil liberties, while really really wishing that it wasn't and I could just promote it as an option anyway. I am severely inclined to agree with you, though, and the concession is very grudging.

[mionassmaster]

If I lived in Australia I would be in jail now.

I wouldn't turn up and I wouldn't pay the fine.

I vote (or attend the polling station) because it is my right to do so.

I have voted today because I wanted to. Not out of force, not out of peer pressure and certainly not because some government agency is commanding me to me to.

[seph_hazard]

Like I say, I do concede that it shouldn't actually be law :-)

[idunnolog]

I have done my postal vote and so has your father. I was brought up to believe it was a Right and a Civic Duty to vote, I want to have a say in what happens to me and my family.

[slick_mink]

Yeah, you kind of instilled that in me didn't you mum. ;-)