The fine for not voting in australia

@Abstraction It also has the side benefit of throwing the responsibility onto the government to make it possible to vote, no matter where you are or what your job. Therefore a postal or "absentee" ballot is a simple matter, and more recently area polling stations aopened from a couple of weeks ahead. Also voter registration is automatic as they pick up your details from Tax returns Council rates notices, drivers licences and you receive notification to enrol or else.😷

@whowasthatmaskedman I like the sound of this

@SW-User I'm not saying its perfection..But the system is independent and honest. You have to actually try hard NOT to be enrolled. And if you want my opinion, having eveyone forced to show up means that even those who couldnt give a toss who wins might have an opinion of one issue that gives then a reason to cast a vote and that makes politicians a little more careful..The last election saw a government that ignored the people on a lot of issues they thought they could slide over because the opposition was not great.. And they got rolled..By "Independents", focused on a single issue..

@whowasthatmaskedman The evidence that it works is that the level of 'informal' votes (ie, turning up but not completing vote etc) is really low. Also, because people have to vote people take it more seriously. Always more than 90% of the votes cast are done properly. Countries without compulsory voting don't get voter turnout like that.

@whowasthatmaskedman do you think many people cast a vote for the worst possible candidate out of spite because they were forced to vote and they behave like little children?

@SW-User No.. People cast a vote out of perceived self interest. A smart politician will break it down to a catch phrase the media can push. "They're takin' our jobs" for instance.. Almost no one will vote against being forced to vote. The truth is you can walk into a booth, or receive a postal ballot and return it blank, with only youe ID filled. Thats legal. You showed up..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman it's a shame you're allowed to return the postal ballot blank

@SW-User Not blank. You have to put your name and address to have your non vote marked off. But most do vote for something😷