Voting Day 101!

Most people do not like voting. Most people do not see the point in voting (my vote will not make a difference). Most people dread even the thought of going near a polling booth. During the US Presidential Campaign, a YouTube video of a young girl crying at the thought of another few weeks of campaigning went viral and I am sure many people can relate to her pain - even if she was a mere 4 or 5!

Now there must be reasons for this right? I mean it is not like when you go into the polling booth you have to have an injection / cut off your hand / stick a needle in your eye... do you? Nor do you get laughed at / shot at / looked down on depending on which way you swing, so what is the big deal? I guess people who are voting for the first time in a couple of weeks could be a tad nervous or apprehensive at the thought - God knows what is going to happen when it is just you, a pencil and two pieces of paper in that tiny little booth.  But rest assured you still have plenty of time before September 7 to get ready, and here is my list of things to do before you go and get your name crossed off and cast your vote.

1. Learn who the major parties and minor parties are. This is really really important for those first time voters as not all parties will endorse or put up candidates in every electorate.

2. Find out which electorate you are in, especially if you live on an electoral boundary it may have changed! 

3. Look up your local candidates either on your local stobie poll or political leaflets that will no doubt flood your letterbox. That or you can go to the AEC website for full details on candidates and voting places, among other things of course!

4. It is also vital to have at least a basic understanding of the different voting systems in play at the Federal level. In the Lower or Green House Preferential voting is used to elect the 150 members. This type of voting requires voters to place a number in the box next to the preferred candidate and subsequent numbers corresponding to the level of preference for all other candidates. In the Upper or Red House voters need to decide whether or not they want to vote above the line (1 number only) and let parties decide preferences or below the line and number  EVERY!!!! box.

5. Read all the leaflets that get sent to you, some of them may even be important! Most, if not all political parties, groups and Independents will want to secure your vote and this means nagging you until you give in. Phone calls, text messages, emails and sometimes even personal visits are just some of the ways they will try and make contact. And it won't stop, it will never stop .... well maybe on September 8th but the road is long before you get there!!

6. The Debates. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have so far encountered each other twice in a debate ... of sorts. The second one was dubbed to have covered more ground and was probably more exciting than the first but that does not mean they weren't important. Debates, however unexciting, gives candidates more of an opportunity to cement their every changing views in the public arena. Despite flip-flops, backflips and policy turnarounds, these two people and their subsequent parties are trying their hardest to sway voters to vote for them. Promises, 'core' promises and political sweeteners are all part of the game, the game to win office. 

7. Have Fun! I have said it before and I will say it again, we in Australia are part of a privileged group of people who have the choice about who our representatives are and ultimately who will form the Government. Barry Cassidy on the ABC says that this parliament was a 'mixed bag' which got a lot done but was very politicized throughout its three year term. Whether or not that was a result of the people inside parliament or those outside fueling the fire remains to be seen but one thing is certain, it was a hectic time and political speculation was always at an all time high. Vote Liberal, Labor, National, Green, Katter, Palmer, Democrat, Sex Party, One Nation or Independent I don't care, all I care is that you vote and vote properly, no donkey vote, no invalid vote and no writing on the side of your ballot. You have no right to complain about the work the government is doing, if you could not be bothered or you intentionally messed up your vote! Your vote is sacred and use it well!