7 ms·

Fellow NZ citizen. Could not agree more. I hope we will have more engagement of the citizenry this election.

by bitserf 12y ago

mrmondo 12y ago
As will I - I'm not for or against any party other than knowing that National has always failed NZ due to corruption and dirty politics, here's the link for international voting information: http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/voting-2014-all-you-need-know/voting-overseas-2014-general-election http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/vot...
vorg 12y ago
It would also be good to have more engagement of non-citizen New Zealanders this election also! For non-Kiwis... New Zealand is one of the very few countries in the world where non-citizens are allowed to vote in national elections. Permanent residents who have lived in NZ for only 1 year can register to vote, though they don't have to. They're not allowed to become citizens until they've lived in NZ for 5 years however. This is in stark contrast to nearby Australia where only citizens vote, just like in most other countries, but their unusual electoral situation is that its citizens must vote (or be fined).
- tankenmate 12y ago
  Actually Australians don't have to vote, they are required by law however to attend a polling station on polling day or have registered for a postal vote and returned the postal vote envelope. The actual vote papers can be blank, or indeed you can write in if you want; even for people who aren't on the official ticket (i.e. you can legally vote for Mickey Mouse). If a write in gets enough votes they are free to accept the position. In Australia you are also required by law to be on the electoral roll if you are eligible. In short in Australia suffrage is universal (for citizens who are of majority age; currently 18) and mandatory.
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    Australia is behind the times in this respect. Voting is a right, not an obligation and non-participation is a form of protest against the system as a whole rather than a forced choice between multiple options none of which you may agree with.
    - nmjenkins 12y ago
      I disagree. Voting is a responsibility, hard won through history and still not a privilege available in all countries. As pointed out by the parent post you absolutely do not have to agree with any of the options. 50% of the population spoiling their ballot paper would be a massive statement and precipitate political upheaval. 50% of the population not bothering to show up just says they don't care.
      - jacquesm 12y ago
        50% of the population not showing up shows there is a huge problem. There are only 22 countries left in the world where voting is compulsory and only a few of those are countries that have good reasons for that rule. As soon as your country appears in lists that also contain 'North Korea', 'Congo', 'Lebanon' and 'Thailand' when it comes to political matters you really have to wonder if you're on the right path. The only countries imo which have a legitimate reason to make voting compulsory are those that are so small that the statistical basis underlying the decisions taken based by the people voted for would be removed. A vote is a 'poll' just like every other and you don't need a 100% sample in order to reach statistical significance. I'd be very suspicious of any elections that did have 100% turnout.
        DrJosiah 12y ago
        Having lived in a non-compulsory voting country for my entire life (US), the 50% turnout rate (more or less) is deplorable. In my mind, there are two points about compulsory voting that are nice: 1) The government must make voting available (various Republican-lead areas in the US are trying to reduce voting hours to limit voting for poor and minority voters) 2) Employers must make it possible for employees to take the time to vote (no consistent protections currently) I'd take compulsory voting in the US just to say "fuck you" to the various groups that have been disenfranchising female, poor, and/or minority voters for generations.

Fellow NZ citizen. Could not agree more. I hope we will have more engagement of the citizenry this election.

by bitserf 12y ago

Fellow NZ citizen. Could not agree more. I hope we will have more engagement of the citizenry this election.

As will I - I'm not for or against any party other than knowing that National has always failed NZ due to corruption and dirty politics, here's the link for international voting information: http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/voting-2014-all-you-need-know/voting-overseas-2014-general-election http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/vot...

vorg 12y ago

It would also be good to have more engagement of non-citizen New Zealanders this election also! For non-Kiwis... New Zealand is one of the very few countries in the world where non-citizens are allowed to vote in national elections. Permanent residents who have lived in NZ for only 1 year can register to vote, though they don't have to. They're not allowed to become citizens until they've lived in NZ for 5 years however. This is in stark contrast to nearby Australia where only citizens vote, just like in most other countries, but their unusual electoral situation is that its citizens must vote (or be fined).

tankenmate 12y ago
Actually Australians don't have to vote, they are required by law however to attend a polling station on polling day or have registered for a postal vote and returned the postal vote envelope. The actual vote papers can be blank, or indeed you can write in if you want; even for people who aren't on the official ticket (i.e. you can legally vote for Mickey Mouse). If a write in gets enough votes they are free to accept the position. In Australia you are also required by law to be on the electoral roll if you are eligible. In short in Australia suffrage is universal (for citizens who are of majority age; currently 18) and mandatory.
- jacquesm 12y ago
  Australia is behind the times in this respect. Voting is a right, not an obligation and non-participation is a form of protest against the system as a whole rather than a forced choice between multiple options none of which you may agree with.
  - nmjenkins 12y ago
    I disagree. Voting is a responsibility, hard won through history and still not a privilege available in all countries. As pointed out by the parent post you absolutely do not have to agree with any of the options. 50% of the population spoiling their ballot paper would be a massive statement and precipitate political upheaval. 50% of the population not bothering to show up just says they don't care.
    - jacquesm 12y ago
      50% of the population not showing up shows there is a huge problem. There are only 22 countries left in the world where voting is compulsory and only a few of those are countries that have good reasons for that rule. As soon as your country appears in lists that also contain 'North Korea', 'Congo', 'Lebanon' and 'Thailand' when it comes to political matters you really have to wonder if you're on the right path. The only countries imo which have a legitimate reason to make voting compulsory are those that are so small that the statistical basis underlying the decisions taken based by the people voted for would be removed. A vote is a 'poll' just like every other and you don't need a 100% sample in order to reach statistical significance. I'd be very suspicious of any elections that did have 100% turnout.
      - DrJosiah 12y ago
        Having lived in a non-compulsory voting country for my entire life (US), the 50% turnout rate (more or less) is deplorable. In my mind, there are two points about compulsory voting that are nice: 1) The government must make voting available (various Republican-lead areas in the US are trying to reduce voting hours to limit voting for poor and minority voters) 2) Employers must make it possible for employees to take the time to vote (no consistent protections currently) I'd take compulsory voting in the US just to say "fuck you" to the various groups that have been disenfranchising female, poor, and/or minority voters for generations.