Hard News: Prospects
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Moz,
Overseas voting I suspect depends a lot on where overseas you are. In the worst case I expect snailmail transport of votes to a trained professional (ie, posting back from the US to NZ), but in countries that have an electoral bureaucrazy probably the same fast turn-around as NZ. In Melbun we voted at the AEC offce using their staff so it was all fast and smooth (except for the "can't read or pronounce Maori to save themselves" that they acknowledged).
By my rough guess if NZ did the Italian thing of having overseas electorates Oz would get about 8 to 10. Which would be kinda cool. I'd like my own local MP.
The one thing that does gripe me every election is that I'd like STV in the electorate so I can vote for a minor party or two before voting against the safe incumbent who I dislike with some intensity. Instead I hold my nose and vote for my second least liked candidate.
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(I'm prepared to feel more optimistic if Giovanni offers one of those sure-fire predictions of a left-led government that he used for Obama)
Sorry, David, I just don't feel it. It has recently transpired that the in-laws might be voting Labour, and that ordinarily would point to a landslide for our side... but not this time.
Anyway, I'm not assuming a damn thing before the only poll that really matters has even opened.
heh... reminded me of one of Letterman's recent lists, things that John McCain can say to turn this thing around: The only poll that matters is the one in my pants.
I'm sorta resigned to some form of right-wing government being formed but I comfort myself with the (potentially naive) thought that whomever wins, they will do what they genuinely believe is best for New Zealand.
Yep, I'm terrified about that. For instance, they genuinely think that privatising prisons is good for New Zealand.
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Well, says tussock, the cold chased me off to bed from the prospects thread instead, but sleep and I didn't see eye to eye.
Today my voice is as strong as the PM's, at least 'till 7pm, and so is yours if you'll use it. To use it or lose it, today. Eh.
I blame sleep deprivation.So, the challenge was laid to make this thread hit 10k? 60 pages, longest ever. I'll tell all of my quick walk to the booth if someone else breaks the ice, K?. 'S just, mine serves a very small community, and the two old dears who always seem to staff it are the only ones ever there. S'pose I better go.
And yes, nice days give better turnouts, which in turn favours you know who, which would make most of this board reasonably content.
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Nope, wait, this terrifies me more:
And competent; she runs a good school gala.
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n the worst case I expect snailmail transport of votes to a trained professional (ie, posting back from the US to NZ)
Snail mail has to be in Wellington by this afternoon so shouldn't unduly delay the process.
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Well, I voted and it was painless. Normally we go to a school hall just across the way (Maungawhau Primary if anyone is at all interested), but I just couldn't cope with all those huge generalisation warning bloody Epsom people who just happen to be in the Mt Roskill electorate and vote like they were in the Epsom electorate, so we went to a weeny scout hall just up the road instead. Very quiet, and, even though a poster on the wall said that scrutineers would be wearing different party rosettes just as an example of what they looked like, I found it very offputting that the two scrutineers in this particular place were wearing National thingies. Bah. All very quiet, and very sombre in timbre, and not many people around voting, but quickly done and dusted. You know, having read Jolisa's post, it could have done with some joie de vivre and cupcakes. And I also now have voter guilt because instead of voting for Phil Goff, at the last minute I went with Lisa Er (Green). Still, I like to think of it as a vote of confidence for Mikaere. Happy voting everyone.
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Put me down as another non-sleeper last night. Amateur self-medication proved useless. After 2.5 hours of restlessness I succumbed and took half a sleeping tablet, which worked, but was a bit risky as I had to be up at 7am.
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I voted in Adelaide earlier this week, and took the girls with me. Part of their civic education. Grant Robertson (Labour) in Wellington Central for me, and the Maori party.
Now we wait. We're taking the girls to the local Christmas parade, which promises to be nightmarish - 350,000 people coming and an attempt at a world record Mexican wave. My inner introvert is recoiling, but there's a limit to how much curmudgeonly behaviour we can inflict on our children.
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even though a poster on the wall said that scrutineers would be wearing different party rosettes just as an example of what they looked like, I found it very offputting that the two scrutineers in this particular place were wearing National thingies.
