Why do Australians vote with Pencils.

You will find the use of a pencil is mandatory because it is mentioned in The Electoral Act and it appears nobody has bothered to update the Act, probably because it requires Parliamentary approval.

The Act was probably implemented prior to the invention of the biro and the use of a quill pen would have been far worse with ink being spilled all over the place.

 

Me personally, I've never voted with a paper ballot and a pencil in my hands. I'm now 22 and in 4 years I already went voting 4 times: in 2006 for the Town Council and Provincial Council, in 2007 for the Federal Parliament, in 2009 for the Flemish Assembly and the European Parliament and in 2010 again for the Federal Parliament.

I've always voted electronic...with the computer. In fact, the red pencils that where used before are being sold as souvenirs...

I still remember the pictures of the electoral debacle in Florida. Why? My mother - who is largly apolitical - was laughing her socks off at the television because she couldn't believe that "the self-proclaimed superpower still voted with punched cards" (and the she made a finger gesture on to her had, tapping twice ).

That's right, they still voted with spunched cards... and I'm pretty sure some States still use that system... it's freaking pre-historic.

 

Envy of the World,that produces the likes of Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard.

PLLLEEAASSEEE!

What a load of crap!

The great democratic tradition of the Rum Corp.

Fair crack of the whip,cobber!

 

LOL! Did I call it or what? Anyone who thinks that voter fraud doesn't take place anywhere elections are held is naive. Anyone who doesn't support the minimization of the chance for voter fraud is a buffoon and a dupe. The argument that it is too expensive to use ink is ridiculous. The Australian government throws around millions of dollars like so much pocket change and you guys want to save money at the polling booths? How much are free and fair elections worth to you? The argument that the pens would be stolen is even more ridiculous. Has the wondrous invention called 'a pen tether' not made its way to Oz yet? Marvelous devices.

I see nationalism is very strong in Australia. Most of you guys, minus the two aforementioned exclusions, can't take any type of criticism without rolling out the lame excuses.

 

Is a vote discounted as "spoiled" if ink is used, or is it just that pencils are provided in the booth?

 

I don't know about other states but in Missouri the voter has a choice of either casting his/her vote electronically OR on a paper ballot, using an ink pen of course.

 

Does the state Supply the pens or can you bring your own?

 

not 100% sure but i think both, what would be the difference pen's are dirt cheap.


as for the punch ballots, popular vote here means nothing. zero. only electoral vote means anything popular vote is for show.

 

Does not matter as long as the ink is black or dark blue. There are pens in the voting booth if you didn't bring your own.

 

Buggers!They exceeded their authority,section 206 of the electoral Act allows for the use of ones own 'Ink"PEN.I am going to use purple texta.Some thing interesting though,all the pencils are collected and stored ,somewhere for 3 years[no kidding}re sharpened and then reused,collected ect.

The storage cost would make them the most expensive pencils in the world!

Would anyone ,like me to[obtain ] one of these gems and ship it to them ,Iwill !

Sssshh!{bugger,no I won't ASIO,yes it is a Federal crime to steal Electoral Pencils]they are so pretty and Red HB

So remember when you vote that the pencil you are using ,possibly could have been used by your great grandparents in the First Federal Election,is not the worm that determines the Governments of OZ ,Tis' the mighty Pencil!

For all our Overseas Friends ,Yes it is how we truely live around here at the Arse end of the world.

See it gets boring so to pass the time we do weird and Bizaar things,
http://www.aec.gov.au/FAQs/Voting_Australia.htm#Why do they supply pencils in polling booths and not pens? Doesn't using pencils allow votes to be tampered with

 

while I have you here ,why do the individual states determine Federal Electoral Procedure because it seems very non-uniform?

Is it because the electoral Colledges are state based?

 

Not really certain to be honest with you.

 

Pencils are provided, so I guess we use whatever we are given.

 

Is that why the bloody things are only about 1.5 mm long!! I swear sometimes it would be better to write with a thumbnail dipped in tar!

 

I said democratic process not politicans, and its the same process that enables you to vote for someone other than Abbott or Gillard.

 

Australians vote with pencils because they can't be trusted with pens.
There was a movement to make them vote with crayons because even pencils were thought too dangerous, but they couldn't stay inside the lines when they used them so they went back to pencils.

All the pencils are those tiny ones with no erasers that are stolen from local golf courses.

 

Clancy's gone a drovin and we don't know where he are!



Did you know the pencils have especially easy to rub out lead in them. Yep. Honest.

I got no proof, but it's true dinks.

 

The ALP\Lib\soon to be greens ,troika!

Oh ,dear could anything so foul politically be lauched against an almost ,[not quite],ignorant public.

I call Parliament many things but Democracy !!!!! Please try to Refrain from sullying,and dragging through the mud,such slander of Democracy>

Tony Abott says 30mins of telecast debate on the Economy,why because thats what it is assigned in Parliament ,talk about the tail trying to wag the Dog.

 

which reminds me,who said the Mining Companies should Advertise in the Election?

Outrageous really!

only Registered Political Parties shoudld be allowed,1 would think ,not the likes of BHP-Billiton and RIO-Tinto.

Nationalise the lot a, be done with it!

Then we can get on with other things.

 

Australians vote with pencils because it gives them the sense they have lead in their......

 

What do you use?

 

Wanna a cigar?

 

sheep dip of course!

 

This is the correct answer.

I work as a scrutineer in most elections and everything is totally above board.

Anyone can ask to become a scutineer if they want to. They just need to approach a candidate and offer their services.

More info:

http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/candidates/files/scrutineers-handbook-e2010-v2.pdf

 

I want to be paid for it. I would be likely to try and toss out the Liberal votes, though.