Aussies This Is Important

Jeanie

Don't lose your right to vote! ~ Anna Burke MP Federal Member for Chisholm

The next Federal Election will be held this year, but as a result of the Howard Government's new undemocratic electoral laws, you could be denied your right to vote.

The electoral roll will close on the day the election is called,which means that if you're not already on the roll when the election is called, you won't get to vote. Previously, first time voters had seven days to enrol after the election was called.

In addition, if you're already on the roll but need to change your details, you will now have only three days to do so after the election is called.

These changes mean that more than 400,000 people may miss out on voting in the federal election this year. Don't be one of them - make sure you're eligible to vote well before the election is called and make your vote count.

If you're aged 17 years, you can provisionally enrol to vote. Your name will then be placed on the electoral roll so you will be able to vote as soon as you turn 18.

If you're enrolling or updating enrolment details, you will need to comply with severe new proof of identity requirements.

You will now have to provide your driver's licence details or have 'prescribed' documents witnessed by an 'authorised' person. If you don't have proof of identity, you will need to have two enrolled people, whom you have known for at least a month, confirm your identity.

If you're not on the roll, or are not enrolled to vote at your current address, contact me for an enrolment form on 9898 0675

You can also check your current enrolment details at the Australian Electoral Commission website at: http://www.aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26.

http://www.annaburke.com/newsletters/pdf/Monash%20Aug%2007.pdf


So make sure your enrolment is up to date folks or your one chance to really have a say could be taken from you.
Anyway, once you're all enrolled , just wondering what people's thoughts are on these new enrolment rules.

lucylespian

I'm not fazed, but I'll make sure I get to vote to keep bloody Rudd and Labor out !!
Like we need another fricking recession !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeanie

lucylespian wrote:

I'm not fazed, but I'll make sure I get to vote to keep bloody Rudd and Labor out !!
Like we need another fricking recession !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it doesn't really affect me either lucy. And I'm not particularly a fan of Kevin 07 either but I think it's interesting that Johnny and co felt it necessary to make these changes to the Electoral laws.

It does have ramifications for people that aren't able to to enrol for whatever reason or that get caught out.
What possible benefits could there be for making these changes?

lucylespian

Actually, I'm inclined to think this will make people pull their finger out. I think that the main reason people don't vote is apathy, not the state of the electoral laws.
If anything, I would say there will be a very short space between the election being called, and voting day, and these chanes are probably there to make it easier to get teh necessary paperwork done in a short time.

Jeanie

lucylespian wrote:

Actually, I'm inclined to think this will make people pull their finger out. I think that the main reason people don't vote is apathy, not the state of the electoral laws.
If anything, I would say there will be a very short space between the election being called, and voting day, and these chanes are probably there to make it easier to get teh necessary paperwork done in a short time.

Well yeah making the paperwork easier if there is a short time between the announcement and the election is a sensible thing for the Electoral Commission. But what about if you would normally vote and you've moved and you're unable to update your information because you're sick or caring for a sick loved one or are recently bereaved or a whole bunch of other reasons that could in effect null and void your opportunity to vote? Bearing in mind that some of these new laws would affect people that are already enrolled therefore are already voters and so by virtue of them being enrolled would indicate that they're not apathetic?

catefrances

well i dont see the problem. either you give a damn and are enrolled and have your details up to date. or you couldn't give a shit and need not be bothered being engaged at all in our lovely COMPULSORY 'democratic' process.
people have had ample opportunity and reminding on this issue.

so australia get off your fucking arse and get up to date.

Jeanie

catefrances wrote:

well i dont see the problem. either you give a damn and are enrolled and have your details up to date. or you couldn't give a shit and need not be bothered being engaged at all in our lovely COMPULSORY 'democratic' process.
people have had ample opportunity and reminding on this issue.

so australia get off your fucking arse and get up to date.

So 3 days to change an address or update is ok?

I guess I wouldn't have a problem with it if there was a bit more advertising going on the remind folk to enrol or update now. But I've not seen a lot.
At least before if they called it people would know when they had to be up to date or enrolled by and they had a bit of time to get themselves sorted. I mean there's a lot of things to remember and fluff about with in a life, voting registration is an easy thing to forget in the detritis of everyday life.

I guess if we have to have a COMPULSORY "democratic" process then this new arrangement seems even less democratic to me. If it's compulsory then EVERY single person of voting age needs to be registered and voting. Don't see how this new arrangement would encourage that.

lucylespian

I doubt there would be 400 000 people with a valid reason, maybe 400 000 people not enrolled, liek yours truly probably.

catefrances

Jeanie wrote:

So 3 days to change an address or update is ok?

I guess I wouldn't have a problem with it if there was a bit more advertising going on the remind folk to enrol or update now. But I've not seen a lot.
At least before if they called it people would know when they had to be up to date or enrolled by and they had a bit of time to get themselves sorted. I mean there's a lot of things to remember and fluff about with in a life, voting registration is an easy thing to forget in the detritis of everyday life.

