Absolutely right, Al, that we're all obliged to enrol. The closer to 100% the better. The unexpected rush on the last day caused problems with counting, and some errors occurred. If we stay with last-day enrolments, then the polling places may need some more staff. Cheers, Grant
Thanks Grant. I suggest that a lot more Electoral Commission resources need to go into education programmes emphasising the requirement to enrol to be able to vote. I worked as a Voting Place Manager for many general and by-elections, and was always surprised by how many people had no idea whether they were enrolled or not, and didn't know that they needed to be.
If this effort was put in, and there are so many channels to use now with social media, then there would be far fewer special votes cast, relieving the pressure at election time.
An excellent point, thanks Derek. People can enrol very easily. But then they may forget that they've done so. Young people especially change addresses a lot, and they don't update online, and they miss out on the Commission's letters. Doing more to remind people to enrol/update would certainly help. Cheers. GD
I was not suggesting below that people enrolling on election day - meaning in effect when they turn up to vote - should not have to complete an enrolment form. But those opposing election day enrolment want this form completed within a prescribed period before the election - and if they don't do it then they can't vote. This is what I see as bureaucratic and censorious. If more staff are needed on polling day because of this, so be it.
The issue of election day enrolment needs to be considered alongside all the recommendations in the 2023 report on elections. So far Minister Goldsmith has received the report and not provided any comprehensive response to the recommendations, or as far as I know, had discussions with other parties about the recommendations. Instead we get tossed trial balloons about a four year term, no election day enrolments, and not introducing a 16 year voting age. Just crickets on the strong recommendations about donations to political parties and spending by third parties.
If what has been done overseas by reactionary governments is anything to go by, we can expect suggestions from the government and/or their running dogs of voter id requirements next.
You're right, Andrew, that the present government isn't considering the independent review that was initiated under the previous government. That review would perhaps have had more long-term impact if it hadn't been the brainchild of one party. But anyway, I also fear the eventual introduction of voter ID requirements. I was amused, however, to learn that Boris Johnson had been turned away from a local government voting booth for lack of ID. I think he returned with it, but I had to see the humorous side. Cheers. Grant
Do you by chance know the result of the mayoral election for London. One that is directly impacted by voter id. Haven't seen reporting of the result locally.
Here in Australia we have a deadline to enrol - from memory, a week before the election day - can’t find the deadline on the Australian Electiral Commission website - and we’re used to that - so NO ONE THINKS ANYTHING OF IT. This discussion is, for me, an example of the nature of change management. People may fiercely resist a change but, once it is made, become used to it - and then fiercely resist moves to change the practice again! Instituting a deadline to enrol in A/NZ sounds like a good way to save public funds and forestall election fraud conspiracy disinformation.
Thanks for that comment, Kai. You're right. No one complained in NZ about voter suppression before the change was made to allow late enrolment. The reactions from the Labour and Green leaders failed to make the distinction between the obligation to enrol and the right to vote. The former is a necessary precondition for the latter, but they're two different things.
Perhaps I can add. Democracy is not about bureaucratic form filling or being censorious about failure to do so - like some of your respondents are. It's about meeting people's desire to vote. Of course there should be expanded voter education to reduce election day enrolments. .
I’d say it’s a good thing that people are enrolling to vote. It’s actually a legal requirement. So what if they’re leaving it till the last moment when they cast their vote? If the government is not willing to spend extra money chasing individuals to enrol then having them do so when they go to vote has got to be a good outcome.
If people take the trouble to turn up to vote, then their vote should surely be counted if they are otherwise eligible. National even floating the idea sends me into shivers, given how Trump and US Republicans work to restrict voting in all sorts of ways. We all know that these votes are very heavily for the left, which is surely why National is floating the idea. If my memory is correct a similar National Party move to restrict voting occurred many years ago in the 1970s under Muldoon but I can't recall the details.
Great to hear from you, David, and fair comment. I'm getting opinion both ways! I don't recall off hand the Muldoon-era move but I do recall some gerrymandering. And the Kirk govt reduced the voting age, no doubt knowing Labour would benefit. Cheers, Grant.
Voting is a huge privilege, as well as a right. People that treat it lightly need to be informed of that. Last minute enrolment may signify lack of appreciation. I suggest a cut off date of 1 week before e day.
Great rebuttal, thanks Mike. As a former uni lecture, I can just imagine someone saying 'my dog died on Saturday, so I should be allowed to vote on Sunday.' We do have a duty to abide by the electoral laws, and there have to be some strict deadlines somewhere. If one week prior, then I'd go with Derek's advice earlier about a campaign to remind people. Cheers. Grant
Will a national party MoF stump up the cash to hire the staff?
