Dont let them stop you from voting!!! Please read!

FoundationStepper · Post by **FoundationStepper** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:39 pm

http://www.getup.org.au/index.asp

The Federal Government has passed extraordinary legislation that will close the rolls for new voters at 8pm on the very night the election is officially called. In the last election, 83,000 first-time voters enrolled in the first week after the election was called. Hundreds of thousands more registered at their new address. But this time they won't get that chance, unless we spread the word immediately.
Sign the petition below, and join the call to overturn this legislation. You can also visit the Australian Electoral Commission website to check your enrolment, register for the first time or update you details.

Sign the petition to our elected representatives:

"The Government should actively respect and encourage the right of every eligible Australian to vote.

The recent changes to our Electoral Act should be revoked, and strategies that make it easier, not harder, for Australians to have their say at election time introduced."

http://www.getup.org.au/index.asp

Please sign this and forward around...

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:50 pm

The United States of Australia anyone?

Lephrenic · Post by **Lephrenic** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:00 pm

Are they actually claiming there is any public benefit in these changes or are they just not even pretending anymore?

FoundationStepper · Post by **FoundationStepper** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:07 pm

I imagine they are just sneaking it in there...

and totally agree mixxy... not a good direction

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:19 pm

This is very scary.

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:24 pm

I forwarded the link on to the staff here at work and a few of the guys asked me why it was important. Took a few goes for them to get the meaning behind the change.

Outcome = Petition signed

FoundationStepper · Post by **FoundationStepper** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:38 pm

Good one...

I really think getup has the right approach to political change... its the one process (apart from actually voting) in which I don't feel completely disempowered...

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:53 pm

Good work mate. Done.

aspekt · Post by **aspekt** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:12 pm

that's farked.

drew · Post by **drew** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:53 pm

FoundationStepper wrote: I really think getup has the right approach to political change... its the one process (apart from actually voting) in which I don't feel completely disempowered...

nic · Post by **nic** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:25 pm

outrageous to say teh lease

almax · Post by **almax** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:00 pm

have bulletined myspace and emailed people at work

Post by **Friday** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:00 pm

FoundationStepper wrote: I really think getup has the right approach to political change...

totally. getup are doing great work.

it's weird - joe keeps getting these letter from the aec that he needs to sign up to the electoral role, but he's not a citizen so shouldn't be able to. not sure where they got his info from but it's kinda frustrating as they send about 1 a month for the past year!

maybe he should just try to sign up and see what happens.

DBoy · Post by **DBoy** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:01 pm

So this anger and outrage is based on some assumptions

a) Assumption that the goverment wants less people to vote.
b) Assumption that first time voters will want govenment out
c) Assumption that people who need to change details will want government out

Is it not possible that rule is being brought in for administrative reasons?

It is not like that are saying "anyone who has a criminal record or who has visited the middle east or immigrated from x counties since 1970 cant vote"

Not yet anyway.

almax · Post by **almax** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:19 pm

DBoy wrote:b) Assumption that first time voters will want govenment out

I think this sounds like a good assumption, Liberal antics usually help out those that are older and better off, the majority of newly enrolled people would be people turning 18 i reckon, and amonst that group you have kids who are wanting us to sign Kyoto, say sorry and take responsibilty to the indiginous community, and piss off work place reforms, all of which Liberal certainly wont do under Howard

DBoy · Post by **DBoy** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:28 pm

True. And don't get me wrong, I want everyone to vote.

Can you enroll online somewhere?

FoundationStepper · Post by **FoundationStepper** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:34 pm

DBoy wrote: Is it not possible that rule is being brought in for administrative reasons?

Im sure that at the face of it is a reason - or its the reason

but reducing admin pressures are less important than the ability/right to vote IMO

Post by **Friday** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:44 pm

DBoy wrote:True. And don't get me wrong, I want everyone to vote.

Can you enroll online somewhere?

www.aec.gov.au i believe