I guess if we have to have a COMPULSORY "democratic" process then this new arrangement seems even less democratic to me. If it's compulsory then EVERY single person of voting age needs to be registered and voting. Don't see how this new arrangement would encourage that.

yeah jeanie 3 days is enough. but personally, i'd give people a week at least. but that's just me not the conservative nazis that are in power now. people know they're moving. they know where they're moving to. i bet they change their video store details, so what's the problem. going into the post office to change your mailing address also gives you opportunity and access to change your voting rego.
and even if you don't change shit just vote in your old electorate. unless you're in a marginal seat it won't make a swat of difference anyway.

Jeanie

lucylespian wrote:

I doubt there would be 400 000 people with a valid reason, maybe 400 000 people not enrolled, liek yours truly probably.

Yeah, I wondered how they arrived at that number myself.

thewaiting

catefrances wrote:

yeah jeanie 3 days is enough. but personally, i'd give people a week at least. but that's just me not the conservative nazis that are in power now. people know they're moving. they know where they're moving to. i bet they change their video store details, so what's the problem. going into the post office to change your mailing address also gives you opportunity and access to change your voting rego.
and even if you don't change shit just vote in your old electorate. unless you're in a marginal seat it won't make a swat of difference anyway.

I moved house 3 months ago and the Electoral Commission found and forwarded the forms to me. Dont know how they found me, maybe the Centrelink goons helped out.
When you vote, do they cross your name and address off ? If they do you cant really vote in your old electorate because someone else is now registered under that address. Bring the election on, i say.

Jeanie

thewaiting wrote:

I moved house 3 months ago and the Electoral Commission found and forwarded the forms to me. Dont know how they found me, maybe the Centrelink goons helped out.
When you vote, do they cross your name and address off ? If they do you cant really vote in your old electorate because someone else is now registered under that address. Bring the election on, i say.

Jeez! Sounds like ASIO's watching you! :eek:

But yeah, maybe Centrelink did help but it doesn't sound likely. They're not usually very helpful.

You can still vote at your old electorate. It's your name and address together that they cross off and they find you on the roll alphabetically under your surname, they wouldn't know who else was registered at that address if they didn't share your surname. Well not until they were looking for them anyway. Last time I voted at my old electorate that's all that happened I think.

thewaiting

Jeanie wrote:

Jeez! Sounds like ASIO's watching you! :eek:

But yeah, maybe Centrelink did help but it doesn't sound likely. They're not usually very helpful.

You can still vote at your old electorate. It's your name and address together that they cross off and they find you on the roll alphabetically under your surname, they wouldn't know who else was registered at that address if they didn't share your surname. Well not until they were looking for them anyway. Last time I voted at my old electorate that's all that happened I think.

Looking at the stern advice they sent (still wondering how they found me!) it says when new occupants register at my old address im crossed off. Until i update details im a nobody. Ah i dunno , but some are those woman at the polling booths are quite serious and i dont wanna get told off like alil girl.
I hope you dont think your talking to a brick wall here. Just a few brain cells missing from the good old days. Plus me thinks if you dont ask , you wont know.

Jeanie

thewaiting wrote:

Looking at the stern advice they sent (still wondering how they found me!) it says when new occupants register at my old address im crossed off. Until i update details im a nobody. Ah i dunno , but some are those woman at the polling booths are quite serious and i dont wanna get told off like alil girl.
I hope you dont think your talking to a brick wall here. Just a few brain cells missing from the good old days. Plus me thinks if you dont ask , you wont know.

Wow! That's news to me! But then it's been a long time since I had to update my details I've been at my current address so long so maybe they have changed the rules or maybe they're just different in WA? That's where you are right? Can you make an absentee vote and got to a polling centre and vote before the day? Or maybe just update the address? Did you mention that you couldn't? Sorry! I've got a mind like a sieve!

But yeah, it's VERY strange that they found you!
And no I don't think I'm talking to a brick wall!

thewaiting

Jeanie wrote:

Wow! That's news to me! But then it's been a long time since I had to update my details I've been at my current address so long so maybe they have changed the rules or maybe they're just different in WA? That's where you are right? Can you make an absentee vote and got to a polling centre and vote before the day? Or maybe just update the address? Did you mention that you couldn't? Sorry! I've got a mind like a sieve!

But yeah, it's VERY strange that they found you!
And no I don't think I'm talking to a brick wall!

When someone living in your old abode registers they recieve forms to fill in. On the back is the names of who lived there before , they cross you off and whack their crap in. The E.C. then sends another 2 letters to that house looking for you after that you're not eligible to vote unless you've updated.
If say you're in Antartica ( thats stated) or unable to get to a polling place, you just fill in a "special" form.
Me kinda lost again.... i need a Bundy . Tehehe

catefrances

i wonder if you could get a lawyer and plead being a conscientious objector to the whole notion of representative democracy and the compulsory voting.
quite frankly i think the only people who should have to vote are those in swinging seats. the rest of us are just wasting that saturday.

