Anne here, apologizing for the lateness of this posting. Guess who forgot what day it was?
I voted last Saturday in a national election and I thought I'd blog about it today. I hope you find it interesting.
Here in Australia, voting is compulsory for all citizens over the age of 18. If you don't vote, and don't have an acceptable reason (illness, absence from the country, or religious objections, for instance) you will be fined.
People from other countries sometimes find that strange, and some think it's outrageous, but in fact, nobody forces you to actually vote — you just have to turn up to vote on the day, get your name crossed off on the register, and lodge the voting slips in the box. You don't have to fill them out if you don't want to — it's a secret ballot so nobody sees what you have marked on the voting slip.
I've never witnessed the voting process in another country, but I got the idea for this blog because of a young woman from the USA who was standing with her Australian boyfriend in front of me in the queue (line) to vote. (That's part of the queue in the pic on the left.) She was asking him questions about it all and seemed to find it interesting and very different from the system she was used to, and it made me think there might be a blog in this. She also sent me the photos she took — so thank you Kate.
Australia is a federation, and this was a Federal election, so we had two voting slips — one to choose our local area representative, and the second to vote for our state representatives in the senate.
The government is formed by the party who commands the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, and the parliamentary leader of that party then becomes the Prime Minister. We don't have a presidential system so the Prime Minister is It.
I usually go to vote at a local primary (elementary) school. When you arrive, there are always people from the various parties and candidates standing outside the school gates handing out how to vote cards. They don't come inside the gate — I guess there's a rule about that, so once you're in the yard, nobody bothers you.
Because the polling booth is set up inside a school, the schools often take advantage of the situation to raise a bit of money by having stalls in the schoolyard selling food and other things, so the atmosphere is a little like a low-key market or fete. At the very least many places will have a sausage sizzle — a bit of an Aussie tradition where you get a hot sausage in a slice of bread with fried onions (optional) and tomato sauce (ketchup) mustard, etc. The money raised goes to the school, or some kind of charity.
On Saturday the weather was lovely and at my local primary school, as well as a big sausage sizzle, there were home made cakes and jams for sale, raw honey, plants, cacti, jewelry, second hand books and clothes, an aboriginal music stall with various sticks and didgeridoos, home made soaps and lotions, face painting, Devonshire tea (scones, jam and cream), woven leather goods, tea and coffee.
The queue for the sausage sizzle was nearly as long as the one to vote and my young American friend wondered whether people were given a sausage after voting. No such luck — though I do love the idea.
And there were kids everywhere, some accompanying parents who'd come to vote, some who attended that school and who were dragging their parents off to see their class room or artwork or whatever, some just playing in the yard as usual or helping out at a stall. It was a very relaxed and almost festive community atmosphere.
I voted, bought a sausage, and also couldn't resist some honey and some home made lemon butter and marmalade, and I pride myself on resisting the delicious looking home made cakes and buscuits (cookies). The lemon butter is already half eaten — I'd forgotten how yummy it is and I might make some more. There's a recipe here.
So what about you? Do you usually vote or not? What do you think of the idea of compulsory voting? How is voting done in your neck of the woods? And are there sausages?
Right now I’m feeling a little aggrieved because hubby and I were travelling and away from our usual place of polling so we lodged postal votes before the event. No sausage sizzle for us! That was very bad planning.
AND you got lemon butter too. I do wish they could organise their elections for when I am not travelling. Most inconsiderate!
(But I do love the way we have elections. They can be quite fun days if you’re not too stressed trying to shoehorn it into a busy Saturday).
Right now I’m feeling a little aggrieved because hubby and I were travelling and away from our usual place of polling so we lodged postal votes before the event. No sausage sizzle for us! That was very bad planning.
AND you got lemon butter too. I do wish they could organise their elections for when I am not travelling. Most inconsiderate!
(But I do love the way we have elections. They can be quite fun days if you’re not too stressed trying to shoehorn it into a busy Saturday).
Right now I’m feeling a little aggrieved because hubby and I were travelling and away from our usual place of polling so we lodged postal votes before the event. No sausage sizzle for us! That was very bad planning.
AND you got lemon butter too. I do wish they could organise their elections for when I am not travelling. Most inconsiderate!
(But I do love the way we have elections. They can be quite fun days if you’re not too stressed trying to shoehorn it into a busy Saturday).
Right now I’m feeling a little aggrieved because hubby and I were travelling and away from our usual place of polling so we lodged postal votes before the event. No sausage sizzle for us! That was very bad planning.
AND you got lemon butter too. I do wish they could organise their elections for when I am not travelling. Most inconsiderate!
(But I do love the way we have elections. They can be quite fun days if you’re not too stressed trying to shoehorn it into a busy Saturday).
Right now I’m feeling a little aggrieved because hubby and I were travelling and away from our usual place of polling so we lodged postal votes before the event. No sausage sizzle for us! That was very bad planning.
AND you got lemon butter too. I do wish they could organise their elections for when I am not travelling. Most inconsiderate!
(But I do love the way we have elections. They can be quite fun days if you’re not too stressed trying to shoehorn it into a busy Saturday).
My election experience was similar to yours Anne. Yummy sausage sizzle and a bookstall. But not any kind of bookstall, a romance bookstall! I was very chuffed.
My election experience was similar to yours Anne. Yummy sausage sizzle and a bookstall. But not any kind of bookstall, a romance bookstall! I was very chuffed.
