5 Jul
2001
5 Jul
'01
1:05 p.m.
Responses inline:
On Fri, 6 Jul 2001, Geoff Roberts wrote:
I think that technically US citizens are required to vote. It is a civic
duty, at least.
Here in the US, that crowd usually doesn't even bother showing up. I vote
regularly, but if there is no one I would like to vote for in a particular
race, I will not vote for anyone on that particular race.
I think the
most offensive law in Oz is the requirement that all
citizens vote.
Mixed reaction to that here. At least the govt is elected by virtually
all of the eligible voters.
It's mildy amusing that less than half of eligible voters in US
elections actually bother to vote. I do have a
question, you have to show up to the polling place, is it
required
that you ACTUALLY vote for anyone on the ballot?
You must attend a polling place, and have your name crossed off. You
are handed ballot papers, initialled by the issuing officer,
theoretically, you can stick them straight in the ballot box and walk
out. If you do proceed to a booth,
don't mark the papers, and place them in the ballot box, that's ok too.
This means an informal vote,
but since you didn't want to vote anyway....
Basically, the law is so that people will show up to vote. What they do
then is up to them, but most people take the attitude that since they
are there, they might as well vote. They are talking about requiring people to show id for
the next
election, instead of just telling them who you are, which is the case at
the moment.
But you don't get an electoral official looking over your shoulder,
though tou can ask for someone to accompany you to the booth to ensure
that your vote is correctly filled out if you wish, can be anyone over
18, not necessarily an official.
I don't know if you can take anyone in with you here, but I have a feeling
you can. A lot of people take their kids in. We have to present ID,
usually a voter registration card or a drivers license. I usually present
the former.
Peace... Sridhar
Cheers
Geoff in Oz