Early voting
Voting has already started in the US. Originally introduced for serving soldiers, early voting has become convenient for many in 33 of 50 states as they have removed the need to provide an excuse, such as being away, sick etc, in order to prepoll.
Now I understand that in the US there is a need to encourage people to vote and here it is mandatory, but I believe that rather then an election day, we should have an election week.
The reasons that discourage people from voting, other then apathy, disenchantment etc, exist here and often piss people off - long lines, push campaign workers, work, illness and even plain forgetfulness.
Just last election, the local council elections, I finished work at 0715hrs. Drove home, picked up my Mel and proceeded to walk over the bridge towards the school to vote, believing that we'd be voting early and bet the crowds. It was only 0810hrs.
The I saw the cars, and then the line. Every man and his dog had the same idea. Five minutes I had to wait. Granted that's nothing like the nine hours some people in the US have to wait in line (Which also doesn't sound right. Waiting 9 hours to vote should only be in Dictatorships, not a "free" democracy.")
At the last federal election, the polling booth physically closest to my house for was another electorate. My polling booth was on the other side of the suburb. Granted not that big a disadvantage, but for someone knocking off work it's a pain in the arse.
Why not an election week, or even a half week? Why force millions of people to vote on the same day when you can spread it out over a few days and make it more convenient for everyone
Now I understand that in the US there is a need to encourage people to vote and here it is mandatory, but I believe that rather then an election day, we should have an election week.
The reasons that discourage people from voting, other then apathy, disenchantment etc, exist here and often piss people off - long lines, push campaign workers, work, illness and even plain forgetfulness.
Just last election, the local council elections, I finished work at 0715hrs. Drove home, picked up my Mel and proceeded to walk over the bridge towards the school to vote, believing that we'd be voting early and bet the crowds. It was only 0810hrs.
The I saw the cars, and then the line. Every man and his dog had the same idea. Five minutes I had to wait. Granted that's nothing like the nine hours some people in the US have to wait in line (Which also doesn't sound right. Waiting 9 hours to vote should only be in Dictatorships, not a "free" democracy.")
At the last federal election, the polling booth physically closest to my house for was another electorate. My polling booth was on the other side of the suburb. Granted not that big a disadvantage, but for someone knocking off work it's a pain in the arse.
Why not an election week, or even a half week? Why force millions of people to vote on the same day when you can spread it out over a few days and make it more convenient for everyone
posted by Renegade79 at 6:43 pm
2 Comments:
not sure about a whole week - imagine the election antics of being able to campaign while the count is in progress - but a long weekend would be nice. The US gets to vote on a public holiday.
Granted a week is a little extreme. But first rule of negotiation, start at an extreme and work towards a common figure.
Three, days maybe.
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