At home everyone is register to vote. Since it is automatic and if you don't vote you can end up in jail unless there is a legal excuse (like being more than 500km from the place where you are register, been sick or above certain age, I think is 70 years). By living in the US I could not vote, but I went and register in the consulate so I could vote on the presidential elections.
The view on elections is that to vote is a citizen's duty, instead of seeing it as a privilege.
I've had class discussions on this issue before. I'm content to leave it as it stands, because in the end our laws exist to say what you can't do, not what you must do. Whether it's better or not, who can say.
I think there should have been another option on the last one... the deluded/pseudo-principled "If I don't vote I can't be blamed for what the government does and politicians all suck" reason.
Of course, allowances must also be made for those who've lost their right to vote due to felony conviction... or the government conveniently confusing them with someone who has a felony conviction. *gives Florida the glare of death*
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-08-23 09:05 pm (UTC)The view on elections is that to vote is a citizen's duty, instead of seeing it as a privilege.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-24 11:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-23 11:26 pm (UTC)I think there should have been another option on the last one... the deluded/pseudo-principled "If I don't vote I can't be blamed for what the government does and politicians all suck" reason.
Of course, allowances must also be made for those who've lost their right to vote due to felony conviction... or the government conveniently confusing them with someone who has a felony conviction. *gives Florida the glare of death*
no subject
Date: 2004-08-30 10:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-24 03:40 am (UTC)I don't understand this question... how can you be legally qualified to vote for the US if you are not American (=having an American citizenship)?
no subject
Date: 2004-08-24 10:35 am (UTC)whoops
Date: 2004-08-24 12:36 pm (UTC)