- Target:
- THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT
- Region:
- Australia
The un-democratic practice of compulsory voting - under duress and possible financial or gaol time penalty for non compliance - was introduced in 1925 and it is time it was re-pealed.
In the two great democracies, the UK and the USA, the voter truly has the right to vote [ or abstain ] - we in Australia do not. Voting is an obligation, ergo not a right.
Compulsory voting, say the proponents, results in a higher voter turnout - self evident. It must also cause resentment in people who do not feel any candidate represents them ideologically and the jaded - witness the obscenities and other marks [ thus in-valid votes ] written on ballot papers. These people do not want to be there.
For a truly democratic choice the voters must be free to abstain from the whole process. The other side of the coin is to then calmly and peaceably accept without complaint the government elected by those who chose to vote.
We, the undersigned, call on the Federal Parliament of Australia to repeal all Acts of Parliament, Sections and sub-sections, pertaining to Compulsory Voting.
The electors of Australia must have the free choice, as offered in other democracies, to vote or abstain therefrom without fear of penalty of any kind.
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The Abolition of Compulsory Voting in Australia petition to THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT was written by Roger Edward DESHON and is in the category Politics at GoPetition.