Voter ID laws in Australia

[Rotayjay]

I think this deserves its own thread, since elections are the very bedrock of politics in this country. We all get a say, and we have to. Compulsory voting, like it or not, is part of the Aussie way of life and I think its benefits outweigh its drawbacks.

Yet the Morrison government is now attempting to introduce a requirement to produce photographic identification when voting, in a move supposedly strengthening the integrity of elections.

In my view, this is a shameless attempt to copycat that most stupid and counterproductive of parties, America's Republican Party. They're taking a leaf out of Donald Trump's book, looking for a voter integrity problem where none exists, and trying to stop a critical few percent of people from voting in every seat. I know for a fact that a lot of people in this country do not have photo ID, and the idea that some health worker or similar can vouch for your identity instead is not going to work in reality.

Anyone think this is a good idea?

 

[tandino]

So if you postal vote, who's verifying your identity there? I think that's the weakest link in the system.

Deduct the old timers voting in their nursing homes and then with their family on the day, and some AEC worker crossing the wrong name off on the roll, and I'd be surprised if you'd have any more than a handful of people out there voting twice.

If you can verify the rolls quick enough I think a supplementary election would be warranted if the error rate is higher than any of the margins in the preference distributions. That's probably a better way of maintaining integrity, but I don't think that's really possible.

 

[NSWCROW]

Flooding the zone with shit

 

[Cooldude]

It's just voter suppression in America imported here

The conservatives would love to turn us into a shitshow like America so they can hold onto power forever

 

[Evolved1]

Any more to ensure to integrity of our voting system is a positive, even if it's precautionary and preemptive. There's something odd about being able to vote without ID while you need it to get into a pub or even a restaurant these days.

 

[Cooldude]

Note the people championing "election integrity" are the same ones who defended the Chisholm Chinese signs bullshit, the usual Liberal cheerleading

 

[Home Alone]

It's a diversion tactic. Nothing more, nothing less.

I know we can walk and chew gum at the same time, but for the next week we can debate this and ignore everything else.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Had a young bloke board at my house a few years ago, now plying his trade overseas. He hasn't bothered to inform the AEC, so the last state and federal election I've had a letter come to my house addressed to him re his not voting. Both times I've just paid the $20 fine, easier for him and me.
**** these campaigners this election, Shane Sheridan's having two bites at the cherry.

 

[Brad Goodman]

A solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

To be fair though, a conservative is more likely to cheat (mainly due to their lack of morals), so maybe this could backfire for the ****head if brought in.

 

[Number37]

I wonder if this will be challenged in the High Court?

 

[Nikita Blue]

 

[Millky95]

Missing the tweet this is in reply to?

 

[Nikita Blue]

Missing the tweet this is in reply to?

Yes I don't know what happened. Some nutter was saying AEC was using dominion machines.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Yes I don't know what happened. Some nutter was saying AEC was using dominion machines.

Twitter deleted the post because it was FOS

 

[Taylor]

I don't think this is required if we have an up to date federal voter roll with no enrollments after a certain date allowing them to print a book to check names off from, which I believe we do.

The only areas I would see as vulnerable are with mail in voting or perhaps if we are moving to an internet voting system and need to validate our identity first before voting.

Given everyone has to roll up to get the name ticked off we don't have the same vulnerability as other jurisdictions that barely have half their eligible voters turn up - so even if a highly motivated group wanted to impersonate many people and steal their votes it won't have the same benefit and if 10,000 extra votes suddenly show up to push a race one way or another without there being enough eligible voters in the area then it will show up real quick.

Short of ASIO saying they have credible intelligence of outside influences plans to attempt to alter an election process within Australia or a plan to shift to a more online system, I think this is a waste of time.

If you wanted to bring in your "Australia ID card" that everyone has to hold which keeps all of your various licenses and certifications and medicare details etc, even linking your credit card into it - this would be how you go about it.

RFID scan at the bar, green tick (whether for vaccinated or just not banned from this type of establishment for whatever reason), scan at the till and get your drink - try again and it turns you down because you're had enough. Then it books you an uber home and an appointment to see a social worker for your excessive drinking, notifying the rest of the people you were near that you are now under investigation and their association with you will be scrutinized.

 

[Brad Goodman]

Twitter deleted the post because it was FOS

That person's twitter feed was a pretty sound argument for locking away the mentally deficient.

