Following on from Jimmy Carter's predictable revelation that the Florida elections will not be fair, here's a great article that focuses on the technology of US voting.
Scientific American: Fixing the Vote [ POLICY ]
Electronic voting machines promise to make elections more accurate than ever before, but only if certain problems--with the machines and the wider electoral process--are rectified
I find the US style of democracy strange for a number of reasons:
- voluntary voting
- party affiliation registration
- gizmos and gadgets
Firstly, how is it possible to have full democracy when the apathy of voters allows an election to occur with less than a majority of voters casting a ballot? Surely the non-vote counts for something?
It would be better to have compulsory voting with a final option of "none of the above"!
This isn't about freedom of choice - Australians are still free to not cast a vote, but they must turn up and get their name crossed off the roll in order to make that choice. But having turned up, few choose to forego their right and responsibility.
Secondly, While I understand the principle of primaries, and therefore the need for party registration in order to vote at primaries, I'm just not convinced that it is a necessary party of the political process. What about all the swinging voters? (sorry, Howard prefers to call them "undecided" so that we don't have any sexual connotations) Where do they vote in the primaries and do they register ... perhaps someone can fill me in on this one.
As for all this technology ... well, Australia has NEVER encountered a problem with our simple pencil and paper method. As boring and luddite it may be, it works reliably and effectively. It is a world class system envied by many.
Not the USA, of course, they'd prefer we envy their "uber-democratic" processes that see people like David Hicks locked up for years without a trial, corruption at every level, rigged elections and ensuring that only the richest white men can become President.
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Collin!!! Long time no see. Thanks for linking to my blog.
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I also find US democracy strange too, although I do like the whole separation of powers thing they have set up. In Australia, if the PM has control of both houses, he/she can do whatever they like and, without a Bill of Rights protecting us, this could lead to a whole raft of human rights abuses. Remember that genocide is not against the law in this country.
I am also a fan of our pencil and paper system. For one it creates more jobs at election time and keeps things interesting on election night.
It seems you've been a blogger for much longer than I have and (having added you to my feedreader) I look forward to reading more about what you have to say.
-Aaron
How sad that democratic responsibility can be such a terrible burden on a person. I'm certain that you won't hear the East Timorese people complaining.
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