Why do Australians vote with Pencils.

The use of pencils is hopeless, but is not an issue as any ballot that appears to have an erasure on it is informal.

I have been OIC of polling booths for at least 8 elections and was OIC of 2 remote polling teams

With the cardboard boxes you fail to mention the box is sealed with a security tape, which if broken invalidates the ballots and the OIC "got a lotta xplainin to do" as Desi Arnez would have said.

Each box is checked off before it is opened and the ballots are sorted then counted. All informal votes will be checked again after the count to ensure none were considered valid. So really the cardboard is not a big issue, and the pencil although ridiculous is not a big issue either.

However the sooner we have electronic voting the better, and it will mean quicker cleaner results, especially from absentee and isolated voters

 

Long john who? and captian what?

50% wage cuts are well lets say an unevenness of sacrifice ,any wage cut even 1% is unacceptable and requires the ending of capitialism ,its like saying a "F"for fail -1%.

0% annual wage increases is a F for Failed for the USA.Workers don't mind slow accumulation of living Standards .but 50% Reductions of pre-existing Wage levels is Revolutionary Worker Making.

Revolution is essentially an economic process.

 

Oh the federal department of Pencil sharpening is putting on a Thrid Shift.

here is my new Election Rap.

We want julia Gillards Gizzards ,

Cause she's lower then the belly of a Lizard,

just started what you all think can add if you like .?

 

Well its looking like the Ballot is now upon us with the internal rifts between Gillard and Rudd now openly taking place in factional bickering that is on par with the Republican Presidental candidates.

Get ready with the sharpeners kids the election is on sooner then later.

political division of ones political opponents is so cool.

 

Yeah, because elections should be decided by hackers.

 

i have just sat through the reform perspective of julia gillard and peter garret on the ABC ,yuk ,it gets worse now they want to reorgainise the education system get ready for dumb kids.

They are going to suck a $5billion increase in funding out of thin air evidently!

Its a declearation of an election essentially .

 

Given that this thread extends to 30 pages, I have to admit that I haven't read all the posts but, using the search function, it seems to me that the following information, from the FAQs on the Australian Electoral Commission's website, has not been mentioned:

That said, the pencils they supply are fairly hard, and it would be rather obvious if someone rubbed something out.....

 

So if you erased an errant mark on your ballot and then cast your vote, would your ballot be thrown out?

 

I think it probably would. Aren't you supposed to go back and ask for another form (after handing the first one back of course) if you make a mistake? I know I've done that a couple of times....

 

Pencils shchmencils. I am aghast when I see the US electoral system is controlled by local politicians. The scope for corruption is immense.

Now, give us back our Secret Ballot, you don't really need it anyway

 

It would (usually) be put aside by a scrutineer and then a decision would be made based on the closer examination by all scrutineers present.

 

Yep, that's how its done. I have only voted once, but did so with a pen.

Since you ask, the government says:

"Why do they supply pencils in polling booths and not pens? Doesn't using pencils allow votes to be tampered with?

The provision of pencils in polling booths is a requirement of section 206 of the Electoral Act. There is, however nothing to prevent an elector from marking his or her ballot paper with a pen if they so wish. The AEC has found from experience that pencils are the most reliable implements for marking ballot papers. Pencils are practical because they don't run out and the polling staff check and sharpen pencils as necessary throughout election day. Pencils can be stored between elections and they work better in tropical areas. The security of your vote is guaranteed as the storage and counting of ballots is tightly scrutinized."
http://www.aec.gov.au/faqs/voting_australia.htm#pencils

 

I don't fully understand the cultural rivalry between New Zealand and Australia, but I can imagine what it's like to have two similar countries side by side. It must be fodder for comedians. I did snicker at an episode of the Chaser when Julian tried to get the PM of NZ to answer Trivial Pursuit questions where the answers included six.

