4 ms·

Unfortunately the UK is the same as the US in this regard. Elections are always held on a Thursday, and employers aren't required to give time off to vote.

bigbluedots 9y ago
In Australia, voting is always on a weekend, and is compulsory. Also, there are sausages in bread for sale
- _delirium 9y ago
  Well, no hot dogs at UK polling stations, but there are regular dogs. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/gallery/2017/jun/08/dogs-at-polling-stations-in-pictures https://www.theguardian.com/politics/gallery/2017/jun/08/dog...
- inopinatus 9y ago
  I'm proud of my democracy sausage but remain unconvinced that criminalising nonparticipation advances the ideals and outcomes of a government by the people. There are downsides too, most obviously when some crude federal politician stretches the Overton window in an attempt to sway reluctant voters.
  - piva00 9y ago
    But is it criminalised? At least in Brazil voting is compulsory but a failure to vote only gives you a VERY meager fine (something less than US$ 1, even for Brazil that is cheap) and if you haven't sorted that out the only penalty is not allowing you to request a new passport. Then you have to pay the fine and go on your merry way again. It's mostly a deterrent by being annoying, paying the fine is a bit bureaucratic so people try to avoid it. Not that Brazil is a beacon of democracy and good leadership but at least it's pretty sensible on the penalties you get for non-participation.
orf 9y ago
That being said, we have a large voter turnout. Huge numbers of polling places (including schools), open before and after working hours. The situation doesn't seem to be as dire as in the USA, at least from my perspective
jdietrich 9y ago
In fairness, all our polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm and rarely have queues of more than a few minutes. Postal and proxy ballots are available to all voters at all elections. There are occasional cock-ups at urban polling stations, but it's rare that someone who wants to vote will be unable to do so. I'd love an extra bank holiday, but I don't think that it'd make any real difference to turnout.

bigbluedots 9y ago

In Australia, voting is always on a weekend, and is compulsory. Also, there are sausages in bread for sale

_delirium 9y ago
Well, no hot dogs at UK polling stations, but there are regular dogs. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/gallery/2017/jun/08/dogs-at-polling-stations-in-pictures https://www.theguardian.com/politics/gallery/2017/jun/08/dog...
inopinatus 9y ago
I'm proud of my democracy sausage but remain unconvinced that criminalising nonparticipation advances the ideals and outcomes of a government by the people. There are downsides too, most obviously when some crude federal politician stretches the Overton window in an attempt to sway reluctant voters.
- piva00 9y ago
  But is it criminalised? At least in Brazil voting is compulsory but a failure to vote only gives you a VERY meager fine (something less than US$ 1, even for Brazil that is cheap) and if you haven't sorted that out the only penalty is not allowing you to request a new passport. Then you have to pay the fine and go on your merry way again. It's mostly a deterrent by being annoying, paying the fine is a bit bureaucratic so people try to avoid it. Not that Brazil is a beacon of democracy and good leadership but at least it's pretty sensible on the penalties you get for non-participation.

orf 9y ago

That being said, we have a large voter turnout. Huge numbers of polling places (including schools), open before and after working hours. The situation doesn't seem to be as dire as in the USA, at least from my perspective

jdietrich 9y ago

In fairness, all our polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm and rarely have queues of more than a few minutes. Postal and proxy ballots are available to all voters at all elections. There are occasional cock-ups at urban polling stations, but it's rare that someone who wants to vote will be unable to do so. I'd love an extra bank holiday, but I don't think that it'd make any real difference to turnout.