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#1 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 421
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Just got back from voting in the council elections. Apart from the fact I think compulsory voting is ridiculous... I wanted to rant about the incredible inefficiency and the huge potential for errors in our current system...
![]() Last election, I received a letter from the Electoral Commission asking me to please explain (in a stat dec) why I didn't vote. The election before that, I received a letter asking me to explain why I had committed fraud, and voted three times. ![]() I wrote back to them advising that I did vote - both times only once, and if their system wasn't flawed, they would know that. Eg: * They require NO ID when crossing you off the roll, so anyone can say they are anyone else. * The typeface used on the roll books is tiny, and it's very easy for them to rule a line through the wrong name (the person above or below your name). * You have to vote in your local area, otherwise fill out a special form and put in an 'absentee' vote, etc. These problems can all be solved easily and simply... the roll is already computerised, just stick a couple of computers there - they ask for your id, put in your name and suburb, tick a box and it's done. Most polling places are schools, so there are already computers in place. That would also allow you to vote at any polling booth, because they don't have phonebook-sized roll books, but a central database. Not to mention saving bucket loads of paper/ink/money in printing costs alone (which we as taxpayers all pay for). I understand the concerns on electronic voting - just look at Diebold in the US for example - but surely nobody can object to an electronic roll? |
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#2 | ||
Awesome Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Bris
Posts: 375
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this is why i don't vote i never enrolled as far as the gov knows i live 300km away in nsw.
here comes the flaming. oh and i will complain about the gov if i don't like them because i didnt vote for them. i can see this thread being shut down real quick these sort of ones always do
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#3 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ACT
Posts: 11,647
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#4 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Salamander Bay
Posts: 5,427
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it is compulsory to enrol, the AEC send people door to door before federal elections to check enrolments and you can be fined for failing to enrol ( but the rarely do it the just give you a form to get enroled)
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Everyone starts off with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the experience bag before the luck bag is empty. "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Start a new career as a bus driver Rides: FG2 XR6 stock at this stage but a very nice ride xc 4 DOOR X CHASER 5.8 UNDER RESTO |
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#5 | ||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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The fact we are still using pencil and paper is beyond me.
We use secure online facilities to move hundreds of thousands of dollars without blinking an eye, yet need to line up, talk to a person sitting behind a folding table who then opens a folder and looks for your name... Then there are all those disposable cardboard booths, as well as all the people needed to 'help you' with your vote... What a waste, and what a joke. Oh... and 'voting' is not compulsory... lining up to get your name ticked off is.. |
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#6 | ||
Fast Ford to the Future
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,493
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I totally agree with the op and Yellow Festiva. We have the facilities, technology and security systems online to undertake banking yet we still persist with paper and pen for voting. It's the biggest joke ever. With all the paper and printing funds they waste, this money could easily be spent on designing and implementing an online voting system. I cannot see any reason against it, apart from the elderly not knowing how to use an online system. But they can easily have someone assist them as they currently do anyway.
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#7 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 421
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There, you can register your intent to vote online... the EC then sends you a one-use password that you use to log in with on the day, proving you voted, and ensuring you can only vote once. |
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#8 | ||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,082
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I wish it was like America where you don't have to vote. Or at least was online.
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#9 | ||
EuroFordClub
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SE Melbourne
Posts: 727
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To all of us, and probably the entire population, that makes sense. But there would be a huuuuuge amount of work that would have to go into a system like that, especially if they do it for the national voting. Plus, you then have to factor in people that don't have internet access, albeit not a large percentage of the population, but there are still people that don't have it.
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'08 Black Ford Focus LT CL Hatch
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#10 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 421
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But 'the usual way' should still be modernised... at the very least the roll should be electronic, and they should require photo ID. |
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#11 | |||
Fast Ford to the Future
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,493
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CURRENT RIDE - 2011 FG XR6T Nitro 6sp Manual with Luxury Pack, 19 Inch Varrstoen 2.2.2 Matte Black, Herrod Intake
OLD RIDE - oZeCruiser: 1994 ED Falcon Futura |
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#12 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Parkdale, Vic
Posts: 1,016
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Whilst compulory voting can't be seen as being democratic, the US voluntary system is very flawed. It's OK to be apathetic about the country you live in and the people controlling it - just turn up and get your name ticked off then go home.
