Everyone has a hobby I'm starting to think that's his.You take the fun out of everything, Cap't...
You are correctEveryone has a hobby I'm starting to think that's his.
Oh I agree with you there, I actually wouldn't mind it if we went to mandatory, or compulsory voting like they do in AU, though I'd leave it on the traditional day here in the US and just make it a national work holiday exempting Health Care, Emergency Services, and other public safety professions, leaving it basically illegal for any other business to operate that day.Seriously can't actually 'believe' your voting system. There is NO WAY that voting would be held on a working weekday in our country (Australia). ALL voting is done on a Saturday from 8am - 6pm to allow the majority of people the best opportunity to vote. You can vote early in all major centres two weeks prior to the official vote if for whatever reason you will be unable to vote on the selected day (travelling etc). You can postal vote if you are going to be away. The LONGEST time I have every had to 'wait' to vote has been around 20mins but then again I went at 'peak' time around 10am sat morning.
It is also COMPULSORY which is probably the BEST thing about it. (Compulsory does not mean you have to actually mark the ballot paper or vote formally, if there is no one on the ballot you want you can 'informal' vote by leaving it blank or writing Elmer Fudd or whatever) but you do have to go to the voting booth and get your name marked off the election roll. Beauty of this is that most people that attend figure if they are there they may as well vote properly. At the last federal election in 2016 the informal vote was 5.05%. Sure there are always the bunch of bogans who complain about it being compulsory but the low informal vote shows that it is the most effective way to ensure that the most people take up their responsibility to vote. Gee they even have 'sausage' sizzles and all manner of stuff at the voting venues. Last one I went to the local Hospital Auxillary had its fundraising stand outside selling cakes and stuff to raise money for the hospital. The majority of voting venues are local schools, hospitals, community centres etc.
I cant believe nearly 50% of the eligible voters didn't bother to vote, and nor can I believe that of the 360+ million people in the USA only 225 mil are even registered. The fact that only around 125mil voted is really quite amazing. Sad really that so few people can be bothered about the people in control of their lives.
Oh on another note and given the above : see my other thread *shoves tongue in cheek*
Re: access - while Tuesday gets all the attention for its carnival like atmosphere and coverage, voting here (it varies some from state to state) is a month long opportunity. You can vote early 9-5 Monday - Friday, and 9-1 Saturday at the county clerks office; you can vote by mail (absentee) if you are out of town or disabled/homebound. The polling places here in Wisconsin are open from 7am - 9pm. So it's not so much that people can't go vote as it is they won't.Seriously can't actually 'believe' your voting system. There is NO WAY that voting would be held on a working weekday in our country (Australia). ALL voting is done on a Saturday from 8am - 6pm to allow the majority of people the best opportunity to vote. You can vote early in all major centres two weeks prior to the official vote if for whatever reason you will be unable to vote on the selected day (travelling etc). You can postal vote if you are going to be away. The LONGEST time I have every had to 'wait' to vote has been around 20mins but then again I went at 'peak' time around 10am sat morning.
It is also COMPULSORY which is probably the BEST thing about it. (Compulsory does not mean you have to actually mark the ballot paper or vote formally, if there is no one on the ballot you want you can 'informal' vote by leaving it blank or writing Elmer Fudd or whatever) but you do have to go to the voting booth and get your name marked off the election roll. Beauty of this is that most people that attend figure if they are there they may as well vote properly. At the last federal election in 2016 the informal vote was 5.05%. Sure there are always the bunch of bogans who complain about it being compulsory but the low informal vote shows that it is the most effective way to ensure that the most people take up their responsibility to vote. Gee they even have 'sausage' sizzles and all manner of stuff at the voting venues. Last one I went to the local Hospital Auxillary had its fundraising stand outside selling cakes and stuff to raise money for the hospital. The majority of voting venues are local schools, hospitals, community centres etc.
I cant believe nearly 50% of the eligible voters didn't bother to vote, and nor can I believe that of the 360+ million people in the USA only 225 mil are even registered. The fact that only around 125mil voted is really quite amazing. Sad really that so few people can be bothered about the people in control of their lives.
Oh on another note and given the above : see my other thread *shoves tongue in cheek*