Voting

[poliphilo]

I walked to the polling station to cast my vote and found it closed. I looked at my poll card and saw I was out by a week. Voting is scheduled for next Thursday. Well, I've never done that before.

Nice day, though. The walk will have done me good.

There was someone arguing the other day that first time voters should be compelled to vote by law. Make 'em vote when they're fresh and green and you lay the foundation for a lifetime's habit, he said.

He also wanted "None of the Above" added to the ballot paper to accommodate principled non-voters. Ah- somebody asked- but what if "None of the Above" wins?

What indeed?

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

The general idea is that, if "none of the above" wins, you re-run the election, but with everyone who was on the ballot prohibited from running again.

Me, I'll just submit a blank ballot. If there's a race on the ballot I know nothing about, or if I cannot support any of the candidates, I just leave that race blank. And, if the entire ballot is like that, I'll show up and turn in a completely blank ballot.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see an election have to be re-run with all the original candidates banned.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

It's how our Student Union elections were run, back in the (late) 80's.

We always had the opportunity to vote for Ron - Return Of Nomination.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good idea.

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

That almost happened here - a lot of people wanted it to happen

[ron-broxted.livejournal.com]

At what stage will they actually turn around and say "We cannot even keep up the pretense of a democracy"? 20%? 10%? I spoke with an Aussie last year - it is compulsory or one gets a fine. Did he vote? "Nah f**k em I just paid a few dollars".

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Good question. Democracy is a shaky state across the western world.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I can see why you might have got confused- some areas did poll today.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Did they? That would explain things. How very confusing!

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

Marilyn (my sister) and I both think there should be levels of citizenship -- and you can't really be a full citizen unless you DO vote.

I don't understand WHY it's so difficult to get people to participate. They whine about things, but won't take the time and trouble to vote. Frustrating...

When I think of all the people throughout history who FOUGHT so hard for the right to vote, it makes me a little crazy...

What I always say, is people should be told it's OKAY to leave things BLANK -- and only vote for what really concerns them. Or for the people and issues they really know about. I think sometimes people don't want to vote because the believe they must for vote for everything on the ballot...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You guys vote for lots of different things on one ballot paper. We don't. We only ever vote for one thing at a time.
I think our system may be preferable- or at any rate- less confusing. Right now we're voting for local councilors.

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Is that throughout England? Ours was today, and I thought it was England's too

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I really don't know.

I thought the whole country was going to vote today.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

I voted yesterday, and I know someone who voted last week...

I wonder why the poll is so spread out this year? Are the Coalition hoping that we'll all get confused and forget to vote?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's it. I don't remember this happening before.