More than 90% of eligible Australians are expected to vote in the election on 18 May – because it’s one of the few countries to have compulsory voting.
source
Australia election: Fines, donkey votes and democracy sausages – BBC News
21 comments on Australia election: Fines, donkey votes and democracy sausages – BBC News
21 responses to “Australia election: Fines, donkey votes and democracy sausages – BBC News”
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Australia, land of freedoms. Unless you don't wish to vote, cause maybe you think it's all full of crooks. Then your right to vote or not vote is a privilege enforced by threats. Australian, not so free.
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Dear BBC you have less subs than youtubers yet you want us to pay your wages. time to wake up people
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New phrase hits the Aussie vocabulary. 2:04 Never forget George Pell!!!
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It's ok, they are not having a UK General Election to sort out their brexit mess…he can eat his democracy sausage which ever way he like while he decides who to vote for in the European elections, or whether to turn up to vote for England's would be Maps at all.
I thought democracy was all about politicians delivering the will of the people, like after a Referendum vote…I thought. -
Australia gets a good rep, but I've never cared for them.
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BBC= RAND Corporation!
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An Englishman in Manly… wow….
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Australia has the best system in the world. First it's a preferential system, so everyone's vote counts, even if your first choice doesn't get in. Second like the reporter said, it's compulsory, it's a citizens duty.
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Whats wrong with his face?!!! Sunburn?
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Only 55% of US voters actually bother to vote? Now I get it! That's how a country ends up with a half-bright, tiny handed sex offender as a "president".
Land of the "REEEE!"Home of the terminally apathetic.
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Plus Australia has the Australian Electoral Commission – run by public servants and politically neutral, ensuring that the voting process is fair – unlike that in the USA. Also, it's the same paper-and-pencil system throughout the country, which also helps to ensure fairness. Oh, and an Aussie invented the tiny little pencil (like the Ikea one) to mark the paper.
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In practice donkey voting and it's cousin informal voting is also when you mark your ballot paper up in any way… like writing a comment, or even no vote at all. These are the ways a small percentage of people 'protest' their compulsory vote. And since it's a secret ballot no one knows what you've got on your paper and only votes that have a tick or numbering are actually counted. The US practice of "writing in" is anathema here as that would invalidate your vote.
It should also be noted, that because we have compulsory voting and an independent, non-political electoral commission there are an abundance of polling places, including mobile polls that travel to aged care facilities, for example. Most Australians can easily walk to their local polling place at the local school or church etc. We can also vote out of our electorate easily as every booth has printed directories of every registered Australian voter, so you can get ticked off the list anywhere and your vote is sent back (sealed) to your electorate as an absentee vote.
In reality compulsory voting has meant that Australia has had very 'centrist' govt for many decades without the wild swings left and right that some countries have experienced. I would contend, as would many Australians, that we are a more truly democratic nation since our politics more accurately reflects our wishes. Freedom of choice not to vote is not seen as being as important as democratic choice (and you can always donkey it 🙂 ). This means that we all see the govt as representing us, which is reflected in the fact that Australians consider govt as a "Service Provider" rather than as an interference in our freedoms. It also means that politicians don't have to focus on 'getting out the vote'. They just have to convince us who deserves our vote.
Also… that's totally a cold, wrinkly sausage – and you should always #demandthecrust
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Does anyone see static and afterimages in their vision? That could be visual snow syndrome.
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People need to start unsubscribing from this bullshit channel,lies,lies, lies
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Just like the homeless Australian people get cooked either way .
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No. This is wrong – and is more mind manipulation of the "tell a lie often enough and people believe it's true" variety. How can anyone know if you vote or not, given that no-one is in the voting booth with you and there are no cameras; which is why such a high proportion of "votes" are "informal". ie. they dont vote, they just scrawl some insults on the paper. However, this is also not necessary.. It is required in Australia that you are registered with the Electoral Commission. It is required that you turn up to the voting place you are booked for, walk in, give your name and be crossed off. At which point you can, in fact, leave. Some years ago, when Keating was PM, a young man stood outside a voting station letting everyone know this. He got put in prison – purely for telling people what the law is. Public outcry got him released fast – but he was a political prisoner. Australia is a tyranny, like all other AngloSphere countries.
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Screw the Australian voting system. I disliked it. It's undemocratic and very unpatriotic
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Bbc it's over, no one likes you and hasn't done in years, I want a refund on my TV licence, I haven't watched live TV for years,, you owe me £849 and I want my money, I will be sending the goons round to knock on your door see how yous like it
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FREE ASSANGE
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The BBC hate and demonize the British working-class. https://youtu.be/Nxuzx7P2QE4
Stop being propagandised by a corrupt organisation (https://youtu.be/mQeKy1v-R-I) and cancel your TV licence today (https://youtu.be/VMb-fd_9gpY).