The US system, on the other hand, allows you to just stay home. That means that only the nutbag groups who attend mass organisations (the blind followers) and who get told how to vote go en masse and vote, and the non aligned, non nutbag, regular individuals (the unwashed masses) who don't vote because they are too busy, too apathetic or it's just raining and they don't want to go outside - don't wind up getting as well represented. Ever noticed the bias toward religious nutbag groups, ce and gun toting groups in the US polls? They are all nutbags but vote en masse as a unified group. That is how you skew reality and how you suppress the stupid fools who just 'can't be bothered'. It's imperative that doesn't happen here - we are just as dumb, but if everyone votes, then the nutbag groups can't get over-represented. |
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#13 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 145
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This often leads to the chasing of marginal seats with pork barreling and often down right stupid policies. cheers Steve |
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#14 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 421
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Quote:
Without compulsory voting, not only do the pollies have to convince you to vote for them, they have to convince you to vote, period. It's hard to convince people of anything with a moderate stance. Of course, the far-right nutjobs and far-left loonies, will vote in droves - so policies tend to be skewed towards the far right/left. |
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#15 | ||
Hmmmmmmm!!
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,504
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Hahaha.
I go through this every time I vote. I am an Aussie (born and bred), wife is a Yank. They methodology that my wife goes under, is that she is still an American Citizen (Aus resident), however she "wanted" to vote in this years US elections, but when it comes to signing to the Aus way of life, I get the "I don't want to be forced to vote / fined for not voting". As I have said to her many times, you aren't forced to vote, simply get your name ticked off. You can vote informal if you wish (or fake a ballot vote). But, she is half a world away and wants to vote in the US elections, however the country she is in, her ideals that she won't sign to Aus way of life simply is "not being forced to vote". How do you gauge how a country is run (simply the biggest job on the planet as some say), where 20%-50% of the voting population actuall cast a valid vote. I mean, some areas of smaller populations, a whole state had 6,000 voters, 3,00 for this party, 3,000 for that party. In a state where there is a few million voters, come on......(pre-selection) Never the twain shall meet...... ![]() |
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#16 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 139
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I say keep the inefficient pencil and paper voting, because each election I get paid ~$400 to sit around marking names off!
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#17 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Filling up
Posts: 1,459
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![]() Obviously from the replies in this thread there are flaws in the system, therefore it needs to be rectified and I cant see why we cant vote over the internet. Think of the lost productivity, or loss of time that could have been spent enjoying life rather than standing in a queue having everyone give you a how to vote card, then throwing them all out and finally ticking or numbering some boxes
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#18 | ||
The one and only
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Carrum Downs, Victoria
Posts: 9,053
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The vote by mail is worse, as they now know who votes for who, no longer private.
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1992 DC LTDHO 360rwkw built by me Tuned by CVE Performance Going of the rails on a crazy train Other cars include Dynamic ED Sprint, Dynamic DL LTD, Sparkling Burgundy DL LTD, Yellow, Red & Blue XB sedan & Black XB Coupe
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#19 | |||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,082
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#20 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Melb north
Posts: 12,025
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#21 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Salamander Bay
Posts: 5,427
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to those who say they don't vote you have no right to complain about what happens if you are too lazy or ignorant to vote.
in the us there is no compulsory voting and a president can be elected by 10 or 15% of the population if there is a poor voter turnout . thats hardly a democratic decision
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Everyone starts off with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the experience bag before the luck bag is empty. "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Start a new career as a bus driver Rides: FG2 XR6 stock at this stage but a very nice ride xc 4 DOOR X CHASER 5.8 UNDER RESTO |
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#22 | |||
Awesome Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Bris
Posts: 375
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17" BA XR8 Copies, Pedders Coilovers Front & Rear, 30mm Front 24mm Rear Whiteline Sway Bar, Strut Brace, Camber Kit, Slotted Front Rotors, 1636 Wadecam, Au Injectors, El Ecu, TurboSmart FPR-800 (275kpa), MSD Street Fire Ignition, MSD High Vibration Blaster Coil, Pacemaker 4499, High Flow Cat, 2.5" Sports Exhaust, Twin Pod Filters, El Thermo Fans, 2 Stage Shift Kit, Pioneer Sound System : 123.3RWKW |
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#23 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bulahdelah
Posts: 383
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I know everyone is entitled to there own oppinion but I find some of the arguments above quite pathetic.
