With a total population of 20 million, assuming 4-5 million are underage, the 1.2 million in nursing care (assumed not underage) would be about 6 percent of the eligible population. This seems like enough to swing an election.

Are there any other groups of 1.2 million that can be manipulated one way or another to offset this?

How does the government keep track of whether or not an individual voted? Do you have a "Real ID" program like the US is implementing at the request and threat of the federal government?

I certainly agree Cy. The estimated 1.2m is a census figure. Australia is approaching the 22 million marked. If you consider that 1/3 of this number are minors, then the 1.2m becomes even more significant. Certainly, some of the nursing care number would be minors, however, they would not be eligible to even register to vote.


The only other group who may be influenced would be citizens who do not speak English. While political brochures and how to vote cards are translated into many languages, the option of a translator at the polling booth is available. However, how anyone can make an informed decision based on a few minutes with a translator is impossible to me. The best they can do is fill in their card correctly. However, as soon as you introduce a third party the 'secret ballot' theory is compromised.

Interesting to note. Citizens incarcerated at the time of an election are ineligible to vote. Postal or otherwise.

The Australia Electoral Commission, is the body responsible for registering and recording votes. Basically, at the age of 18, a registration form is completed and registered with the Commission. Once that is done the voter is added to the Electoral Roll. This is an enormous document, containing the name, date of birth, address and electoral division. On voting day, you simply arrive at the polling booth, produce your photo ID and your name is marked off the register. Now, at this stage you are handed your ballot paper, if you choose you can make a paper plane from it, or do the responsible thing and record a valid vote.

Any registered voters who have not been marked off the register as having attended, will receive a fine in the mail.

The BIG catch is this ... if an 18 year old does not enroll to vote there is little chance of tracking them down. They never make it onto the register, therefore they are never fined.

Go figure!

As a worker for the Labor Party at the elections Tutti has given me an idea. We should flood nursing homes with postal ballots and get the staff to "assist"the patients vote. Of course most Nursing home staff are likely to be labor supporters.
The old tend to vote conservative despite having the government pension and cheap nursing homes because of the Labor party. As they are obviously senile it is only be fair that we cast their vote for Labor would it not!

I afraid Such a conspiracy would be hard to manage. Old people are stubborn and might not go along with this. Also as with Ethenic groups the Conservatives will soon get involve and swing the vote in their direction. I think it is a sign of a democracy that both sides are equaly free to use the same tactics fair or otherwise.

About compulsoey voting I do not have the exact reason but Australian politics before 1924 was very curupt as land owning parties fought over Protection or Free Trade as to which supported their vested interests. I suspect giving votes to a wider section of the population has forced parties to cater for a wider electorate outside their own narrow vested interests.

This seems innocent enough but from what I've seen here this list would be sold to advertisers and possibly the added informaton of who they voted for so advertising can be targeted. That's the least offensive of possibilities I can imagine and I don't like it.



I wouldn't like to see this option excersized but would understand if one felt the other was a little too intrusive. I hate starting adult life as a criminal because it seems like the best option.

Suppose that when the unregistered 18 year old gets to be 25 he decides he wants to vote.

What does he do then? Does he have to pay the fines for not voting for the past seven years, or is he welcomed back into the fold like the prodigal son?

Apparently not Dax. Only citizens who are registered to vote and fail to do so are fined. I know many people who have never registered because they do not believe in compulsory voting.

It is certainly not a perfect system.

By the way, the Electoral Roll is also used for calling up citizens for jury duty.