Absolutely right, Al, that we're all obliged to enrol. The closer to 100% the better. The unexpected rush on the last day caused problems with counting, and some errors occurred. If we stay with last-day enrolments, then the polling places may need some more staff. Cheers, Grant
Thanks Grant. I suggest that a lot more Electoral Commission resources need to go into education programmes emphasising the requirement to enrol to be able to vote. I worked as a Voting Place Manager for many general and by-elections, and was always surprised by how many people had no idea whether they were enrolled or not, and didn't know that they needed to be.
If this effort was put in, and there are so many channels to use now with social media, then there would be far fewer special votes cast, relieving the pressure at election time.
Cheers,
Derek
An excellent point, thanks Derek. People can enrol very easily. But then they may forget that they've done so. Young people especially change addresses a lot, and they don't update online, and they miss out on the Commission's letters. Doing more to remind people to enrol/update would certainly help. Cheers. GD
I was not suggesting below that people enrolling on election day - meaning in effect when they turn up to vote - should not have to complete an enrolment form. But those opposing election day enrolment want this form completed within a prescribed period before the election - and if they don't do it then they can't vote. This is what I see as bureaucratic and censorious. If more staff are needed on polling day because of this, so be it.
The issue of election day enrolment needs to be considered alongside all the recommendations in the 2023 report on elections. So far Minister Goldsmith has received the report and not provided any comprehensive response to the recommendations, or as far as I know, had discussions with other parties about the recommendations. Instead we get tossed trial balloons about a four year term, no election day enrolments, and not introducing a 16 year voting age. Just crickets on the strong recommendations about donations to political parties and spending by third parties.
If what has been done overseas by reactionary governments is anything to go by, we can expect suggestions from the government and/or their running dogs of voter id requirements next.
You're right, Andrew, that the present government isn't considering the independent review that was initiated under the previous government. That review would perhaps have had more long-term impact if it hadn't been the brainchild of one party. But anyway, I also fear the eventual introduction of voter ID requirements. I was amused, however, to learn that Boris Johnson had been turned away from a local government voting booth for lack of ID. I think he returned with it, but I had to see the humorous side. Cheers. Grant
Do you by chance know the result of the mayoral election for London. One that is directly impacted by voter id. Haven't seen reporting of the result locally.
If there was an edit function I would change the start of my second sentence to "This is one election that is ..."
It looks like Sadiq Khan has won by a fair margin over the Conservative candidate.
https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/election-results/results-2024-0
Here in Australia we have a deadline to enrol - from memory, a week before the election day - can’t find the deadline on the Australian Electiral Commission website - and we’re used to that - so NO ONE THINKS ANYTHING OF IT. This discussion is, for me, an example of the nature of change management. People may fiercely resist a change but, once it is made, become used to it - and then fiercely resist moves to change the practice again! Instituting a deadline to enrol in A/NZ sounds like a good way to save public funds and forestall election fraud conspiracy disinformation.
Thanks for that comment, Kai. You're right. No one complained in NZ about voter suppression before the change was made to allow late enrolment. The reactions from the Labour and Green leaders failed to make the distinction between the obligation to enrol and the right to vote. The former is a necessary precondition for the latter, but they're two different things.
Perhaps I can add. Democracy is not about bureaucratic form filling or being censorious about failure to do so - like some of your respondents are. It's about meeting people's desire to vote. Of course there should be expanded voter education to reduce election day enrolments. .
I agree in spirit, David, but enroling as a voter and voting both require filling out the obligatory forms.
I’d say it’s a good thing that people are enrolling to vote. It’s actually a legal requirement. So what if they’re leaving it till the last moment when they cast their vote? If the government is not willing to spend extra money chasing individuals to enrol then having them do so when they go to vote has got to be a good outcome.
If people take the trouble to turn up to vote, then their vote should surely be counted if they are otherwise eligible. National even floating the idea sends me into shivers, given how Trump and US Republicans work to restrict voting in all sorts of ways. We all know that these votes are very heavily for the left, which is surely why National is floating the idea. If my memory is correct a similar National Party move to restrict voting occurred many years ago in the 1970s under Muldoon but I can't recall the details.
Great to hear from you, David, and fair comment. I'm getting opinion both ways! I don't recall off hand the Muldoon-era move but I do recall some gerrymandering. And the Kirk govt reduced the voting age, no doubt knowing Labour would benefit. Cheers, Grant.
Voting is a huge privilege, as well as a right. People that treat it lightly need to be informed of that. Last minute enrolment may signify lack of appreciation. I suggest a cut off date of 1 week before e day.
Great rebuttal, thanks Mike. As a former uni lecture, I can just imagine someone saying 'my dog died on Saturday, so I should be allowed to vote on Sunday.' We do have a duty to abide by the electoral laws, and there have to be some strict deadlines somewhere. If one week prior, then I'd go with Derek's advice earlier about a campaign to remind people. Cheers. Grant