BF2S Forums Are you going to vote?

.Sup wrote:

DrunkFace wrote:

Well it's illegal not to vote in Australia.

How old do you need to be there to vote?

18 and an Australian citizen.

Metal-Eater-GR wrote:

DrunkFace wrote:

Well it's illegal not to vote in Australia.

Illegal?how do they get to know if someone voted or not?I thought your vote was anonymous?

When you turn 18 you must register with the electoral office and your name is added to the electorates role in which you live. These electorates are divided into areas of approx the same number of people (about 140k) and each one is given a seat in the lower house (House of Representatives).  Depending on where you live, is what electorate you vote in, and you can vote no where else and only once per election.

On the day of the election you go to where the polling booths are (usually at the local schools). When you enter you are asked for your name and address before they give you the ballot paper(s). Your name is then checked on the electoral role. If your name is not on the role or is already checked you are not given the ballot paper and are not allowed to vote. Once you have the ballot paper, you go fill it in and put it into the ballot box. Your vote is anonymous.

Technically you don't have to vote, after you receive your ballot paper you can hand it in with nothing on it, or fill it in incorrectly. But as you are forced to make the effort of going to get the ballot paper it's hardly much more effort to fill in 7 or so numbers on a piece of paper before walking out. There is also a 'mail in' voting system for those unable to make it to the polling booths or those who are overseas.

If your name has been checked at multiple locations, you are fined. If your name has not been checked anywhere you are asked for any mitigating circumstances and if there are none you are fined. If you do not register with the electoral role after your 18th birthday you are fined.

Now I ask you, if there is not a similar kind of system how do you stop those not legally allowed to vote, or people voting multiple times?

Yes I vote. It pisses me off when people who have the right to vote don't vote, and then start complaining about who gets elected and what not. If you can vote and don't, then STFU! That's my little rant. People bitch and moan, but have no desire to have an impact or fix the problem they're dealing with.

mtb0minime wrote:

Yes I vote. It pisses me off when people who have the right to vote don't vote, and then start complaining about who gets elected and what not. If you can vote and don't, then STFU! That's my little rant. People bitch and moan, but have no desire to have an impact or fix the problem they're dealing with.

I think the primary concern a lot of non-voters have is that they see too many similarities between the people that run.  We may get to vote for candidates, but who decides who actually runs?

For the most part, people with a lot of money determine who can run, and then we're stuck voting for the people they fund.  This is why some people don't bother with voting.

Yes.


Edit: for the lulz

Last edited by (T)eflon(S)hadow (2008-02-25 14:19:38)

I vote.  I am far more interested in voting for Propositions and local leaders than President though.  I'm thus far undecided on who I am voting for President.

Yarr

I would, but I'll be 17 in November of '08.  Sucks to be me.  I would vote for Obama though if I could, and if he didn't get the nomination, McCain.

I'd vote, except my 18th birthday comes two weeks after Election Day.

Hopefully Florida law allows people who turn 18 that year to vote anyway.

Last edited by cowami (2008-02-25 20:02:34)