• Really_long_toes@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    “Should be mandatory everywhere” ima stop you right there, I couldn’t give a single flying fuck about politics so having to vote results in me showing up not caring because I don’t want a fine and I’ll vote for a random candidate which will result in just picking a name out of a hat if an entire country did it

    • Observer1199@lemmy.ml
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      10 months ago

      Politics is part of everyday life regardless of whether you care or not and I’m not talking about the media circus that is the US election machine but rather about the cost of products and services, prevention of crime and what is determined as a crime, the rules of how to conduct business, provision of services like roads, water, sewage by government/authorities and the rates of taxes that fund those services to make but a few. If you don’t care about politics them I would imagine you have no opinions on anything of that nature and would never complain of your cost of living increased or you couldn’t access medical treatment or call a fire station in a time of need or about who had the right to vote?

      Making voting mandatory in Australia also protects people who want to vote from being exploited by their employers. Imagine the scenario where there is a referendum on a matter that would be very beneficial to businesses but exploits employees. A corrupt business may decide to schedule their employees to work a 12 hour shift that would prevent them from being able to vote if the business knew it’s employees would vote against the legislation when they want it to pass.

      You don’t actually have to cast your vote in Australia, just show up but even if it was mandatory to cast it, they can always be spoiled. You could even write “I have no opinion on politics and don’t want to vote for anyone”.

    • KᑌᔕᕼIᗩ@lemmy.ml
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      10 months ago

      You don’t have to vote in Australia. You just have to show up so it proves you were able to vote without impediment if you so choose to. You could draw a penis on it if you even could be bothered.

      Voting typically takes place over a weekend in Australia and you have plenty of time to do it. You can also postal vote or absentee vote in advance fairly easily if you wish too. Polling places are literally like every school so there’s always one nearby too.

      • smeg@feddit.uk
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        10 months ago

        Spoiling your ballot is an established and documented form of political protest. Nothing says “fuck all these chumps” like drawing a big cock and balls on the ballot.