I thought that was illegal? Can anyone help? I suspect this is the hall I will go to and I will say something if someone can inform me of the law.
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Condorcet if you want to express a single member preference. I think we should get one for the party vote too, STV would do, to handle 4.5%ers and left vs right rounding.
For instance, today, ACT, United, and National could all round up while Labour, the Greens, any Progressive all round down, or visa versa, which could change the government either way.
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Grant Robertson (Labour) in Wellington Central for me, and the Maori party.
I am really surprised and curious that you voted Maori Party Deborah, as what rules them out for me is that many of Tariana Turia's comments over the last few years have brought out the Very Angry Feminist in me! Although I completely agree that our options are limited.
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Actually , I'm going to complain anyway, I'll report back later :)
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I voted in Adelaide earlier this week, and took the girls with me. Part of their civic education.
Yeah, my mum did that when I was little. I distinctly remembering her saying we were going to go up to the school because it was boating day. It was very exciting! Had they flooded the field to accomplish this, maybe?
Dear lord, the disappointment. I remember it still.
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thanks sofie - I may, of course, have read the entire thing wrong......
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Jackie. I distinctly remember this last election and it bothered me then also. I suspect it is the same people but thought the law says no electoral officer can be affiliated to any particular party. So I will get back. Going soon, (my man is even polishing his shoes! does it every election) :)
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I hope you read this Sofie
"Scrutineers may be appointed by candidates, or in some cases parties, to observe in polling places and during the preliminary count. Scrutineers may wear party lapel badges. They must not communicate with voters. When the electoral official reads out from the electoral roll the line and page number of the voter the scrutineer is entitled to record this. -
I thought that was illegal? Can anyone help? I suspect this is the hall I will go to and I will say something if someone can inform me of the law.
This, from the Chief Electoral Office, has the explanation.
Candidates (and parties) are allowed scrutineers to make sure people aren't cheating. I guess the question is, would you prefer to know they were party-appointed scrutineers, or if they were just sitting there looking like official election people with no identifying material.
And if one acts like a prat, maybe you'd like to know, so you can avoid voting for their party :-)
I do think it's kinda cool, however, that New Zealanders all seem to really love section 197 of the Electoral Act. Most similar countries (US, UK, Australia) don't have a ban on election day campaigning but I'm pretty sure there'd be massive opposition to changing it.
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OMG he's polished my shoes! thanks Raymond
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Sofie: All party signs must be excluded. It would be a bit intimidating to be confronted by rosettes. There should be a phone number for a Controlling Returning Officer to check. Once I took exception to Geof Thompson National Horowhenua, sweeping into our Polling Booth and making loud anti-labour remarks across the booth. But he didn't stay very long so hard to deal with verbals.
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Yes
I've
voted
Quite the steady stream, definitely going to be a big turnout down here in Waitaki, and the rest of the South Island too by the weather. What's it like up north? Auckland and Northland?Turnout in the sate Māori seats will decide it I reckon. Have the interested parties done enough GOTV?
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Lots of red and blue rosettes but all careful to be following rules of not talking. I noticed a few smiles from people wearing red rosettes (and even a guy with a blue one on) It had nothing to do with my bright red t shirt :) What pleasantly surprised me was how busy it was and noticed a large Maori turnout.all the booths were full. And my shoes looked great I must say :)
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Turnout in the sate Māori seats will decide it I reckon.
Are they the ones with the spicy peanut sauce? ;-)
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What pleasantly surprised me was how busy it was
Same here, I had to wait to get into a booth for the first time ever.
I like the fact that we vote at a conversative Christian private school.
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Can I just urge y'all with Freeview to watch the Media7 special at 7pm.
I'm just back from the "as live" part of it, and we wrapped up what I'm sure is the best show we've done.
Now, making food for guests later, which is another thing that makes me happy.
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Voted!
It was steady but not crowded at our polling place - mind you, with only three booths, it was pretty damn small, so it wouldn't have stood many more people. I didn't spot anyone wearing party rosettes, but I wasn't looking. I was encouraged by the number of parents with small kids and young people who were there, although I reckon that's a function of the area we're in more than anything. Still good to see.
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