Record enrolment [98.2%] ahead of 2025 federal election | AEC

Comments

• null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Honestly compulsory voting is one of the best things about Australian democracy.

  Trying to explain it to the yanks is just bonkers.

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  • dumblederp@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Also postal voting. Muricans need time off work and if they're in a vote suppressed area might have to queue for many hours.

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    • Fleur_@hilariouschaos.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      You can postal vote in America. It was one of the most talked about parts of the 2020 American presidential election

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  • bfg9k@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I honestly had a head spin when I was told the voting isn’t mandatory and they don’t get time off for it

    No wonder everyone is so apathetic over there

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    • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Yeah, it makes the “both sides” narrative very effective.

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  • hanrahan@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Used to be big fan but no longer, forcing somone to vote when they don’t want to seems an odd thing to ne proud off. They wont make any sort of rational choice.

    I read a stat some years ago that >60% of people still don’t know who they will vote for as they approach the polling booth which is why we get slammed with a zillion how to vote cards. They should not be voting at all.

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    • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I see it as giving everyone the responsibility to choose a representative. I don’t think that’s much to ask of citizens in a democracy. It’s not like “forcing” a vegan to eat meat.

      I like mandatory voting because it makes more people take an interest, and frankly I find it kind of undemocratic to try to suppress votes from people who might be less informed than yourself.

      If they really object to voting they can pay the $20 fine as a conscientious objector.

      I can’t really respond to a made up statistic that you read somewhere. People use how to vote cards to choose preferences.

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    • Nath@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      You don’t have to vote. You only need to get your name crossed off. You are then able to just leave if you really want.

      And while those ‘how to vote cards’ (and their pushers) are annoying if you don’t need or want them, they do help people get something close to their wishes down on the ballot.

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  • Whirlybird@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    With the number of people who actively vote against their own interests because they’re dumb, I’m starting to agree with those who say voting shouldn’t be compulsory.

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    • pupbiru@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      compulsory voting removes some of the apathy: “they’re both the same” isn’t as powerful to stop people getting out to vote if they’re already at the polling place… it virtually eliminates voter suppression

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    • eureka@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Why would they suddenly not vote if it became optional? The problem isn’t that they’re voting, it’s that they don’t have the class consciousness to recognise and investigate their core interests in federal politics.

      From Condorcet’s jury theorem, it’s clear that having a few million less voters won’t solve the problem, but improving the political literacy of voters can.

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    • writingslowly@aus.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      @Whirlybird @null_dot arguably, not voting is a vote against your own interests

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    • Fleur_@hilariouschaos.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      The reality is there are more lazy people than mislead people. Getting rid of compulsory voting increases the fraction of mislead people voting. See American voter turnouts for reference.

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• dgriffith@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  AEC does a good job of nudging people into getting their enrolment details organised. I changed addresses a little while ago, and it was 30 seconds online to update, with confirmation a few days later via SMS and email.

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  • smegger@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Yeah they have a really good system. We also just moved. Was updated in just a few mins. Very smooth.

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  • Fleur_@hilariouschaos.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Easily the most streamlined sign up process I’ve ever gone though

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• Ringmasterincestuous@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Now if they’d only let me pay my fines in advance…

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