Thu 4 November 2004 - US elections
Much interest around Australia in the US elections. I suppose just like the Americans, we’re keen to know who will be leading our country for the next four years…
The problems with electoral fraud do amuse me a little though. With these kinds of problems, is this really the shining light, the bastion of democracy? Let alone the reported thousands of lawyers standing by to fight tooth and nail for each and every vote.
The idea of party representatives scrutinising the voters, rather than the counting process as is common here, is a new one to me. So to the idea of electoral officials being accused of giving their preferred party a boost. While most people would have their own political opinions, if they start putting them ahead of their duties in the democratic process, I reckon they’re in the wrong job.
Throw in long queues and voting equipment and procedures that vary state-by-state, and no wonder it’s a tad chaotic.
Mind you, we’ve had scandals with How To Vote cards, so I suppose we’re not perfect either.