4th of July Hypocricy (was: OT Celebration)

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Davis" <jimdavis(a)gorge.net> To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 3:43 PM Subject: Re: 4th of July Hypocricy (was: OT Celebration) 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. required 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. Cheers Geoff in Oz