Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mongrel · 02-12-2003, 03:21 AM

Quote:

that only really applies to preference voting though.

I don't know about that. Whichever party is on the left side of the ballot form seems to get the donkey votes.

Quote:

I never understood the donkey vote. If you don't want to vote, why not just hand in a blank ballot?

Me either. But I've tried explaining that to people who admit to being "donkey-voters", and the reply I always seem to get is, "But I have to vote for someone". As if the vote counters will know who puts in a blank ballot...:banghead:

moon · 02-12-2003, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ju'iblex
i think of it this way: if a person is not voting because they dont have to, then they forfeit their right to complain about the actions of whatever party is voted in.

This assumes that all political choices are represented in one or another of the two major parties.

That assumption is absurd, of course.

beyelzu · 02-12-2003, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michaelson
I never understood the donkey vote. If you don't want to vote, why not just hand in a blank ballot?

And even taking into account the donkey votes, wouldn't you think that an election with 95% turnout would be more representative than an election with 50% or thereabouts?

Beyelzu: The term compulsory voting is actually misleading, I guess. You can still abstain by handing in a blank ballot. Compulsory voting essentially means compulsory attendence.

how would it be enforced. I am not familiar with compulsory voting.

Depending on how its set up I migt be for it. I am not sure.

mongrel · 02-12-2003, 03:51 AM

Quote:

how would it be enforced. I am not familiar with compulsory voting.

Everyone of voting age or over has to register, and is put on the electoral roll. Those not being crossed off the roll on voting day get fined($20AUS, I believe it is here).

I'm not sure about the enforcement of registering, though...

beyelzu · 02-12-2003, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mongrel
Everyone of voting age or over has to register, and is put on the electoral roll. Those not being crossed off the roll on voting day get fined($20AUS, I believe it is here).

I'm not sure about the enforcement of registering, though...

Do you just have one day to vote?

It would be interesting to see how that skewed voting to the poor. Rich and upper middle class that didnt want to vote might just pay the fine. Poorer people probably wouldnt.

seanie · 02-12-2003, 03:59 AM

The thought of all those poor people voting might concentrate the minds of the rich if you know what I mean.

mongrel · 02-12-2003, 04:02 AM

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Do you just have one day to vote?

Yup. No matter if it's local(although I think local elections are still optional), state or federal.

kwigibo · 02-12-2003, 05:03 AM

60 dollar fine up here, mongrel.

Per · 02-12-2003, 05:58 AM

I voted 'against' because I think compulsory voting is symptom treatment, the symptom being low voter turnout and the disease being an ill, dysfunctional voting system.
Insted of jumping to the 'easy' way out, compulsory voting, other measures should be employed, such as increasing the salience of elections and generally make the public care more about elections. If those measures OTOH are employed _after_ compulsory voting, there is no way to tell how well they work because the artificially high voter turnout will cover up the effects.
This _could_ work seeing as there are countries without compulsory voting where voter turnout approaches 90%.

Melkor · 02-12-2003, 06:45 AM

I voted against.

In fact, I think most of the people that DO vote, shouldn't.

I think there should be a test before you get your ballot, which can be used to determine if the person going in to vote has any idea who they are going in to vote for.

If they are completely uninformed, no ballot.

People wonder why our country is so screwed up, well, there's your answer.

View Poll Results: What's your view on compulsory voting?
For	18	31.03%
Against	40	68.97%
Voters: 58. You may not vote on this poll

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02-12-2003, 03:59 AM	#16
seanie Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Edinburgh. Scotland Posts: 2,532	The thought of all those poor people voting might concentrate the minds of the rich if you know what I mean.

02-12-2003, 05:03 AM	#18
kwigibo Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia Posts: 5,814	60 dollar fine up here, mongrel.

02-12-2003, 05:58 AM	#19
Per Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 386	I voted 'against' because I think compulsory voting is symptom treatment, the symptom being low voter turnout and the disease being an ill, dysfunctional voting system. Insted of jumping to the 'easy' way out, compulsory voting, other measures should be employed, such as increasing the salience of elections and generally make the public care more about elections. If those measures OTOH are employed _after_ compulsory voting, there is no way to tell how well they work because the artificially high voter turnout will cover up the effects. This _could_ work seeing as there are countries without compulsory voting where voter turnout approaches 90%.

02-12-2003, 06:45 AM	#20
Melkor Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Void Posts: 396	I voted against. In fact, I think most of the people that DO vote, shouldn't. I think there should be a test before you get your ballot, which can be used to determine if the person going in to vote has any idea who they are going in to vote for. If they are completely uninformed, no ballot. People wonder why our country is so screwed up, well, there's your answer.

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