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registering to vote - 10/14/2008 1:00:17 AM

LadyEllen

Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline

I must admit, this business of registering to vote has me confused.

Over here, we get forms through the mail to fill in and return just prior to each election. One is meant to fill this form (though it usually comes with one's name on it anyway) though many dont bother - which is their affair of course, but a bit daft of them as then they dont get a vote.

But the confusing thing for me (dimwit that I am) is that the people running the election here are the same people who are collecting the local taxes, for the purpose of which they hold information on adults in each household - which information they then use to post out the voter registration forms, pre-printed with names on them drawn from the tax collection record.

Add into this information held locally the information held nationally like National Insurance numbers, income tax references, benefit payment records et al and voluntary registers for such as driving licences, passports et al, and it would seem fairly clear to me that if the authorities have all this information then they ought to know beforehand who is where and who should be on the electoral roll, without having to send out forms for people to register to vote.

Now I can see the benefit of making sure everyone eligible to vote is enabled to do so - after all, it may be the authorities dont want certain people to vote, and running the registration in addition to normal civic records makes sense from that point of view; but then how independent can the officer in charge of the electoral roll be, if he/she is paid by the local authority and works from their offices?

It doesnt seem to make much sense.

E

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RE: registering to vote - 10/14/2008 1:09:37 AM

ArizonaSunSwitch

Posts: 205
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline

If governments used internal records to maintain a voter rolls it would have the effect of preventing people from voting who shouldn't as well as allowing those to vote who are eligible. There are localities where the local party in charge only wants the latter and not the former.

Most localities that respect the electoral system usually require registration 30 days or so before an election. In theory, this allows the government to discover and remove fraudulent registrations. It also has the side effect of limiting the election to people that started paying attention 30 days or more before an election. That isn't a bad thing imho.

When you start hearing about same day registrations you know some organization is planning voter fraud.

(in reply to LadyEllen)

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RE: registering to vote - 10/14/2008 5:05:07 AM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

The Census is a good example of how we cant count. 2010 the next one.

most states one must register 30 days in advance. It is probaly the simplest government form that exists.

[I know your post meant UK]

I was talking to a friend in TX, we would like to see a ballot.

In PA ballot intiitives are rare. At least 1 is on it this time. Also in question as to which other prez will be listed.

(in reply to ArizonaSunSwitch)

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RE: registering to vote - 10/14/2008 5:13:05 AM

corysub

Posts: 1492
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: ArizonaSunSwitch

If governments used internal records to maintain a voter rolls it would have the effect of preventing people from voting who shouldn't as well as allowing those to vote who are eligible. There are localities where the local party in charge only wants the latter and not the former.

Most localities that respect the electoral system usually require registration 30 days or so before an election. In theory, this allows the government to discover and remove fraudulent registrations. It also has the side effect of limiting the election to people that started paying attention 30 days or more before an election. That isn't a bad thing imho.

When you start hearing about same day registrations you know some organization is planning voter fraud.

It's worse than that...same day registration AND SAME DAY VOTING..as they have now in Ohio..a key state for the election. Do you know the word ACORN..it's not a nut that produces an oak tree...but from this ACORN many many voters grow and multiply and cast phony votes. Gives you a taste of the kind of government we might just have in an Obama Administration.

(in reply to ArizonaSunSwitch)

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RE: registering to vote - 10/14/2008 5:20:06 AM

cjan

Posts: 3513
Joined: 2/21/2008
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Dear LadyEllen. If beaurocratic systems are similar in Merry Old, as I suspect they are, you must understand that logic does not apply. Beaurocrats love to shuffle paper, accumulate information about citizens, cross reference it, file and missfile it and get paid tax dollars to do so. They get hemorrhoids (haemorrhoids to you ) doing so.

My attitude to census takers is the same as the venerable Dr. Hannibal Lecters. I eat their livers with some fava beans and a nice chianti...sup sup sup. It's very satisfying.

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(in reply to pahunkboy)

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