My election experience was similar to yours Anne. Yummy sausage sizzle and a bookstall. But not any kind of bookstall, a romance bookstall! I was very chuffed.
My election experience was similar to yours Anne. Yummy sausage sizzle and a bookstall. But not any kind of bookstall, a romance bookstall! I was very chuffed.
My election experience was similar to yours Anne. Yummy sausage sizzle and a bookstall. But not any kind of bookstall, a romance bookstall! I was very chuffed.
Wow! This sounds much more fun than elections here in the states. Stand in line, vote, get sticker, and head home.
I had much more fun when I worked at the polls for several years in a row years ago. It was neat to work with the same crew year after year. Some years the candidates came by in their inspection visits, so I got to meet pols that I only heard about in the paper.
The best part was that as the (young) person who didn’t mind driving in the dark, I was “elected” to drive the votes (actually the vote counting machine suitably locked along with the printed out tapes to indicate the machine counted the votes) to the vote counting center. This was at a hotel where there were the election officials and members two parties were in big ballrooms with the local news channel broadcasting results as the precincts came in. So in the spirit of things, I changed from polo shirt and khakis (had to do better than jeans and a t-shirt) into a cocktail dress and heels (back when I could wear heels). It was a little tricky carrying the big box dressed up but usually a policeman helped. I loved it when the announcer called a city council election or county commissioner came up and the cheer went up.
I keep meaning to sign up here and take the training her, but I don’t.
Wow! This sounds much more fun than elections here in the states. Stand in line, vote, get sticker, and head home.
I had much more fun when I worked at the polls for several years in a row years ago. It was neat to work with the same crew year after year. Some years the candidates came by in their inspection visits, so I got to meet pols that I only heard about in the paper.
The best part was that as the (young) person who didn’t mind driving in the dark, I was “elected” to drive the votes (actually the vote counting machine suitably locked along with the printed out tapes to indicate the machine counted the votes) to the vote counting center. This was at a hotel where there were the election officials and members two parties were in big ballrooms with the local news channel broadcasting results as the precincts came in. So in the spirit of things, I changed from polo shirt and khakis (had to do better than jeans and a t-shirt) into a cocktail dress and heels (back when I could wear heels). It was a little tricky carrying the big box dressed up but usually a policeman helped. I loved it when the announcer called a city council election or county commissioner came up and the cheer went up.
I keep meaning to sign up here and take the training her, but I don’t.
Wow! This sounds much more fun than elections here in the states. Stand in line, vote, get sticker, and head home.
I had much more fun when I worked at the polls for several years in a row years ago. It was neat to work with the same crew year after year. Some years the candidates came by in their inspection visits, so I got to meet pols that I only heard about in the paper.
The best part was that as the (young) person who didn’t mind driving in the dark, I was “elected” to drive the votes (actually the vote counting machine suitably locked along with the printed out tapes to indicate the machine counted the votes) to the vote counting center. This was at a hotel where there were the election officials and members two parties were in big ballrooms with the local news channel broadcasting results as the precincts came in. So in the spirit of things, I changed from polo shirt and khakis (had to do better than jeans and a t-shirt) into a cocktail dress and heels (back when I could wear heels). It was a little tricky carrying the big box dressed up but usually a policeman helped. I loved it when the announcer called a city council election or county commissioner came up and the cheer went up.
I keep meaning to sign up here and take the training her, but I don’t.
Wow! This sounds much more fun than elections here in the states. Stand in line, vote, get sticker, and head home.
I had much more fun when I worked at the polls for several years in a row years ago. It was neat to work with the same crew year after year. Some years the candidates came by in their inspection visits, so I got to meet pols that I only heard about in the paper.
The best part was that as the (young) person who didn’t mind driving in the dark, I was “elected” to drive the votes (actually the vote counting machine suitably locked along with the printed out tapes to indicate the machine counted the votes) to the vote counting center. This was at a hotel where there were the election officials and members two parties were in big ballrooms with the local news channel broadcasting results as the precincts came in. So in the spirit of things, I changed from polo shirt and khakis (had to do better than jeans and a t-shirt) into a cocktail dress and heels (back when I could wear heels). It was a little tricky carrying the big box dressed up but usually a policeman helped. I loved it when the announcer called a city council election or county commissioner came up and the cheer went up.
I keep meaning to sign up here and take the training her, but I don’t.
Wow! This sounds much more fun than elections here in the states. Stand in line, vote, get sticker, and head home.
I had much more fun when I worked at the polls for several years in a row years ago. It was neat to work with the same crew year after year. Some years the candidates came by in their inspection visits, so I got to meet pols that I only heard about in the paper.
The best part was that as the (young) person who didn’t mind driving in the dark, I was “elected” to drive the votes (actually the vote counting machine suitably locked along with the printed out tapes to indicate the machine counted the votes) to the vote counting center. This was at a hotel where there were the election officials and members two parties were in big ballrooms with the local news channel broadcasting results as the precincts came in. So in the spirit of things, I changed from polo shirt and khakis (had to do better than jeans and a t-shirt) into a cocktail dress and heels (back when I could wear heels). It was a little tricky carrying the big box dressed up but usually a policeman helped. I loved it when the announcer called a city council election or county commissioner came up and the cheer went up.
I keep meaning to sign up here and take the training her, but I don’t.
