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Great cartoon—a social commentary of sorts!
Yep, gonna need a lot of popcorn for at least the next 8 months or so.
We felt entertained more than enough, so voted early (Michigan permits that if a voter is older than 65) and got it over with.
Lucky you. I’m an independent voter in a caucus state (and a swing state at that) and get no say so until November. It’s going to be a very long year …
Just as a matter of interest and not wishing you ill, but what if by some quirk of fate you turn your toes up on the 31st October? Is your vote still counted and valid?
Hmm. Interesting question. Back in the day, with few exceptions, one could only vote on Election Day in November. However, in Colorado we now have universal mail-only voting. Everyone is sent a ballot several weeks before Election Day. But if I mail in my ballot in October and then die before the end of the month, is there a system in place to discard my ballot? I have no idea … but I suspect there isn’t. Another flaw in a system full of potential abuses, which might be why only Washington, Oregon, and Colorado use it.
I must confess I do like and approve of the Australian system. Wherever you are, and in whichever state you are in, the polling stations are identical in the set up and procedure. If, say I were in Perth, WA. on election day I can go to any polling booth in that city or state and vote for the candidate of my choice in my own electorate in NSW knowing full well that my vote will be counted.
We have a completely “Independant Electoral Commission” which runs and oversees ALL elections Local, State and Federal, and woe betide any political party that tries to interfere with their work.
We also have compulsory voting which believe it or not I am in full agreement with! Everybody over the age of 18 must register with the Electoral Commission and when the time comes VOTE 😀
I’m all for it, many men fought and died in two world wars to give us this privilege and I consider it an insult to them not accepting this responsibility.
Here endeth the lesson for today we will now sing Hymn Number 456 All things bright and beautiful! 😈
I recall your mentioning before that Australia has compulsory voting. And I’m still as puzzled by it as ever. Why would Australia want to count the votes of those people who’ve no interest at all in politics, no knowledge of or interest in the issues, or who vote only because they have to and not because they have the slightest interest in what’s going on? Seems very counterproductive to me.
Good point PiedType. I wonder how many Americans really know the electoral process from the wanna be candidate to holding the position of President Of The USA. To me it is convoluted, costly in terms of money,and very confusing. There is the caucus,the primary,the delegate convention then the general election and finally the “electoral college and when necessary the Supreme Court to decide who will be the President.To me the person who got the most votes over all is the winner and not some complicated system. Remember…figures don’t lie,lairs figure!
Yep, ours is a weird, complex system. I think just a simple, nationwide popular vote would work a lot better and be more representative of the will of the people. But I certainly would not institute mandatory voting.
Believe it or not it is accepted by the large majority of Australians, we are all as a whole pretty much interested in politics and our politicians who we all hate or love to hate. Perhaps it stems from the early settlers and the bond that linked them and the distrust of authority. You in the US had the religious settlers we had the convicts 😀
Our Liberal Party would love to do away with compulsory voting, (they are our equivelent to the GOP of the USA) they firmly believe that by doing so this country would become a country of one party and one party only, The Liberal Party of Australia! They like the GOP feel it’s their divine right to govern whether good at it or not. Compulsory voting stops them and keeps them in check.
Polling days here are always great days many of them have BBQ and Sausage Sizzles throughout the day and we really in some weird way celebrate what we are doing.
What the new settlers/immigrants(legal & illegal) think about the system is of no interest, it’s up to them to accept this and get used to it 😈
Many years ago some bloke wrote a book titled “They’re a weird mob” and we certainly are 😀
I forgot to say the BBQ & Sausage sizzles are actually held at the polling stations! 🙄
That sounds like a lot of fun. Sort of a national BBQ.
Yes indeed some polling booths it really is party time, I haven’t been to an election in my current electorate but we go to the polls sometime this year, it’s at the discretion of the Prime Minister, it’s his prerogative to name the day, sort of! I’ll take a camera and if our new polling station is anything like our last I’ll take some pics and let you see what fun an election can be.
That would be fun to see. I’ll look forward to it.
That “weirdness” is part of what endears Aussies to the world. Wear it proudly.
My comment was slightly misleading. I should have said I voted early in the primary election in Michigan. People here over 65 can be treated just as absentee voters are. We get a ballot in the mail about three weeks before the election and then can return it by mail or deliver it to our township clerk. My wife and I both are enrolled in the early voting program, and the notices come to us automatically before every election. We find “pseudo-absentee” voting valuable in that we have more time to study the ballot and discuss issues, especially when the ballot is lengthy and includes several referendum questions. Your question is interesting, and does apply. However, in our case not many days could pass between our passing and election day.
Yes, I assumed you meant voted early for the primary. I love mail-in ballots, whatever the details of the system. Like you, I like being able to take my time to read and carefully consider everything (though the League of Women Voters sends out blue books that detail everything on the ballot). I have occasionally thought about the potential risk of voting several weeks in advance and then having something happen that would make me regret my vote — some scandal breaking around my candidate, or something like that. Has never happened, but I have thought about it.
Over the decades I’ve done my time in long lines at the polls on Election Day. Back then it was only an annoying inconvenience. These days I doubt I could manage the several hours of standing that some of those lines required. So mail-in is wonderful. The first year or two, rather than trust the mail, I took my ballot straight to the dropbox at city hall or wherever, but I’ve learned to trust the system. There’s a website where I can check to see when they receive and post my ballot.
I’m now more confused than ever O_o o_O
Not surprising, considering every state has its own voting/election system. Couldn’t be more different from your single system for the entire country … which sounds quite sensible … except for making voting mandatory. However, it’s very unlikely our states would accept some national voting system and give up their right to conduct their own elections as they see fit. States’ rights and all that. We’re kind of big on that.
here ya go …. it links to a Peter Hart Focus Focus group a couple of days ago in South Carolina …..very interesting ……http://www.wyff4.com/news/voter-focus-group-live-7-pm-thursday-exclusively-on-wyff-4-app/37903688 it’s in three parts ….
Lengthy, but yes, very interesting. Thoughtful discussion with no raised voices, insults. etc. What a shame the candidates and moderators at the debates can’t behave the same way. Thanks for telling me about this. (I actually did watch the whole thing.)
I’m so glad you took the time and great that you enjoyed it. I’ve seen a few of Hart’s focus groups going all the way back to 96, I think, and the evolution of how he conducts them is interesting as well.
I’m a bit surprised at myself for taking the time. Normally would have skipped anything that long. But it was so well done, and thoughtful, and engaging… I got sucked in.
I am so depressed about the candidates this year I’m at a loss for words.
Yep, I know the feeling. At the moment I can’t imagine voting for any of them.
Well, perhaps i might interest you in a new candidate, Amos the Wonder Horse/The People’s Pony (FB site- therapy pony) who is working on his platform right now… as well as remind you about perennial write-in candidate Snoopy. For me, they are as viable as any in the field so far!
Amos certainly looks like the people’s choice, both in his video and on his Facebook page. Snoopy is a bit too establishment for me. I’m ready for a fresh face.
“Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia dead at 79”
With all due respect to the late Justice Scalia and condolences to his loved ones … we’re going to need a lot more popcorn.
Well at least trump the Chump won’t get the chance to nominate a replacement! Good heavens I’ve just noticed that the late Justice is younger than me. Only the good die young. 👿
No, if the Republicans drag their feet long enough and Trump (or any Republican) happens to be elected, he will get to nominate a replacement. But I can’t imagine Republicans fighting Obama’s nomination for the entire remainder of his term. It would distract too much from everything else at issue in the election while highlighting GOP obstructionism. But we shall see. As I said, I think we’re going to need a lot more popcorn.