Hard News: Prospects
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Craig:So far the problem doesn't seem to exist.
Sure, and I wasn't trying to take a day trip to Wingnutistan by implying there's some massive voter fraud going on. (Though I do expect the usual suspects will be winding it up, depending on conditions.) And I like that we generally try and make it as easy as possible to register on the roll, and cast a vote -- I'd just rather not find ourselves in a position where it is an issue.
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Yeah, the integrity of the vote pretty much relies on party officials challenging anything they think might be dodgy.
Over the last few months I've had some involvement with the electoral enrolment process, and I think it's marvelous how we try very hard to ensure anyone who might possibly have the franchise gets to exercise it. Contrast with the US, where the Republicans in particular try hard to deny it where there might be any doubt.
Something I've just been mulling over: we just got a call from the Labour party to see whether we had voted and if we would like a ride.
When I was a kid, I remember this being standard operating procedure for all parties, but in the last couple of decades I've never been rung by any party.
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Pity they wouldn't do something like that with the phoney phone-in polls.
Well, since we don't actually elect a government on that basis - and I regard them as having entertainment rather than empirical value (and don't believe for a moment a post-debate poll is actually going to swing anything), pardon me if I don't give a tinker's cuss.
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Something I've just been mulling over: we just got a call from the Labour party to see whether we had voted and if we would like a ride.
I feel a wee bit squicky about any party doing that, to be honest, because odds are they're targeting this by having scrutineers taking down the line/page numbers of people who've voted. Which is legal, but still something I'm not that comfortable with either.
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Craig, I don't have photo ID, as a non-drinking, non-driving, skipped the OE type I've simply never needed one. Opening bank accounts is a PITA, but that's a twice in life thus far task, so no big deal.
Liberty: given that it's illegal to vote twice, just as it's illegal to forge a photo ID, I don't see the need to make me prove myself innocent of either just to carry out my civil duties.
Non-trivial regardless: if you notice anyone cheating, dob them in. I certainly would. Even without that, due to our reasonably high turnouts, it'd be hard not to double up and that makes it fairly obvious what was going on once things are checked over. Everyone here knows everyone anyway. 8]
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@ Craig, in my day job I come across quite a few people who have no ID. They do a Statutory Declaration to establish identity, which in the case of most will allow them to get their benefit. Sometimes it is to open a bank account.
I'm pleased we have no real need to ask people for their identity, and the system works. It's great the whole voting process is easy.
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Though I've got a friend in South Auckland who reported over lunch that he got a similar call. The response was (typically) terse: "I know how to drive, and it's none of your fucking business what I do today." Ouch.
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I feel a wee bit squicky about any party doing that, to be honest, because odds are they're targeting this by having scrutineers taking down the line/page numbers of people who've voted. Which is legal, but still something I'm not that comfortable with either.
Well, it's standard Get Out The Vote stuff. And it's a secret ballot, so I'm sure there are plenty of National voters who will be grateful for the ride.
The scrutineers recording who voted are protecting the integrity of the process. Far from being squicky, they are performing a public service. If they weren't doing that, I'd be more inclined to listen to proposals to require ID.
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Cooking the little fishy critters will begin after 10 when we have some idea of how the voting went...every critter fritter guarenteed to hold at least 100 of them (why yes! I do use a cooking spoonful!) tho' actually counting them isnt considered- couth.
About to open a sauv blanc and share a glass with an elderly neighbour who I *know* votes the other way - but what the hey, we're all in this waka together eh?
PS: Why do I have to log in everytime I want to make a reply? Is it - sigh - just another flaw in this paticular machine?
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my parent's generation were the first in NZ where everyone could aspire to own a car (we're talking about Winston's demographic here) - getting a ride to the polls used to be a big deal for anyone older
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PS: Why do I have to log in everytime I want to make a reply? Is it - sigh - just another flaw in this paticular machine?
Probably a browser setting not saving cookies. Ask a tech friend about your settings if that doesn't make sense.
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Thanks Jason - it's just that Safari handles other sites (Poneke, The Fundy Post et al) with no hassles...