Oh Anne – what a great job you’ve done of making no comment at all on the debacle that is current Australian federal politics! We didn’t even have the consolation of snags & cakes at our nearest polling place 🙁
Good topic though. Stu & I have been chatting a bit lately about what it means to have compulsory voting. In most countries that have it, coercion to keep people away from polling is a real issue. I don’t see that being a problem here – but – I do think compulsory voting is necessary in Oz. Without it, what democracy we do have would probably collapse due to apathy…
Oh Anne – what a great job you’ve done of making no comment at all on the debacle that is current Australian federal politics! We didn’t even have the consolation of snags & cakes at our nearest polling place 🙁
Good topic though. Stu & I have been chatting a bit lately about what it means to have compulsory voting. In most countries that have it, coercion to keep people away from polling is a real issue. I don’t see that being a problem here – but – I do think compulsory voting is necessary in Oz. Without it, what democracy we do have would probably collapse due to apathy…
Oh Anne – what a great job you’ve done of making no comment at all on the debacle that is current Australian federal politics! We didn’t even have the consolation of snags & cakes at our nearest polling place 🙁
Good topic though. Stu & I have been chatting a bit lately about what it means to have compulsory voting. In most countries that have it, coercion to keep people away from polling is a real issue. I don’t see that being a problem here – but – I do think compulsory voting is necessary in Oz. Without it, what democracy we do have would probably collapse due to apathy…
Oh Anne – what a great job you’ve done of making no comment at all on the debacle that is current Australian federal politics! We didn’t even have the consolation of snags & cakes at our nearest polling place 🙁
Good topic though. Stu & I have been chatting a bit lately about what it means to have compulsory voting. In most countries that have it, coercion to keep people away from polling is a real issue. I don’t see that being a problem here – but – I do think compulsory voting is necessary in Oz. Without it, what democracy we do have would probably collapse due to apathy…
Oh Anne – what a great job you’ve done of making no comment at all on the debacle that is current Australian federal politics! We didn’t even have the consolation of snags & cakes at our nearest polling place 🙁
Good topic though. Stu & I have been chatting a bit lately about what it means to have compulsory voting. In most countries that have it, coercion to keep people away from polling is a real issue. I don’t see that being a problem here – but – I do think compulsory voting is necessary in Oz. Without it, what democracy we do have would probably collapse due to apathy…
Trish, yes, I do think the Prime Minister should have consulted you about your plans before setting the date for the election — most inconsiderate of him.
And surely you could have found a sausage sizzle somewhere in your travels. Thanks for dropping by the wenches.
Trish, yes, I do think the Prime Minister should have consulted you about your plans before setting the date for the election — most inconsiderate of him.
And surely you could have found a sausage sizzle somewhere in your travels. Thanks for dropping by the wenches.
Trish, yes, I do think the Prime Minister should have consulted you about your plans before setting the date for the election — most inconsiderate of him.
And surely you could have found a sausage sizzle somewhere in your travels. Thanks for dropping by the wenches.
Trish, yes, I do think the Prime Minister should have consulted you about your plans before setting the date for the election — most inconsiderate of him.
And surely you could have found a sausage sizzle somewhere in your travels. Thanks for dropping by the wenches.
Trish, yes, I do think the Prime Minister should have consulted you about your plans before setting the date for the election — most inconsiderate of him.
And surely you could have found a sausage sizzle somewhere in your travels. Thanks for dropping by the wenches.
Keziah, how fabulous having a romance novel bookstall at your polling booth. Clearly you live in a Most Superior Area. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Keziah, how fabulous having a romance novel bookstall at your polling booth. Clearly you live in a Most Superior Area. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Keziah, how fabulous having a romance novel bookstall at your polling booth. Clearly you live in a Most Superior Area. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Keziah, how fabulous having a romance novel bookstall at your polling booth. Clearly you live in a Most Superior Area. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Keziah, how fabulous having a romance novel bookstall at your polling booth. Clearly you live in a Most Superior Area. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Shannon, that’s so interesting. I’m not sure how our voting boxes are transported, or whether they’re counted at the polling stations. Something I will need to find out.
And I love the thought of you in your cocktail dress, staggering in with the box of votes. Fodder for a story, I’m sure.
Shannon, that’s so interesting. I’m not sure how our voting boxes are transported, or whether they’re counted at the polling stations. Something I will need to find out.
And I love the thought of you in your cocktail dress, staggering in with the box of votes. Fodder for a story, I’m sure.
Shannon, that’s so interesting. I’m not sure how our voting boxes are transported, or whether they’re counted at the polling stations. Something I will need to find out.
And I love the thought of you in your cocktail dress, staggering in with the box of votes. Fodder for a story, I’m sure.
Shannon, that’s so interesting. I’m not sure how our voting boxes are transported, or whether they’re counted at the polling stations. Something I will need to find out.
And I love the thought of you in your cocktail dress, staggering in with the box of votes. Fodder for a story, I’m sure.
Shannon, that’s so interesting. I’m not sure how our voting boxes are transported, or whether they’re counted at the polling stations. Something I will need to find out.
And I love the thought of you in your cocktail dress, staggering in with the box of votes. Fodder for a story, I’m sure.
Shannon McE, yes, I studiously avoided any opinion on the result, this time around. I do think a lot of people are currently disenchanted with the major parties, and had it not been compulsory, a lot of people wouldn’t have voted. I think that’s why we got such bizarre results in the Senate, with people giving protest votes to minor and frankly silly ‘parties’ and individuals. Oh well. With compulsory voting, it’s got to be true that we get the government we deserve, though maybe not all of us deserve what we have.
