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We are having a Provincial Election on May 14.
Campaigning began officially 2 weeks ago
Over the weekend, we received the "official" pamphlet for Elections BC ......... the group that oversees and sets the rules for voting.
In that pamphlet were 2 pieces of information re changes to the rules that I have not seen before ............
1. Parents are ENCOURAGED, and welcomed, to take their child(ren) into the voting booth, and show them how the system works
The idea is that the children will then become accustomed to voting, and will vote themselves when they reach voting age.
2. A change in the rules means that it has been possible to vote at an Elections BC Office since the campaign began ......... not only on the stated Advanced Polling Days and Polling Day, but on any day during the 4 week period that began on April 16 when the writ was dropped.
The only drawback is ............... you're not allowed a second vote if the candidate you preferred withdraws from the race before May 14. Several have already withdrawn.
Not sure about number 2 ...........
........... but what a great idea to encourage children to be taken into the Polling room, and to the booths!
I can remember when OH and I had to take it in turns to go into vote, one staying outside the room to watch over the kid-wink. As she got older, into her early teens, she was allowed into the room, but had to stay near the door.
Mind you, I think parents voting themselves, and talking to their children about voting, its importance, and how to make decisions, is far more important!
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My local elections have such low turnouts that you need to encourage anyone to vote let alone take the children along but a good idea in principal
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GB .........
that is one of the reasons why they are trying this here ........ turn outs are often in the mid-30% range .......
........... many more oldies (50 and up) vote than young people.
I think they're hoping it will pay off in the future.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
At the very least ................... you can't give the excuse that "I had no-one to look after xxxx".
Waiting very impatiently for the next Federal election, due in 2 years time!
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I believe you can't complain if you refuse to vote.
In Oz you get fined for not voting.
Think it's a good idea to let children in with you.
Well done!
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Brenda ......
I have the same belief.
We raised our daughter to be the same, and she voted in every possible elction from the time she became eligible
Then she married, husband had never voted, didn't know anything about it ............. so he was ordered to pay attention to pamphlets, news items, etc, then was dragged off to the Voting Place and ordered to vote! He has voted in every possible election since then!!
We had been living in Australia for about 8 months when it came time for one election. OH was home one day when a officious official came to the door, to ensure that everyone was registered.
He just would not believe that we were not eligible to vote because our visa was only good for 11½ months, then we had to be out of the country. Finally, he stormed away, shouting ........
"On your own heads be it. Don't blame me if you go to jail"!!!!!!!
It is a pretty good idea ................. although it does lead to a lot of spoiled ballots!
Not so sure about the other proportionate representation aspects of Australian parties. It can take days to sort out.
It is fairer, but we're all so used to first past the post.. Our own PM is in power even though his party only got about 33% of the popular vote
so almost 70% of people did not vote for his party
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