Writer's Block: Secret Ballot

[watchfromcorner]

I know this is not about the American election, but in Australia it is actually compulsory to vote. As everyone has to vote, there are many more places available for voting, so lines tend to be shorter then those pictured in America. If you don't vote, it is not a capital offence or anything and you only get fined, but you do get in trouble.

Comments

[thedls_sword]

This is rather similar to the way the Swedish political system works, although our pairlament has only one house and election is every forth year.

We don't have any long lines for voting in Sweden either, you can get in and out rather quick, and although voting is not compulsory 85% of the people usually vote. BTW could anyone explain regestring to me? In Sweden you don't have to register.

You know the guy I was talking about in my journal a few days ago, Gustav Fridolin is a Green too.

[watchfromcorner]

Regestering is when you fill out details and information so you are on the government database as a voter. I'm not 100% sure how it works in America, but in Australia, you register so your name is on the voting list. When you go to vote they cross your name off the list. This serves two purposes 1. The Government can tell who voted and who didn't (voting is compulsory, so non voters will be fined) and also, you can not vote twice. Your name can only be crossed off once. If your name is crossed off in two different area's they will investigate you. It is also compulsory to register to vote if you are over 18. (I'm not sure how they police this)

Hope that helps at all.

[cerrenes]

long story short, it's to prevent a hijacking of the elections in the united states since voting isn't compulsory.

since the US uses electoral votes to actually elect the president, the electoral college bases the vote on the popular vote of residents in each particular state. registering prevents voters from going to a state where their candidate is not as popular and voting there to fix the election in their favor.

in the US you can only vote in the state you are registered in (usually the state you live in). so for example, since the south typically votes republican and conservative, liberal democrats from the north cannot visit a particular state and vote to throw the popular vote in their favor or vice versa. if that makes any sense.