Should voting be compulsory?

[wog_girl]

Hmm I wonder if "refuse to vote for monkeys" would be accepted as a valid and sufficient reason?

[Neferti]

It is pathetic. $20. LOL I tried the system with a local ACT by-election some years back. I even rang the ACT Liberal Party to enquire who their candidate was. They didn't have one, but they told me I could vote for "somebody or other" because she "used to be a Liberal and is now an Independent". Big deal.

I didn't bother to turn up. A couple of weeks later I got a letter from the Electoral Office telling me that I owe $20 for not voting. LOL They also threatened that if I did not pay within a certain time they would "take me to Court" . I rolled around laughing and sent them a cheque.

Having been dropped off the Rolls numerous times, even though I have lived in the same address for almost 30 years ... I have no faith in the Electoral Office.

I honestly think that IF we have to keep the current system of compulsory registration at age 18 and that the onus is on you to update your address, should you change it (you can do that online these days), they SHOULD make those lining up to vote produce some sort of ID (driver's licence"?) to prove who you are. Otherwise it is a farce.

[boxy]

It is a quite reasonable penalty. It's just there so that it's just as much effort not to vote, as it is to turn up at a polling place.

[wog_girl]

I live in a safe Labor seat and it won't change this year. I really do not want to waste my time lining up and dealing with dickheads to vote in a safe Labor seat. It's ridiculous and I'm not doing it. I have better things to do so I'll pay the $20 and be done with it.

[Neferti]

It is a quite reasonable penalty. It's just there so that it's just as much effort not to vote, as it is to turn up at a polling place.

I imagine that it is cheaper to NOT vote, taking into account your time, petrol and etcetera.

I always plan to vote in Federal Elections, the local State and Council stuff I care less about. Especially in the ACT.

[boxy]

So get your calculator out, and do the sums.

Perhaps you can get a discount for a pre-payment of your fine

[Neferti]

I live in a safe Labor seat and it won't change this year. I really do not want to waste my time lining up and dealing with dickheads to vote in a safe Labor seat. It's ridiculous and I'm not doing it. I have better things to do so I'll pay the $20 and be done with it.

Exactly. I want Oz to become a Republic when QE2 kicks the bucket. Also think that the 3 tier system they have in the States is ridiculous.

Wog Girl, if they ever have a Referendum on "compulsory voting" I will say NO.

[Neferti]

It is a quite reasonable penalty. It's just there so that it's just as much effort not to vote, as it is to turn up at a polling place.

It is discriminatory. NOBODY should be fined for not doing something as simple as voting when you don't want to.

[Black Orchid]

$20? I got fined $50 for not voting in my local/Council election

[Neferti]

$20? I got fined $50 for not voting in my local/Council election

20 bucks in Canberra. Cheap at half the price.