Shannon McE, yes, I studiously avoided any opinion on the result, this time around. I do think a lot of people are currently disenchanted with the major parties, and had it not been compulsory, a lot of people wouldn’t have voted. I think that’s why we got such bizarre results in the Senate, with people giving protest votes to minor and frankly silly ‘parties’ and individuals. Oh well. With compulsory voting, it’s got to be true that we get the government we deserve, though maybe not all of us deserve what we have.
Shannon McE, yes, I studiously avoided any opinion on the result, this time around. I do think a lot of people are currently disenchanted with the major parties, and had it not been compulsory, a lot of people wouldn’t have voted. I think that’s why we got such bizarre results in the Senate, with people giving protest votes to minor and frankly silly ‘parties’ and individuals. Oh well. With compulsory voting, it’s got to be true that we get the government we deserve, though maybe not all of us deserve what we have.
Shannon McE, yes, I studiously avoided any opinion on the result, this time around. I do think a lot of people are currently disenchanted with the major parties, and had it not been compulsory, a lot of people wouldn’t have voted. I think that’s why we got such bizarre results in the Senate, with people giving protest votes to minor and frankly silly ‘parties’ and individuals. Oh well. With compulsory voting, it’s got to be true that we get the government we deserve, though maybe not all of us deserve what we have.
Shannon McE, yes, I studiously avoided any opinion on the result, this time around. I do think a lot of people are currently disenchanted with the major parties, and had it not been compulsory, a lot of people wouldn’t have voted. I think that’s why we got such bizarre results in the Senate, with people giving protest votes to minor and frankly silly ‘parties’ and individuals. Oh well. With compulsory voting, it’s got to be true that we get the government we deserve, though maybe not all of us deserve what we have.
When I was younger, I could not wait until I was old enough to go to a voting place and vote. Unfortunately here in Oregon they went to vote by mail before I had my chance. I think there is something special about leaving your home to have your voice heard in the election. But I appreciate our freedom to do so even if its only mailing in a ballot.
When I was younger, I could not wait until I was old enough to go to a voting place and vote. Unfortunately here in Oregon they went to vote by mail before I had my chance. I think there is something special about leaving your home to have your voice heard in the election. But I appreciate our freedom to do so even if its only mailing in a ballot.
When I was younger, I could not wait until I was old enough to go to a voting place and vote. Unfortunately here in Oregon they went to vote by mail before I had my chance. I think there is something special about leaving your home to have your voice heard in the election. But I appreciate our freedom to do so even if its only mailing in a ballot.
When I was younger, I could not wait until I was old enough to go to a voting place and vote. Unfortunately here in Oregon they went to vote by mail before I had my chance. I think there is something special about leaving your home to have your voice heard in the election. But I appreciate our freedom to do so even if its only mailing in a ballot.
When I was younger, I could not wait until I was old enough to go to a voting place and vote. Unfortunately here in Oregon they went to vote by mail before I had my chance. I think there is something special about leaving your home to have your voice heard in the election. But I appreciate our freedom to do so even if its only mailing in a ballot.
Samantha, that’s so interesting that your state went to all postal voting. A lot of people use postal votes here, too, but it’s an option, and mainly used by those who are traveling or who live long distances from a polling place, which most people in the outback do. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Samantha, that’s so interesting that your state went to all postal voting. A lot of people use postal votes here, too, but it’s an option, and mainly used by those who are traveling or who live long distances from a polling place, which most people in the outback do. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Samantha, that’s so interesting that your state went to all postal voting. A lot of people use postal votes here, too, but it’s an option, and mainly used by those who are traveling or who live long distances from a polling place, which most people in the outback do. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Samantha, that’s so interesting that your state went to all postal voting. A lot of people use postal votes here, too, but it’s an option, and mainly used by those who are traveling or who live long distances from a polling place, which most people in the outback do. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Samantha, that’s so interesting that your state went to all postal voting. A lot of people use postal votes here, too, but it’s an option, and mainly used by those who are traveling or who live long distances from a polling place, which most people in the outback do. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
I really think if American elections had half the appealing trappings–food, booths, etc., we’d have a higher turnout, even without compulsory elections. 🙂
No such luck, however. On election day the signs are out at the pollings places. If it’s a busy election, you try to find parking. Then you walk in to stand in a semi silent line, fill out the registration slip, show your ID, and get directed down the line of ladies who do various things to confirm your legal existence before handing you a ballot and cover. After that, you walk over to the voting booth, make your choices and feed your ballot into the machine. Then you walk out, and that’s over until next time.
It’s … well, bland, but it does get the job done.
I can’t imagine compulsory voting in the States, though. I think there’d be a second revolution to win the right NOT to vote. Americans are never more vocal than when it comes to defending our rights to do any fat-headed thing we please, or to refuse to do what any sensible person would do. 😉
I really think if American elections had half the appealing trappings–food, booths, etc., we’d have a higher turnout, even without compulsory elections. 🙂
No such luck, however. On election day the signs are out at the pollings places. If it’s a busy election, you try to find parking. Then you walk in to stand in a semi silent line, fill out the registration slip, show your ID, and get directed down the line of ladies who do various things to confirm your legal existence before handing you a ballot and cover. After that, you walk over to the voting booth, make your choices and feed your ballot into the machine. Then you walk out, and that’s over until next time.
It’s … well, bland, but it does get the job done.
