The Ballot Box Stuffers!!!
November 16th 2007 09:36
Yes, I did! I voted today! (SDFX evil cackle) MOO HAAA HAA HAAAAA!!! (LXFX lightening strike) (SDFX Thunder, two old nuns screaming, and someone saying, "KAH HORK!!! KAH HORK!! That's all folks!'). I voted for an independent, he looked 30 and he hated party politics. Why not? Stick it to the man!!!
So I did...but...when I went to put my ballot in the ballot box, the Federal elections have nice plastic ones, unlike the State which has collapsing cardboard ones! So, I thought, good, at least there is some security for my vote.
WRONG!!
Firstly, I noticed the ballot box had no lock on it! When I enquired as to why, I was told, in typical drawled Aussie, "It has to be sorted first."
My vote was then stacked on an open shelf, with a hundred others. I had to investigate this bizarre situation further.
"Sorted? Doesn't that happen at the vote counting centre? Where it is secure, and members of all parties observe the removal of votes from the locked ballot boxes, then oversee the counting...to make sure everyone's vote ISN'T INTERFERED WITH??
Silence...we stared at each other...
"I am not accusing you, I am not saying you would change my vote" I had to say this as the air was becoming frigid.
His female assistant then speaks up; "All the votes are sealed in envelopes which you signed!"
"But since no one knows my handwriting, what protection is that? No one knows, or rather does not check, my signature in the first place!"
"Your name is taken off the electoral roll once your vote is accounted for", he said defensively.
"So what? I could have created four registered voters, all living at my own address, all witnessed by another person who says they know me, but not even they are checked! That witness might not even exist! The entire system is run on 'TRUST'!!! All I have to do is go to another voting station. No one checks my identity for God's sake!!! No one would ever realise there had been an electoral fraud, because there is no system in place to prevent it!!!
"I know!"
His quiet response so floored me, I almost missed it.
We stared at each other.
I then shook his hand, maybe I was seeking reassurance by doing that, he smiled, I left.
And I used to laugh at the Yanks and their 'hanging chad' system!!
Funny how neither major party mentions this little problem, isn't it???
cheers...and may the best ballot box stuffer win!!!!
fog
So I did...but...when I went to put my ballot in the ballot box, the Federal elections have nice plastic ones, unlike the State which has collapsing cardboard ones! So, I thought, good, at least there is some security for my vote.
WRONG!!
Firstly, I noticed the ballot box had no lock on it! When I enquired as to why, I was told, in typical drawled Aussie, "It has to be sorted first."
My vote was then stacked on an open shelf, with a hundred others. I had to investigate this bizarre situation further.
"Sorted? Doesn't that happen at the vote counting centre? Where it is secure, and members of all parties observe the removal of votes from the locked ballot boxes, then oversee the counting...to make sure everyone's vote ISN'T INTERFERED WITH??
Silence...we stared at each other...
"I am not accusing you, I am not saying you would change my vote" I had to say this as the air was becoming frigid.
His female assistant then speaks up; "All the votes are sealed in envelopes which you signed!"
"But since no one knows my handwriting, what protection is that? No one knows, or rather does not check, my signature in the first place!"
"Your name is taken off the electoral roll once your vote is accounted for", he said defensively.
"So what? I could have created four registered voters, all living at my own address, all witnessed by another person who says they know me, but not even they are checked! That witness might not even exist! The entire system is run on 'TRUST'!!! All I have to do is go to another voting station. No one checks my identity for God's sake!!! No one would ever realise there had been an electoral fraud, because there is no system in place to prevent it!!!
"I know!"
His quiet response so floored me, I almost missed it.
We stared at each other.
I then shook his hand, maybe I was seeking reassurance by doing that, he smiled, I left.
And I used to laugh at the Yanks and their 'hanging chad' system!!
Funny how neither major party mentions this little problem, isn't it???
cheers...and may the best ballot box stuffer win!!!!
fog
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
That's preposterous isn't it, as well as ridiculous. I'm feeling jaded about the whole thing and in a way it doesn't surprise me...
True:
Generally we only learn these things by doing...
Tracy
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
Coffee Quip
Whoever came up with that system would stuff their shorts or pad their bra's to 'win'.
Raven
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
I know...it is utterly staggering!
I am furiou about it! And what are the media doing ro saying....f#*k all!!!
One small article appeared alerting me to the possibility of multi-registering, and that was three weeks ago maybe, it was written in a jocular way...
Maybe I should call 4 Corners and ask why they have not picked up on this travesty.
cheers...kind of...
fog
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
nice to see you about again! Where have you been?
Last time I read your blog, you were off to fish with your son, I expected you back in a couple of weeks!
Last I checked your site was about a month or so ago, I thought, gee, he either fell in the lake, (no not jumped in!! hehe!!), or he got swallowed by a huge fish!! The one that didn't get away, but it took the fisherman with him!!!
And as regards Australia's election system;
(voter registration,ballot lodging and collection/ counting/ checking); us Aussies have the type of system, I now realize, that you would expect in a Third World country run by a despot, who is only trying to create a veneer of democracy...like Pakistan at the moment, dare I say it!!!
cheers and by the way Raven, just how does your system work, in regards to registration etc? How is your identity verified? Do you think it is foolproof?