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I'm having the same problem, Islander. 'Remember Me' doesn't work and it used to, and does on other sites I visit. I'll have a look at my settings, though.
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Well, it's standard Get Out The Vote stuff. And it's a secret ballot, so I'm sure there are plenty of National voters who will be grateful for the ride.
What we always used to do (he says, braiding his silver tresses) was work up phone lists, and get a contact number in the more local adverts. I just can't say this is the day I'd welcome getting a call from any political party, thanks nicely. But you're right -- others might well be thankful for it, and there's nothing stopping you using Party X. as a taxi service and voting for the other bastards. :)
We're going to friends for an Indecision '08 Barbie -- hosted by the Party Party, naturally -- and I'm quite looking forward to the absurdist pleasures of those early stages of the TV coverage when there's nothing much to say, but nothing will stop the expert panel saying it anyway.
And is it true Three is going to be having holograms? Kewl. Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope. Vote Leia Organa for the Galactic Senate!"
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Bloody Duncan Garner. Rough quote "We'll have half the votes counted by 9, all counted by 10, and John Key right here by 10:30."
Thanks mate. People still voting, nice of you to imply Key will be somehow very important cf all other politicians when the votes are counted. Biased fucker.
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braiding his silver tresses
Cornrows? French plait?
I miss long hair sometimes.
Anyway, I've tested my USB digital tv stick, and it works with Ubuntu. So I'll be keeping tabs on the Media 7 special.
Any other recommendations for coverage? Drunken liveblogs?
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Thanks mate. People still voting, nice of you to imply Key will be somehow very important cf all other politicians when the votes are counted. Biased fucker.
I'm no fan of Duncan Garner (the number of times I've called him a retarded no-neck monster on this forum should be a cue) but don't you think you're reading a subtext into things wile forgetting a rather obvious bit of text -- where he was standing? I'm sure Three will have the traditional pointless live cross to Clark's front door, as she continues to make her equally traditional late entrance.
You're really going to give yourself a rupture if you start hyperventilating this early. :)
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Cornrows? French plait?
Coconut matting. Really - my hair is not my best feature.
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We're going to friends for an Indecision '08 Barbie -- hosted by the Party Party, naturally -- and I'm quite looking forward to the absurdist pleasures of those early stages of the TV coverage when there's nothing much to say, but nothing will stop the expert panel saying it anyway.
Indecision '08 Barbie - sounds rather like Philip K Dick's The Days of Perky Pat:
In this story, suvivors of a global thermonuclear war living in isolated enclaves in California spend their leisure time playing with the eponymous doll in an escapist role-playing game that recalls life before the apocalypse — a way of life that is being quickly forgotten. At the story's climax, a couple from one isolated outpost of humanity play a game against dwellers of another outpost (who play the game with a doll similar to Perky Pat dubbed "Connie Companion") in deadly earnest. The survivors' shared enthusiasm for the Perky Pat doll and her expensive accessories is a sort of mass delusion that prevents meaningful re-building of the shattered society.
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Every election, I'm amazed at how efficient and painless the whole voting process is. I had to cast a special, because I'd managed to slip off the roll without realizing, but even given that, it took all of 5 minutes.
If only the likely outcome were just as painless. Might be time for a belated OE ...
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And they're off!
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... coconut matting... my hair is not my best feature.
The M is slowing becoming a U, and it's a long torturous journey towards billiard ball for me. Alas! Eheu! Aue!
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On 'treating':
(2) Every person commits the offence of treating who corruptly, …
(4) Every elector who corruptly accepts or takes any such food, drink, entertainment, or provision also commits the offence of treating.
What's with "corruptly"? What if you __un__corruptly accept the food? Is it okay then?
[from the article]"...beer flowed like water..."
If they offered me a cold beer on the way out, I'd accept it. (But not in a corrupt way, of course.)
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And they're off
Time to drink oneself into oblivion.
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The M is slowing becoming a U, and it's a long torturous journey towards billiard ball for me. Alas! Eheu! Aue!
I have come to dread the moment when my barber shows me the back of my head with a mirror.
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