 

[Christopher Buttersnip]

Voter ID laws: a cynical assault on our democracy - Pearls and Irritations

Electoral fraud is virtually non-existent in Australia, so the Morrison government’s voter identification legislation should be seen for what it is. It’s been a very bad week for Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party “brand”. The charade of an inadequate, uncosted and unlegislated “plan” for zero...

johnmenadue.com

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Cringe. Keep Trumpism over there. Morrison is a overmatched for this role. He should be managing a wholesaler or paper firm or something.

 

[cartwright]

Any more to ensure to integrity of our voting system is a positive, even if it's precautionary and preemptive. There's something odd about being able to vote without ID while you need it to get into a pub or even a restaurant these days.

theres something more odd about the coalition trying to come up with a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

 

[Northalives]

So if you postal vote, who's verifying your identity there? I think that's the weakest link in the system.

Deduct the old timers voting in their nursing homes and then with their family on the day, and some AEC worker crossing the wrong name off on the roll, and I'd be surprised if you'd have any more than a handful of people out there voting twice.

If you can verify the rolls quick enough I think a supplementary election would be warranted if the error rate is higher than any of the margins in the preference distributions. That's probably a better way of maintaining integrity, but I don't think that's really possible.

Getting a postal vote is not just a matter of saying you want a postal vote and viola, it appears in your letter box you know. There are procedures you must go through to verify who you are before you are authorised to receive and lodge a postal vote.

 

[Northalives]

 

[Ned_Flanders]

So if you postal vote, who's verifying your identity there? I think that's the weakest link in the system.

Deduct the old timers voting in their nursing homes and then with their family on the day, and some AEC worker crossing the wrong name off on the roll, and I'd be surprised if you'd have any more than a handful of people out there voting twice.

If you can verify the rolls quick enough I think a supplementary election would be warranted if the error rate is higher than any of the margins in the preference distributions. That's probably a better way of maintaining integrity, but I don't think that's really possible.

1) Aged Care
they have specialist teams who do the voting in aged care homes. its not as simple as everyone rocks up and votes like free range chooks.

2) wrong name crossed
its a manual system, but its actually a pretty solid one. most of the EC workers will use a ruler to underline the name and address, and in most cases its pretty clear because name and addresses dont match. where they do (ie family from one house), they often get you to repeat to make sure you're the right person

3) postal
this is actually more secure than you think.

firstly you have to apply for a postal vote, and this involves the usual govt paperwork

next you not only have to sign your inner envelope but also put your ID info (off memory its the usual "type, number, expiry" for a drivers license or passport.

this info is checked. these ballots are not sent to the main polling centres and simply opened.

 

[kranky al]

1) Aged Care
they have specialist teams who do the voting in aged care homes. its not as simple as everyone rocks up and votes like free range chooks.

2) wrong name crossed
its a manual system, but its actually a pretty solid one. most of the EC workers will use a ruler to underline the name and address, and in most cases its pretty clear because name and addresses dont match. where they do (ie family from one house), they often get you to repeat to make sure you're the right person

3) postal
this is actually more secure than you think.

firstly you have to apply for a postal vote, and this involves the usual govt paperwork

next you not only have to sign your inner envelope but also put your ID info (off memory its the usual "type, number, expiry" for a drivers license or passport.

this info is checked. these ballots are not sent to the main polling centres and simply opened.

But what if they dont count the votes that come in for tr.... i mean morrison?

 

[Ned_Flanders]

But what if they dont count the votes that come in for tr.... i mean morrison?

i know you're funning it, but for the trumpians

AEC/VEC/etc are a combination of public servants and people on short term contracts - they are not political appointees like in the USA

all parties are able to have scrutineers in the rooms to monitor counting, and the reality is when the party people are not present its due to the party not making someone available

the rules in counting rooms are very strict - people are removed if even minor breaches occur

 

[kranky al]

i know you're funning it, but for the trumpians

AEC/VEC/etc are a combination of public servants and people on short term contracts - they are not political appointees like in the USA

all parties are able to have scrutineers in the rooms to monitor counting, and the reality is when the party people are not present its due to the party not making someone available

the rules in counting rooms are very strict - people are removed if even minor breaches occur

Do a youtube video mate - they dont get past the first two lines