# wrote on Sep 11
th, 2013 at 4:21pm:
Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 11
th, 2013 at 1:51pm:
skippy. wrote on Sep 11
th, 2013 at 1:37pm:
I reckon if you made the fine for not voting a thousand bucks you would get a 99% turnout.
I reckon whatever the fine, it would be too hard to prove in a court of law.
...
The legislation is quite clear and there's enough case law to show that proving the offence isn't at all difficult. The problem is motivation; the fine is so low that legal action would be revenue negative, unless the court awards costs.
The Tax Office uses in-house prosecutors; people trained on the job, with no formal legal qualifications. This tiny part of the Electoral Act would be far easier to manage than the Tax Act. Setting up for routine legal actions needn't be at all expensive. It would give the staff something to do between elections.
BigOl64 wrote on Sep 11
th, 2013 at 2:21pm:
skippy. wrote on Sep 11
th, 2013 at 1:37pm:
I reckon if you made the fine for not voting a thousand bucks you would get a 99% turnout.
If you are not registered and trust me it is easy enough to to avoid, they won't know you exist, and won't bother trying to track you down so the fine is pointless
...
In NSW, they cross-match available records and register you automatically. If you own or rent a house, have a Medicare number, bank account, insurance, driver's licence or any number of other things, you'll end up on the state electoral role and fined for violating the law (which requires you to maintain current registration). It's only a matter of time before the Commonwealth and other states follow suit.
Even if I was forced agains my will onto the roll by automatic registration, I still would not vote and have a fool proof excuse given to me by an idiot at the AEC for not voting, used it a couple of time to avoid a fine
I will go to my grave happy in the knowledge that I did not vote and I did not get fined.
It is a lot of money and effort to put in and still fail on an epic scale, but it is the sheltered workshop we call the federal government
The harder that nanny state tries the more inventive the rest of us become to avoid turning into one of you sheeple, living in constant fear of not be told how to live your life by your political masters.
Forum
Pages: 