I can’t imagine compulsory voting in the States, though. I think there’d be a second revolution to win the right NOT to vote. Americans are never more vocal than when it comes to defending our rights to do any fat-headed thing we please, or to refuse to do what any sensible person would do. 😉
I really think if American elections had half the appealing trappings–food, booths, etc., we’d have a higher turnout, even without compulsory elections. 🙂
No such luck, however. On election day the signs are out at the pollings places. If it’s a busy election, you try to find parking. Then you walk in to stand in a semi silent line, fill out the registration slip, show your ID, and get directed down the line of ladies who do various things to confirm your legal existence before handing you a ballot and cover. After that, you walk over to the voting booth, make your choices and feed your ballot into the machine. Then you walk out, and that’s over until next time.
It’s … well, bland, but it does get the job done.
I can’t imagine compulsory voting in the States, though. I think there’d be a second revolution to win the right NOT to vote. Americans are never more vocal than when it comes to defending our rights to do any fat-headed thing we please, or to refuse to do what any sensible person would do. 😉
I really think if American elections had half the appealing trappings–food, booths, etc., we’d have a higher turnout, even without compulsory elections. 🙂
No such luck, however. On election day the signs are out at the pollings places. If it’s a busy election, you try to find parking. Then you walk in to stand in a semi silent line, fill out the registration slip, show your ID, and get directed down the line of ladies who do various things to confirm your legal existence before handing you a ballot and cover. After that, you walk over to the voting booth, make your choices and feed your ballot into the machine. Then you walk out, and that’s over until next time.
It’s … well, bland, but it does get the job done.
I can’t imagine compulsory voting in the States, though. I think there’d be a second revolution to win the right NOT to vote. Americans are never more vocal than when it comes to defending our rights to do any fat-headed thing we please, or to refuse to do what any sensible person would do. 😉
I really think if American elections had half the appealing trappings–food, booths, etc., we’d have a higher turnout, even without compulsory elections. 🙂
No such luck, however. On election day the signs are out at the pollings places. If it’s a busy election, you try to find parking. Then you walk in to stand in a semi silent line, fill out the registration slip, show your ID, and get directed down the line of ladies who do various things to confirm your legal existence before handing you a ballot and cover. After that, you walk over to the voting booth, make your choices and feed your ballot into the machine. Then you walk out, and that’s over until next time.
It’s … well, bland, but it does get the job done.
I can’t imagine compulsory voting in the States, though. I think there’d be a second revolution to win the right NOT to vote. Americans are never more vocal than when it comes to defending our rights to do any fat-headed thing we please, or to refuse to do what any sensible person would do. 😉
It’s pretty much the same here, Lucy, except that when you;re lucky enough to be voting at a school, and sometimes a church hall, the stalls get set up, and it turns into a much more pleasant experience.
I expect if Australians had never had compulsory voting, we’d be much the same, opposing the need for it, but we’re used to it now — it was introduced in the 1920s I think, and Australia had only been a federated country for a couple of decades — the individual states only agreed to Federation (after much argument) in 1901.
So we’re used to it.
I like it. As I said, you only have to turn up to vote, and go through the motion. The percentage of “informal” (ie non-votes or improperly completed voting slips) are always recorded, so you get an idea of that proportion of the vote as well.
And at least our politicians don’t pester us to turn out to vote, just vote for them.
It’s pretty much the same here, Lucy, except that when you;re lucky enough to be voting at a school, and sometimes a church hall, the stalls get set up, and it turns into a much more pleasant experience.
I expect if Australians had never had compulsory voting, we’d be much the same, opposing the need for it, but we’re used to it now — it was introduced in the 1920s I think, and Australia had only been a federated country for a couple of decades — the individual states only agreed to Federation (after much argument) in 1901.
So we’re used to it.
I like it. As I said, you only have to turn up to vote, and go through the motion. The percentage of “informal” (ie non-votes or improperly completed voting slips) are always recorded, so you get an idea of that proportion of the vote as well.
And at least our politicians don’t pester us to turn out to vote, just vote for them.
It’s pretty much the same here, Lucy, except that when you;re lucky enough to be voting at a school, and sometimes a church hall, the stalls get set up, and it turns into a much more pleasant experience.
I expect if Australians had never had compulsory voting, we’d be much the same, opposing the need for it, but we’re used to it now — it was introduced in the 1920s I think, and Australia had only been a federated country for a couple of decades — the individual states only agreed to Federation (after much argument) in 1901.
So we’re used to it.
I like it. As I said, you only have to turn up to vote, and go through the motion. The percentage of “informal” (ie non-votes or improperly completed voting slips) are always recorded, so you get an idea of that proportion of the vote as well.
And at least our politicians don’t pester us to turn out to vote, just vote for them.
It’s pretty much the same here, Lucy, except that when you;re lucky enough to be voting at a school, and sometimes a church hall, the stalls get set up, and it turns into a much more pleasant experience.
I expect if Australians had never had compulsory voting, we’d be much the same, opposing the need for it, but we’re used to it now — it was introduced in the 1920s I think, and Australia had only been a federated country for a couple of decades — the individual states only agreed to Federation (after much argument) in 1901.
So we’re used to it.
I like it. As I said, you only have to turn up to vote, and go through the motion. The percentage of “informal” (ie non-votes or improperly completed voting slips) are always recorded, so you get an idea of that proportion of the vote as well.
And at least our politicians don’t pester us to turn out to vote, just vote for them.
It’s pretty much the same here, Lucy, except that when you;re lucky enough to be voting at a school, and sometimes a church hall, the stalls get set up, and it turns into a much more pleasant experience.
