US elections
Nov. 4th, 2008 05:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brabbel123Considering the US reputation as being one of the most democratic nations, I can only shake my head at some issues that come up at every single presidential election:
* voter registration: Sorry, but here in Austria you're automatically registered as a voter if you're 16+ years old and an Austrian citizen and have your main domicile in Austira (which is a requirement for other issues anyway) - exceptions are Austrians living abroad but let's not get into this. No need to go register just to be able to vote anywhere.
* ID: Of course, you have to prove your identity in some way... just take your passport, driving license or other official personal ID with you, and you have no problems at all. No need to get confused as to exactly which IDs allowed.
* voting machines: Honestly, voting machines that might just register your vote for the other candidate than the one you actually voted for? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me - just give me a sheet of paper with the candidates' names and I'll just make a quick cross in front of the candidate of my choosing. That takes about 10 seconds instead of the minutes Obama spent casting his vote (as broadcasted live on TV).
* voter suppression: Well, maybe the EU should send over election observers like they do in elections in the Third World (my brother used to be such an observer) - but alas, observers weren't invited/allowed in 2004 or so I hear.
* all or nothing/electors: First of all, a system where someone could become president without even getting the most votes, just seems wrong - sorry. And what with those electors? I understand that they were necessary back in the 18th century with the long distances in the US, but nowadays they just complicate a system that's complicated enough without them.
I'm not saying that the Austrian voting system is perfect, far from it as evidenced in recent elections. But at least, you don't have to cross mountains of difficulties to even be able to vote.
Still shaking my head... and hoping the "Change We Can Believe In" is going to happen.
* voter registration: Sorry, but here in Austria you're automatically registered as a voter if you're 16+ years old and an Austrian citizen and have your main domicile in Austira (which is a requirement for other issues anyway) - exceptions are Austrians living abroad but let's not get into this. No need to go register just to be able to vote anywhere.
* ID: Of course, you have to prove your identity in some way... just take your passport, driving license or other official personal ID with you, and you have no problems at all. No need to get confused as to exactly which IDs allowed.
* voting machines: Honestly, voting machines that might just register your vote for the other candidate than the one you actually voted for? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me - just give me a sheet of paper with the candidates' names and I'll just make a quick cross in front of the candidate of my choosing. That takes about 10 seconds instead of the minutes Obama spent casting his vote (as broadcasted live on TV).
* voter suppression: Well, maybe the EU should send over election observers like they do in elections in the Third World (my brother used to be such an observer) - but alas, observers weren't invited/allowed in 2004 or so I hear.
* all or nothing/electors: First of all, a system where someone could become president without even getting the most votes, just seems wrong - sorry. And what with those electors? I understand that they were necessary back in the 18th century with the long distances in the US, but nowadays they just complicate a system that's complicated enough without them.
I'm not saying that the Austrian voting system is perfect, far from it as evidenced in recent elections. But at least, you don't have to cross mountains of difficulties to even be able to vote.
Still shaking my head... and hoping the "Change We Can Believe In" is going to happen.