 

hehe the old "cultural rivalry between New Zealand and Australia" is mostly comprised of Aussies making jokes about kiwis, and then kiwis getting angry because they dont have an army to get payback. Its probably fitting the national symbol of NZ is a kiwi - a flightless, ugly bird. hehe

 

"Fush and chups" is a joke?

You guys only achieved humour of any subtlety when a Kiwi "cultural" icon, John Clarke, migrated to OZ in the late 70s.

 

Stop it. I'm still getting over the end of Footrot Flats. This is not a joke.

 

Thats another reason that Australia must get the Union Jack off the flag,i reckon Kiwi,bird of Paridise and the Emu top left hand corner Red Southern cross with blue background ,call it Australiasia and be done with petty rivalary.

or maybe Aboriginal flag with of the People of New Zealand and Papua New Gunea choice in symbol.

I am sick of being a English Penal Colony known as the State of NSW.Bloody,Wales South Wales at that .

 

See here good person,Footrotflats is a modern classic of Comedy !

Our intrests lay with unification of the Nations of Anzac,even before US Imperialism and Inviting Papua new guinea in the the United Socialist States of Asia as well is a pretty good Idea.


We cfannnot remain as we are thats changed already.Even though we are at the arsend of the Planet and our neighbours.


What the Hell lets go Revolutionary for once just like everyone else lets try this new found NOT, Revolutionary Politics .otherwise the tridal Wave of Global dpression will inevitably strike at society itself ,thanks to Capitialism again.

Meanwhile the Australian Labour party Implodes before our very eyes ,election in March ,no carbon Tax and a Hated Liberal Government.What the hell lets go General Strike as well around May.if Not earlier ,the pencils are being sharpened ,Rudd or gillard or NONOOONOOOOO SIMON CREAN EX TRADE UNION LEADER NO NO NO I want to be a political refugee to Democratic America Please save Us, SIMON ACTU president CREAN!!!!!

 

A Masterpiece of epic Proportions ,the funniest read and most rollicking yarn as to be priceless.

 

Look at your flag and ask how the Union Jack went away and then look for the differences in the two flags presently flapping down here.At least you are near where everything happens in the world ,Down here in the land Mass with beautiful spaces and and Vulcanic Fury and snow ,nothing happens in a hurry ,until about 4years ago that is ,we still have to deal with the Jack on our Backs ,a laughing stock amongst 'Avanced Nations"i am really Jack of the Jack.Even your Southern neighbours {who i am worried deeply about as to the lack of sane leadership]threw of the yoke of the british monarch!

 

Beautifully funny, lovely humour, I miss it.

 

Yes the planet is lesser for the pssing as the Dog is exploring free as we all desire .With a Backdrop of sheep and rugby ,life and death with comic twist.

 

Who is John Clarke? In the Southern states of USA, people are preoccupied with denying Abortion rights and voicing their support for the Catholic priest and Southern Baptist alliance to prevent women having contraception.Thus, the Rick Santorium one man band, has become the favorite TV show.

So as far as the Southern Conservative Neo Victorian Revival committee is concerned,the list of NZ stars is not currently part of the agenda. They, would, however, appreciate a reminder as to exactly where NZ is again, since any part of the world outside the old confederacy is simply refered to as "foreign land".

 

I will have you know good fellow that New Zealand is next to the Arsend of the world called AUSSTTrralia!

Beinging Asrenders has advantages when the taliban of America goes feral,always picking on women and children again ,why do Religious nutters always pick on women and children ????????

Oh well the Secular Revolution is on its way again.

 

Hey everyone the ALP Government may not last a week ,lets give it a Push so we can get to Mad monk Abbott and statt the Secular Revolution Here .All buisness is off and the Mad monk is excited ,don't worry the wiping of the smiek off his face will be fun .

Mad monk Abbott against a resurgent militant working Class YIPPPPPEEEEEE!

As the stinking carcass of the ALP crumbles like Stalinism in the Sun.

EXCEELLLLELENT!