If you DONT vote you CANT complain about anything politically. I'll never understand why some citizens never register, dont you like Australia??? ALSO the cost to convert to a computerised system would be huge. The public will then complain why this money was wasted and not spent on something like public infastructure. Some people need to stop complaining about the government and realise how good we have it here in Australia!!!
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#24 | |||
Marko
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Perth W.A
Posts: 430
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Well said, As for voting online??? is there a reliable carrier in this country that could guarantee all servers are up and running on Poll Day? As ironic as it sounds, what are the levels of computer literacy in the voting population, most of our employees at work openly admit that they couldn't switch on a computer and you want them to vote on one? Can those who still failed to vote say "oh sorry my PC broke that day". For those who don't vote and don't want your vote to count, I find it strange that you would then want an opinion on most topics in this forum from P Plater laws to Eco legislation.
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#25 | ||||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 421
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Yes, we generally have it good. But in certain respects, we are lagging behind the rest of the developed world... if people don't complain and politicise certain issues, nothing will ever improve or, worse, will deteriorate. |
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#26 | |||
Mr old phart
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Terrorist
Posts: 1,715
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People who don't vote have just as much right as anyone else to have an an opinion or view on any given issue...the problem starts when neither party shares your view. Sure, you can vote for the greenies or an independant, BUT since we have a two party preferred system, what happens is your so-called 'valuable' vote is sold to the highest bidder in a preference deal, thus rendering your view worthless. Is it fair then, that one should be forced to cast a vote while knowing it will eventually support the opposing view? I consider abstinance both a form of protest and a means of retaining some small degree of integrity, in that no matter which team of clowns gets in, I didn't help put them there. As for dollars, I would prefer to see the money spent on overhauling the system rather than spent (wasted) on political advertising in the lead up to an election. I'd imagine one election free of advertising would save more than enough to update the system. While we don't have it too bad in Australia, it's far from good. The system itself is the major problem. The way the two party system works is that whichever party gains the most seats on a national scale gets the nod. This means any party which does not field a candidate in every electorate is already at a major disadvantage and nigh on impossible for them to win Federal Govt. The chances of an independant getting the job of PM are significantly slimmer again. Indeed, the only way this outcome would be possible would be if every electorate in the country decided to boycott the parties and vote in independants in every electorate...a fanciful notion and possible on paper but the reality is very different. Then there is the nature of politics, a game which appears to attract only the most unscrupulous of the bottom feeders. Even thieves have too much honour to get into politics. Any potential MP with a scrap of integrity is soon weeded out by those already in the system in order to maintain the status quo. Pollies know they have the best job in the world...what other job allows you to behave like a 5yo with ADD and tourettes AND get paid large sums of money for doing so...and they will go quite a long way to protect that vested interest. Anyone who even looks like rocking the boat soon finds themselves out on their ear a'la Pauline Hanson. She was an idiot, but she shook the place up and got crucified for it. Sadly, the only way I can see to fix the problem is a complete overhaul of the system itself and sacking every existing politician and replacing them with people with scruples....about as likely as an independant getting the job of PM.
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#27 | |||
FG XR6T trayback
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: N-W NSW
Posts: 1,308
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Take the time and vote below the line, and it goes the way you what it to go. With compulsory voting this will always happen, as some voters just go through the motions to get their name crossed off, and the political parties play their silly games. I always vote below the line on the Senate 'tablecloth' |
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#28 | |||
Mr old phart
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Terrorist
Posts: 1,715
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An object at rest cannot be stopped!! BA GT-P Blueprint |
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#29 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Salamander Bay
Posts: 5,427
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this is true only for those too stupid to allocate their own preferences a preference deal in the house of reps is only the order they appear in the how to vote ticket. if you allocate the way you want to the preference deal is short circuited
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Everyone starts off with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the experience bag before the luck bag is empty. "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Start a new career as a bus driver Rides: FG2 XR6 stock at this stage but a very nice ride xc 4 DOOR X CHASER 5.8 UNDER RESTO |
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#30 | ||
Wait? What?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Tassie
Posts: 1,017
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Electronic voting would ruin Election night. Rather than sitting around getting drunk watching Ray Martin describe how with 2% of the votes counted it's a bit too early to tell. It would just be 6pm polls close 6.01 the new prime minister is... that would suck.
Or is that just me? |
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