I expect if Australians had never had compulsory voting, we’d be much the same, opposing the need for it, but we’re used to it now — it was introduced in the 1920s I think, and Australia had only been a federated country for a couple of decades — the individual states only agreed to Federation (after much argument) in 1901.
So we’re used to it.
I like it. As I said, you only have to turn up to vote, and go through the motion. The percentage of “informal” (ie non-votes or improperly completed voting slips) are always recorded, so you get an idea of that proportion of the vote as well.
And at least our politicians don’t pester us to turn out to vote, just vote for them.
I usually vote but have eben doing so by mail for the last few years.I do not drive and the polling place always seems t be miles away. As our elections are mostly in November, the shorter daylight hors meant I was walking blocks down dark streets. It is a more or less residential area but still….
Besides, I had injured my knee and the walk was not pleasant.
I have reached an age where I can get an absentee ballot because of age as long as I apply for it each year.
I do not know if compulsory voting would work ,though giving people a certificate redeemable as a credit on one’s income tax might increase the numbers.
I worked in an election but never worked the polls. Our poll workers are mostly retired people .
Our voting places are set up in churches, libraries, schools, and the gyms of public parks.
I usually vote but have eben doing so by mail for the last few years.I do not drive and the polling place always seems t be miles away. As our elections are mostly in November, the shorter daylight hors meant I was walking blocks down dark streets. It is a more or less residential area but still….
Besides, I had injured my knee and the walk was not pleasant.
I have reached an age where I can get an absentee ballot because of age as long as I apply for it each year.
I do not know if compulsory voting would work ,though giving people a certificate redeemable as a credit on one’s income tax might increase the numbers.
I worked in an election but never worked the polls. Our poll workers are mostly retired people .
Our voting places are set up in churches, libraries, schools, and the gyms of public parks.
I usually vote but have eben doing so by mail for the last few years.I do not drive and the polling place always seems t be miles away. As our elections are mostly in November, the shorter daylight hors meant I was walking blocks down dark streets. It is a more or less residential area but still….
Besides, I had injured my knee and the walk was not pleasant.
I have reached an age where I can get an absentee ballot because of age as long as I apply for it each year.
I do not know if compulsory voting would work ,though giving people a certificate redeemable as a credit on one’s income tax might increase the numbers.
I worked in an election but never worked the polls. Our poll workers are mostly retired people .
Our voting places are set up in churches, libraries, schools, and the gyms of public parks.
I usually vote but have eben doing so by mail for the last few years.I do not drive and the polling place always seems t be miles away. As our elections are mostly in November, the shorter daylight hors meant I was walking blocks down dark streets. It is a more or less residential area but still….
Besides, I had injured my knee and the walk was not pleasant.
I have reached an age where I can get an absentee ballot because of age as long as I apply for it each year.
I do not know if compulsory voting would work ,though giving people a certificate redeemable as a credit on one’s income tax might increase the numbers.
I worked in an election but never worked the polls. Our poll workers are mostly retired people .
Our voting places are set up in churches, libraries, schools, and the gyms of public parks.
I usually vote but have eben doing so by mail for the last few years.I do not drive and the polling place always seems t be miles away. As our elections are mostly in November, the shorter daylight hors meant I was walking blocks down dark streets. It is a more or less residential area but still….
Besides, I had injured my knee and the walk was not pleasant.
I have reached an age where I can get an absentee ballot because of age as long as I apply for it each year.
I do not know if compulsory voting would work ,though giving people a certificate redeemable as a credit on one’s income tax might increase the numbers.
I worked in an election but never worked the polls. Our poll workers are mostly retired people .
Our voting places are set up in churches, libraries, schools, and the gyms of public parks.
Nancy that’s an interesting idea re the tax credit, though people would always find a way to abuse that, too I expect. Humans are so wonderfully creative, though not always in a good way.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
Nancy that’s an interesting idea re the tax credit, though people would always find a way to abuse that, too I expect. Humans are so wonderfully creative, though not always in a good way.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
Nancy that’s an interesting idea re the tax credit, though people would always find a way to abuse that, too I expect. Humans are so wonderfully creative, though not always in a good way.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
Nancy that’s an interesting idea re the tax credit, though people would always find a way to abuse that, too I expect. Humans are so wonderfully creative, though not always in a good way.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
Nancy that’s an interesting idea re the tax credit, though people would always find a way to abuse that, too I expect. Humans are so wonderfully creative, though not always in a good way.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
my county (in the US) has gone to 100% vote-by-mail… it’s convenient but I miss the days where I could vote at the Fire Station (hunky fire fighters!), elementary school, or at one time, a Retirement home where all the poll workers were so friendly and chatty!
my county (in the US) has gone to 100% vote-by-mail… it’s convenient but I miss the days where I could vote at the Fire Station (hunky fire fighters!), elementary school, or at one time, a Retirement home where all the poll workers were so friendly and chatty!
my county (in the US) has gone to 100% vote-by-mail… it’s convenient but I miss the days where I could vote at the Fire Station (hunky fire fighters!), elementary school, or at one time, a Retirement home where all the poll workers were so friendly and chatty!
my county (in the US) has gone to 100% vote-by-mail… it’s convenient but I miss the days where I could vote at the Fire Station (hunky fire fighters!), elementary school, or at one time, a Retirement home where all the poll workers were so friendly and chatty!
my county (in the US) has gone to 100% vote-by-mail… it’s convenient but I miss the days where I could vote at the Fire Station (hunky fire fighters!), elementary school, or at one time, a Retirement home where all the poll workers were so friendly and chatty!