Raven please do a post on it, I'd like to read it and compare.
For, I know you had problems with the adminstration arguing about "chads" and whatnot, just don't know about the registration and proof of identity. If it beats ours, I'll be writing to pollies and whomever to get it!!
cheers
fog
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
No system is perfect and yes the Australian system does look slap dash, but I have to say it's not really too bad overall. At least we don't have computerised bullet-points that line up with the wrong person....
Anyway, the only 'anomaly' that i've personally seen with the voting system was when i was living at home with another family member of the same surname and same first initial.
I was sent a letter by the electoral commission accusing me of having voted twice, while my relative of the same name was simultaneously accused of having not voted at all.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened, but nonetheless they were on to us double voting/non-voting electors immediately!
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
yes, they would check out the same name t\wice at the same address...it is when it is not he sam ename, that the system completely fails!!
Our system is not only not perfect, it is open to abuse, and changes made by the exiting fascist regime, have made things worse.
However, wes till got rid of them, THANK GOD!! Obviously too many people voted for anything but Liberal, and the ballot box stuffing just didn't work.
cheers
fog
Comment by Anonymous
Wouldn't want the facts to get in the way of a good story would you.
All ballot boxes have tamper evidence features but as the votes are predominantly counted and scrutinised at the polling place there is little need for locks and a "counting center".
Your comments are miss informed.
Also if your vote was sealed in an envelope it was obviously an absentee vote which are handled differently and everything is registered and accounted for multiply times.
Comparing the system to the US where an illegitimate president Bush was put in power is an exceptional stretch.
You do know you didn't vote for a president don't you.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Talk about BEING MISINFORMED YOU DUPE!!
Anonymous says:
All ballot boxes have tamper evidence features
OH YEAH RIGHT...like the cardboard ones that fall apart when you put your ballot in? Like the one I was to place my vote in, but was told it wasn't necessary as it was unlocked, and they were going to sort them? Who are they? That is the interesting question, no one was wearing any ID badge for a start!
Tell me why I should give trust to a government that has so consistently lied and misinformed and defamed?
And another thing...
You can register as many people as you like with our system, there is no checks and balances in that regard, unless you try and register the same name at the same address, then they check up. But different names, well there ya go, no problems!!.
There is no one to check if your witness is telling the truth either...NO ONE HUNDRED POINT CHECK FOR THE VOTER APPLICANT, OR FOR THE WITNESS!!!!
Try putting your ballot in a cardboard box that falls apart sometime and see how far your unshakeable faith in our system travels!!
It IS open for abuse...whether that happens or not, depends on who has the will and the opportunity.
It is amazing to see someone actually ready to demonstrate such blind faith in a fool's system, what that says about you, I'll leave for everyone to ponder upon!
cheers
fog
Comment by ThornyDevil
There is no "counting centre" and there are scrutineers from all parties at every poling place throughout the day and during the counting.
The AEC is not the government so I would be putting trust in the democratic institutions of the country not the government. You obviously don't understand the difference.
I am more concerned about a moron like yourself being allowed to vote than any systematic abuse of the system.
You can cheat on your taxes as well (no question you do) and no one is suggesting you can get away with it on any scale for very long. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean there is no checking when you enrol. Do you not think Howard would have been in power until they carted him out in a pine box if the system was as simple to corrupt as you say. Nothing was below the guy in his lust for power and he lost his seat. Shit the guy manipulated the intelligence agencies to justify war and couldn't influence the result in his electorate with a system you say is little better than a chook raffle.
I didn't say the system is perfect but there are a lot more checks than you know anything about.
What I will say is that your rantings are misinformed and naive.
The US electoral system is infinity more corrupt able than ours and it gave the world the worst president in living memory. An illegitimate dangerous idiot. We tend to get the lying, sneaking, racist PM that the majority wanted. Stick that up your hanging chad.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Really? Gee, that sums you up doesn't it? I mean, what sort of 'intellect' has to resort to abuse (as you do here) to try and make a point?
You can cheat on your taxes as well (no question you do)
As a matter of fact I do not, and have not ever cheated on my taxes, and I take particular offence to your libellous statement.
This is a public domain and by your statement you have defamed me and without any regard to evidence.
Either you retract this libel or I will take the matter further with Orble.
As for your other statements, you completely ignore the main part of my point, that being anyone can register without challenge. This means in a very marginal seat, and there were some in the past won by as few as 40 votes, the vote could potentially be swayed.
Furthermore, the above information came from a newspaper article here in Sydney, (it was not dreamed up by me) and, in addition, when I challenged the man at the polling station about this specific matter, all he could say was, "I know" and agreed it could happen!!
The idea that something 'can', or 'may', be checked is completely different legally and semantically to the word 'will'. As such, these matters go unchallenged, as reported in the article.
The POINT of my post being , IT IS POSSIBLE to rort the system, even if it is in a small way. It may not be enough to put a government in power per se, but that is not the point! It should not be possible at all, and may very well help with extremely marginal seats, should some party members put their minds to it.
Now, I want a retraction regarding your libellous and defamatory statement thanks.
fog