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aussie dollar · #1 14-09-2006, 17:08

In australia all our elections
federal
state
local
are compulsory to vote in and you recieve a fine if you dont vote,I find this strange that in a democracy you are forced to vote.
In your country is it compulsory to vote ?

dogblower · #2 14-09-2006, 17:24

It's my understanding that the reason for voting being compulsory in Australia was that we had, at the time, such a small poulation base that it would have been too easy to mobilise special interest groups and "hijack" an election - Hitler's rise being one of the classic examples.

I personally think its a small price to pay for having a democracy and a responsible elected government.

Of course, I also subscribe to the belief that there's no point in voting because whatever you do, a politician is going to win ....

P.S. You might think about slightly rewording your poll question.

stevem · #3 14-09-2006, 17:51

I totally object to the "compulsory" voting, I have never and will never vote. Where is the right to NOT excerise your right to vote, I really did think that we lived in a free country, but obviously not.

Perhaps if they came up with someone that was even remotely worthy of being in government, then perhaps I might reconsider, until then.

mbash · #4 14-09-2006, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

I totally object to the "compulsory" voting, I have never and will never vote. Where is the right to NOT excerise your right to vote, I really did think that we lived in a free country, but obviously not.

It is a strange law. Understandable with the background dogblower explained. But not really up to date.

You could leave a blank vote. That is a stand almost as good as not voting at all.

stevem · #5 14-09-2006, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie dollar

In australia all our elections
federal
state
local
are compulsory to vote in and you recieve a fine if you dont vote,I find this strange that in a democracy you are forced to vote.
In your country is it compulsory to vote ?

I think we are only 1 of 2 first world countries that have compulsory voting, even NZ doesn't.

aussie dollar · #6 14-09-2006, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

I totally object to the "compulsory" voting, I have never and will never vote. Where is the right to NOT excerise your right to vote, I really did think that we lived in a free country, but obviously not.

Perhaps if they came up with someone that was even remotely worthy of being in government, then perhaps I might reconsider, until then.

me too dont vote except federally in upper house,just walk in and get name crossed off so no fine.
always reckoned if I started a
"no more compulsory voting party"
would get plenty of votes and would get into senate
(cant change poll question dont know how maybe mod could change it)

dogblower · #7 14-09-2006, 18:18

Just playing devil's advocate here - after all, I left Australia 20 years ago and haven't voted since - but how embarassing would it be if voting was not compulsory? Given our famous apathy, maybe nobody would show up on polling day, except maybe a few aspiring politicians and their mums. Could be a laugh, but consider the consequences.

mbash · #8 14-09-2006, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogblower

Given our famous apathy, maybe nobody would show up on polling day, except maybe a few aspiring politicians and their mums.

Just ban alcohol sales on voting day. That should solve it.

Captain · #9 14-09-2006, 21:44

Voting is compulsary in Belgium.
Lots of people don't like it, but I find you have no right to bash the government if you didn't vote and allowed them to rule in the first place. I agree with dogblower, it is one of the benefits of democracy, being able to vote.

lunglek · #10 14-09-2006, 22:28

I think that being forced to vote is a good idea so long as there is box to put your x in if you don´t like any of the candidates offered, would also stop people complaining about the government in power

falanger · #11 14-09-2006, 23:22

I've only ever voted once when i was at the legal age 18.....now 27 and have not voted since then.Fact is my goverment have done a few things i dont agree with and i dont trust their bullsh1t. There was a big tribunal for corruption here a few years ago.My ma used to wind the head off me saying "your lucky to have the right and freedom to vote,use it" bla bla bla...... erm no.....

Petter · #12 15-09-2006, 01:41

Onestly the most dumbest people i know is people who criticize whats going
on in the community,and in the next sentence tell me that they not vote.

How many have paid the price so we can have a democraty where people can vote

aussie dollar · #13 15-09-2006, 03:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petter

Onestly the most dumbest people i know is people who criticize whats going
on in the community,and in the next sentence tell me that they not vote.

How many have paid the price so we can have a democraty where people can vote

important word there "can vote"
not have to vote or your fined.

so your idea is to vote even if you donk think any of the parties are worthy of being elected guess you just vote for the least worse party.!!

Coolhand · #14 15-09-2006, 05:08

Here in Hong Kong its not compulsory to vote, and even if it were, its hardly worth it - only one third of the seats are up for direct election, the other two thirds are chosen either by an election committee or by "functionalities" (trade groups). The Chief Executive (=president) is chosen by election committee.
Parties are divided into two groups: pro-democracy or pro-government.

Count yourselves lucky to have universal suffrage.

Petter · #15 15-09-2006, 05:39

Quote:

so your idea is to vote even if you donk think any of the parties are worthy of being elected guess you just vote for the least worse party.!!

Mabee its a idea to sort out the important/serious things that make a diffrent in your life,and read the various political programs.

But if you are not interested and have no cases you burn for, you probably dont have any opinion about it.
But then you probably dont have any things to complain about either.

But not to vote is also a choice, you just let other people to do the choice for you,then you have choiced and the democracy work.

stevem · #16 15-09-2006, 05:45

We have had this discussion somewhere before, but the part about voting in Oz is that your on the electoral role and then also in the pool for jury duty. I have better things to do than sit and listen for potentially days, to some half wit lawyer trying to tell everyone that even Joey did do it, he didnt mean it because of some half assed reason.

Take jury duty out of it, and I'll gladly go on the electoral role.

dogblower · #17 15-09-2006, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Take jury duty out of it, and I'll gladly go on the electoral role.

I think you may have hit on the major stumbling point right there. Wasting an hour or so on a Saturday morning every few years is no big deal, but jury duty would be a right pain in the a*se.

Mav · #18 15-09-2006, 09:50

I don't mind voting at State & Federal elections.....but making it compulsory to vote at Local Council elections is just fkn stupid

nelsonone · #19 15-09-2006, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

I don't mind voting at State & Federal elections.....but making it compulsory to vote at Local Council elections is just fkn stupid

Agree with this.....got fined once and I didn't even know that the local govt election was even on.......I would like to see local govt in Aus done away with....it's a huge waste of money......

Also agree with stevem.....I don't wanna sit on any juries....waste of my time....get the unemployed + public servants who love that cr@p to do that........and let the rest of us get on with stimulating the economy

Mav · #20 15-09-2006, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsonone

it's a huge waste of money

Spot on, usually full of early retiree's or bored housewives, whose usual major achievement of the year is building a new adventure playground or something.

Anyway it's something that the State Governments could run here in Oz....just merge the two.

Sirgezza · #21 15-09-2006, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain

Voting is compulsary in Belgium.
Lots of people don't like it, but I find you have no right to bash the government if you didn't vote and allowed them to rule in the first place. I agree with dogblower, it is one of the benefits of democracy, being able to vote.

I look at it differently. If I decide that none of the politicians or political parties are worth my vote, then I don't vote. When one of these gets in to power and turns out to be useless (as I predicted) , then I have every right to to bash them.