Definitely no sausages here in the UK .It would make going to vote a lot more fun !Might even get the apathetic masses out to the polls.I think there could be a case for compulsory voting.What really annoys me are people who moan about the government (which at the moment is pretty useless – get off your hobby horse Josephine )and then announce that they have never bothered to vote!When this also happens to be a woman – – nuff said !!
I do always try to vote even if it does mean walking the dog to the village hall in the rain ! The thought of sausages would probably speed us up no end !
Definitely no sausages here in the UK .It would make going to vote a lot more fun !Might even get the apathetic masses out to the polls.I think there could be a case for compulsory voting.What really annoys me are people who moan about the government (which at the moment is pretty useless – get off your hobby horse Josephine )and then announce that they have never bothered to vote!When this also happens to be a woman – – nuff said !!
I do always try to vote even if it does mean walking the dog to the village hall in the rain ! The thought of sausages would probably speed us up no end !
Definitely no sausages here in the UK .It would make going to vote a lot more fun !Might even get the apathetic masses out to the polls.I think there could be a case for compulsory voting.What really annoys me are people who moan about the government (which at the moment is pretty useless – get off your hobby horse Josephine )and then announce that they have never bothered to vote!When this also happens to be a woman – – nuff said !!
I do always try to vote even if it does mean walking the dog to the village hall in the rain ! The thought of sausages would probably speed us up no end !
Definitely no sausages here in the UK .It would make going to vote a lot more fun !Might even get the apathetic masses out to the polls.I think there could be a case for compulsory voting.What really annoys me are people who moan about the government (which at the moment is pretty useless – get off your hobby horse Josephine )and then announce that they have never bothered to vote!When this also happens to be a woman – – nuff said !!
I do always try to vote even if it does mean walking the dog to the village hall in the rain ! The thought of sausages would probably speed us up no end !
Definitely no sausages here in the UK .It would make going to vote a lot more fun !Might even get the apathetic masses out to the polls.I think there could be a case for compulsory voting.What really annoys me are people who moan about the government (which at the moment is pretty useless – get off your hobby horse Josephine )and then announce that they have never bothered to vote!When this also happens to be a woman – – nuff said !!
I do always try to vote even if it does mean walking the dog to the village hall in the rain ! The thought of sausages would probably speed us up no end !
Wow, that sounds like a lot more fun than our voting days in the US. I think compulsory voting is interesting, I don’t think it would go over well here, but at least we’d get a better turn out. In Florida, we have early voting, so you can stop by the local library and cast your vote during the couple of weeks before the actual voting day. I like it because I can go on the weekend and don’t have to take time off work. Last time I voted, there was a huge line outside the library, it took several hours to get into the library to vote, and we didn’t have anything to entertain us or eat except the bottles of water they handed out. That sounds like such a great charity idea, to set up booths, I wish someone would do that here. 😀
Wow, that sounds like a lot more fun than our voting days in the US. I think compulsory voting is interesting, I don’t think it would go over well here, but at least we’d get a better turn out. In Florida, we have early voting, so you can stop by the local library and cast your vote during the couple of weeks before the actual voting day. I like it because I can go on the weekend and don’t have to take time off work. Last time I voted, there was a huge line outside the library, it took several hours to get into the library to vote, and we didn’t have anything to entertain us or eat except the bottles of water they handed out. That sounds like such a great charity idea, to set up booths, I wish someone would do that here. 😀
Wow, that sounds like a lot more fun than our voting days in the US. I think compulsory voting is interesting, I don’t think it would go over well here, but at least we’d get a better turn out. In Florida, we have early voting, so you can stop by the local library and cast your vote during the couple of weeks before the actual voting day. I like it because I can go on the weekend and don’t have to take time off work. Last time I voted, there was a huge line outside the library, it took several hours to get into the library to vote, and we didn’t have anything to entertain us or eat except the bottles of water they handed out. That sounds like such a great charity idea, to set up booths, I wish someone would do that here. 😀
Wow, that sounds like a lot more fun than our voting days in the US. I think compulsory voting is interesting, I don’t think it would go over well here, but at least we’d get a better turn out. In Florida, we have early voting, so you can stop by the local library and cast your vote during the couple of weeks before the actual voting day. I like it because I can go on the weekend and don’t have to take time off work. Last time I voted, there was a huge line outside the library, it took several hours to get into the library to vote, and we didn’t have anything to entertain us or eat except the bottles of water they handed out. That sounds like such a great charity idea, to set up booths, I wish someone would do that here. 😀
Wow, that sounds like a lot more fun than our voting days in the US. I think compulsory voting is interesting, I don’t think it would go over well here, but at least we’d get a better turn out. In Florida, we have early voting, so you can stop by the local library and cast your vote during the couple of weeks before the actual voting day. I like it because I can go on the weekend and don’t have to take time off work. Last time I voted, there was a huge line outside the library, it took several hours to get into the library to vote, and we didn’t have anything to entertain us or eat except the bottles of water they handed out. That sounds like such a great charity idea, to set up booths, I wish someone would do that here. 😀
Barbara, we had a really long line too — it went half way around the school and if we hadn’t had all the various things to look at, and the aroma of sizzling sausages to entice us, it would have been pretty boring.
And I should add that plenty of polling booths here don’t have anything fun. But the school and church ones nearly always have some kind of fundraiser going. Thank goodness.