Jeanie

thewaiting wrote:

When someone living in your old abode registers they recieve forms to fill in. On the back is the names of who lived there before , they cross you off and whack their crap in. The E.C. then sends another 2 letters to that house looking for you after that you're not eligible to vote unless you've updated.
If say you're in Antartica ( thats stated) or unable to get to a polling place, you just fill in a "special" form.
Me kinda lost again.... i need a Bundy . Tehehe

Serious? :eek: That sounds like a gross invasion of privacy to me! Doesn't sound right that they can tell the new inhabitants the names of the people previously living at an address. And to think that they would change a persons electoral information or attempt to contact someone based on the say so from some one other than the individual it applies to is pretty rank. It's not like you can even get the bloody phone cut off when someone dies if you're not the dead person or a registered executee. You can't change the address on an account with the gas or electricity unless you're the account holder. And you've got to prove that. When my dodgy ex left here I rang VIC ROADS to tell them that he no longer lived here and they said they wouldn't update his address to the one that I had for him and they wouldn't contact him at the new address either. SO I had to tell them very sternly that if they weren't going to update his details they most definitely had an obligation to me to remove my address from his records. And indicate that he no longer resided at my address. Told em if they didn't I'd get a stat dec and a lawyer.
Didn't want the cops breaking down the door in the middle of the night looking for him here! :eek:
Phew! After that I need a BUNDY too! Cheers big ears!

oh! and you'd better get onto the AEC and update your address before they come cart you off or something!

thewaiting

Jeanie wrote:

Serious? :eek: That sounds like a gross invasion of privacy to me! Doesn't sound right that they can tell the new inhabitants the names of the people previously living at an address. And to think that they would change a persons electoral information or attempt to contact someone based on the say so from some one other than the individual it applies to is pretty rank. It's not like you can even get the bloody phone cut off when someone dies if you're not the dead person or a registered executee. You can't change the address on an account with the gas or electricity unless you're the account holder. And you've got to prove that. When my dodgy ex left here I rang VIC ROADS to tell them that he no longer lived here and they said they wouldn't update his address to the one that I had for him and they wouldn't contact him at the new address either. SO I had to tell them very sternly that if they weren't going to update his details they most definitely had an obligation to me to remove my address from his records. And indicate that he no longer resided at my address. Told em if they didn't I'd get a stat dec and a lawyer.
Didn't want the cops breaking down the door in the middle of the night looking for him here! :eek:
Phew! After that I need a BUNDY too! Cheers big ears!

oh! and you'd better get onto the AEC and update your address before they come cart you off or something!

aahh "nods head" the token dodgy boyfriend. I hear you there!
Yeah iwill update asap. The letter said within 2 weeks but its been bout 4. Ummah Im bad. I certainly dont want mysterious cars parked outside my house, J/K .... kinda

Jeanie

thewaiting wrote:

aahh "nods head" the token dodgy boyfriend. I hear you there!

He's gone now. On yer bike Morry! Rode off into the sunset, thankfully! Or hell or wherever it is they go! Who cares? Just glad the bastard's gone!

thewaiting wrote:

Yeah iwill update asap. The letter said within 2 weeks but its been bout 4.

eh! f**k em! They can wait! Just don't wait too long or you won't be allowed to vote!

thewaiting wrote:

Ummah Im bad.

Oh how cool to read ummah here! LMAO! Thank you!

thewaiting wrote:

I certainly dont want mysterious cars parked outside my house, J/K .... kinda

Yeah, they've probably tapped your phone. I'm sure mine is! :eek: We're always joking about it, but it's not like they don't do it. I always make sure to make it interesting for them!

i like matt.c

Jeanie wrote:

Don't lose your right to vote! ~ Anna Burke MP Federal Member for Chisholm

The next Federal Election will be held this year, but as a result of the Howard Government's new undemocratic electoral laws, you could be denied your right to vote.

The electoral roll will close on the day the election is called,which means that if you're not already on the roll when the election is called, you won't get to vote. Previously, first time voters had seven days to enrol after the election was called.

In addition, if you're already on the roll but need to change your details, you will now have only three days to do so after the election is called.

These changes mean that more than 400,000 people may miss out on voting in the federal election this year. Don't be one of them - make sure you're eligible to vote well before the election is called and make your vote count.

If you're aged 17 years, you can provisionally enrol to vote. Your name will then be placed on the electoral roll so you will be able to vote as soon as you turn 18.

If you're enrolling or updating enrolment details, you will need to comply with severe new proof of identity requirements.

You will now have to provide your driver's licence details or have 'prescribed' documents witnessed by an 'authorised' person. If you don't have proof of identity, you will need to have two enrolled people, whom you have known for at least a month, confirm your identity.

If you're not on the roll, or are not enrolled to vote at your current address, contact me for an enrolment form on 9898 0675

You can also check your current enrolment details at the Australian Electoral Commission website at: http://www.aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26.

http://www.annaburke.com/newsletters/pdf/Monash%20Aug%2007.pdf


So make sure your enrolment is up to date folks or your one chance to really have a say could be taken from you.
Anyway, once you're all enrolled , just wondering what people's thoughts are on these new enrolment rules.

I'm 17 and I enroled The other week. I can't wait to finally have my say. I know I'm only one person but I'm optimistic.

Jeanie

i like matt.c wrote:

I'm 17 and I enroled The other week. I can't wait to finally have my say. I know I'm only one person but I'm optimistic.

way to go matt.c! Every little vote counts!