A fairer election

I belong to a few Yahoo groups. It is still a good way to get a flow of discussion and timely replies (blogs aren't quite as useful). A lot of my bloggings are derived from discussions on these groups. Here's another one, this time on the subject of the record number of postal votes received at this election (bear in mind that it was school holidays!):

Here's my version of a better election:

The AEC should distribute election packs to every registered voter. They should include ballot papers, a precis from each party/group/independent, a simple explanation of how the voting system works, and copies of the Senate registered tickets.

The many benefits to this system would be:

• voters would have time to educate themselves on policies rather than personalities and propaganda.


• it would drastically reduce the number of impromptu votes (those that still haven't made up their mind by the time they get their name crossed off the roll


• public funding of candidates could be dramatically reduced, if not totally eliminated.


• all election advertising can be banned (shock horror!) or have significant restrictions.


• the AEC's resources could be transferred from staffing polling booths to managing a team of collectors similar to the those used for the Census, and/or accepting postal returns.


• pseudo-coercive activities, such as offering transport for the elderly, would be eliminated.

and much much more.

Of course, there's millions of reasons why this will never happen ...

• millions of dollars in advertising revenue for the media,


• millions of dollars in revenue for printers,


• millions of dollars in revenue for PR agencies and consultants,


• millions of dollars in slush money (public funding) for the major parties,


• a million or so undecided votes that swing with a HTV on the day.

:-)




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