Barbara, we had a really long line too — it went half way around the school and if we hadn’t had all the various things to look at, and the aroma of sizzling sausages to entice us, it would have been pretty boring.
And I should add that plenty of polling booths here don’t have anything fun. But the school and church ones nearly always have some kind of fundraiser going. Thank goodness.
Barbara, we had a really long line too — it went half way around the school and if we hadn’t had all the various things to look at, and the aroma of sizzling sausages to entice us, it would have been pretty boring.
And I should add that plenty of polling booths here don’t have anything fun. But the school and church ones nearly always have some kind of fundraiser going. Thank goodness.
Barbara, we had a really long line too — it went half way around the school and if we hadn’t had all the various things to look at, and the aroma of sizzling sausages to entice us, it would have been pretty boring.
And I should add that plenty of polling booths here don’t have anything fun. But the school and church ones nearly always have some kind of fundraiser going. Thank goodness.
Barbara, we had a really long line too — it went half way around the school and if we hadn’t had all the various things to look at, and the aroma of sizzling sausages to entice us, it would have been pretty boring.
And I should add that plenty of polling booths here don’t have anything fun. But the school and church ones nearly always have some kind of fundraiser going. Thank goodness.
I’ve worked at the polls several times in my hometown, and it was lots of fun to see all my friends and neighbors, as well as the people you know vaguely from seeing them around town, and find out what their names are! However the hours were quite long, and the pay is measly. For some reason they never split shifts, so you have to work from 6 or 7 am until the polls close at 7 or 8 pm, with just a 1 hour lunch break. Some food booths would have been much appreciated. I also was at the polls as an observer during the 2008 presidential election, that was quite exciting!
I think if elections took place in the U.S. over more than one day, or on a weekend instead of during the workweek, we might get a better turnout without making it mandatory. My state is not one of the ones with early voting.
I’ve worked at the polls several times in my hometown, and it was lots of fun to see all my friends and neighbors, as well as the people you know vaguely from seeing them around town, and find out what their names are! However the hours were quite long, and the pay is measly. For some reason they never split shifts, so you have to work from 6 or 7 am until the polls close at 7 or 8 pm, with just a 1 hour lunch break. Some food booths would have been much appreciated. I also was at the polls as an observer during the 2008 presidential election, that was quite exciting!
I think if elections took place in the U.S. over more than one day, or on a weekend instead of during the workweek, we might get a better turnout without making it mandatory. My state is not one of the ones with early voting.
I’ve worked at the polls several times in my hometown, and it was lots of fun to see all my friends and neighbors, as well as the people you know vaguely from seeing them around town, and find out what their names are! However the hours were quite long, and the pay is measly. For some reason they never split shifts, so you have to work from 6 or 7 am until the polls close at 7 or 8 pm, with just a 1 hour lunch break. Some food booths would have been much appreciated. I also was at the polls as an observer during the 2008 presidential election, that was quite exciting!
I think if elections took place in the U.S. over more than one day, or on a weekend instead of during the workweek, we might get a better turnout without making it mandatory. My state is not one of the ones with early voting.
I’ve worked at the polls several times in my hometown, and it was lots of fun to see all my friends and neighbors, as well as the people you know vaguely from seeing them around town, and find out what their names are! However the hours were quite long, and the pay is measly. For some reason they never split shifts, so you have to work from 6 or 7 am until the polls close at 7 or 8 pm, with just a 1 hour lunch break. Some food booths would have been much appreciated. I also was at the polls as an observer during the 2008 presidential election, that was quite exciting!
I think if elections took place in the U.S. over more than one day, or on a weekend instead of during the workweek, we might get a better turnout without making it mandatory. My state is not one of the ones with early voting.
I’ve worked at the polls several times in my hometown, and it was lots of fun to see all my friends and neighbors, as well as the people you know vaguely from seeing them around town, and find out what their names are! However the hours were quite long, and the pay is measly. For some reason they never split shifts, so you have to work from 6 or 7 am until the polls close at 7 or 8 pm, with just a 1 hour lunch break. Some food booths would have been much appreciated. I also was at the polls as an observer during the 2008 presidential election, that was quite exciting!
I think if elections took place in the U.S. over more than one day, or on a weekend instead of during the workweek, we might get a better turnout without making it mandatory. My state is not one of the ones with early voting.
Karin, that sounds like a verrrrrry long day, indeed. I’m not sure what our election people get paid, if anything. I’ll have to check it out.
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thanks everyone for reading and commenting.
Karin, that sounds like a verrrrrry long day, indeed. I’m not sure what our election people get paid, if anything. I’ll have to check it out.
I’m going to close the comments down now, because we’ve been getting inundated with spam
thanks everyone for reading and commenting.
Karin, that sounds like a verrrrrry long day, indeed. I’m not sure what our election people get paid, if anything. I’ll have to check it out.
I’m going to close the comments down now, because we’ve been getting inundated with spam
thanks everyone for reading and commenting.
Karin, that sounds like a verrrrrry long day, indeed. I’m not sure what our election people get paid, if anything. I’ll have to check it out.
I’m going to close the comments down now, because we’ve been getting inundated with spam
thanks everyone for reading and commenting.
Karin, that sounds like a verrrrrry long day, indeed. I’m not sure what our election people get paid, if anything. I’ll have to check it out.
I’m going to close the comments down now, because we’ve been getting inundated with spam
thanks everyone for reading and commenting.