DH's experience with the high school counselor went something like this:

DH: "I'm good at math. What can do with math where I make the most money but do the least amount of work?"

HS Counselor: "You should be an actuary."

Thanks, billytea. I told them it was probably a fine, but I figured it was worth confirming.

A person can of course deliberately submit an invalid vote without penalty.

Do you mean something such as a blank ballot, or with "Wallybee" as a write-in entry?

What do you think of compulsory voting? It saddens me that so few Americans vote, but I can often understand their reasons, and I can't understand the rationale behind mandating it.

What do you think of compulsory voting? It saddens me that so few Americans vote, but I can often understand their reasons, and I can't understand the rationale behind mandating it.

What's the percentage of voter turnout? And what's the rate of invalid ballots? If a large enough number of people are voting, I think the Aussie's might be on to something here.

DH and I were discussing voting yesterday (well, actually discussing South Dakota and the electoral college). He thinks we should move to strictly popular voting and get rid of the EC altogether.

DH: "I'm good at math. What can do with math where I make the most money but do the least amount of work?"

Hee. That was pretty much my thought process. I knew about actuaries, because the high school careers guide was arranged alphabetically.

Do you mean something such as a blank ballot, or with "Wallybee" as a write-in entry?

Either one would work. Or you can put a '1' next to two candidates, write "McKneeGrasper is the shizznit!" instead of numbering his box, or just write in "I can't decide! *giggle*" My favourite is a bod who drew a big anarchy symbol on the ballot paper.

What do you think of compulsory voting? It saddens me that so few Americans vote, but I can often understand their reasons, and I can't understand the rationale behind mandating it.

In a nutshell, I don't understand the argument against it. I don't see how an electoral race which excludes the opinion of over half the electorate, an exclusion process which is known to be skewed against the poor, the young, immigrants and minority races (thus largely disenfranchising those in such groups who do bother to vote as well) gets to be treated as a legitimate mandate.

(You can count me in the 'pro-compulsory voting' camp, I guess.)

What's the percentage of voter turnout? And what's the rate of invalid ballots? If a large enough number of people are voting, I think the Aussie's might be on to something here.

Turnout hasn't been less than 94% since the mid-50s, IIRC. The rate of invalid ballots is in the single digits. Donkey voting (e.g. just numbering in order straight down the page) is a potential issue, which the Australian system deals with by randomly ordering the candidates on each ballot slip.

DH and I were discussing voting yesterday (well, actually discussing South Dakota and the electoral college). He thinks we should move to strictly popular voting and get rid of the EC altogether.

Funnily enough, though I don't agree with the weighting in the EC that gives greater weight to the less populous (and thus generally less urban) states, I'm in favour of having something like it. The 2000 election involved an extremely contentious and IMO thoroughly botched dispute over the state of Florida. Without an EC, the popular vote was still close enough (i.e. well within the margin of error) to lead to a dispute over the entire country. Would've been highly impractical to have to investigate all the voting irregularities in every state and county of a nation the size of the US.

LOST: Motivation. Vaguely greenish in color, has a fondness for mojitos and good conversation, goes by the name "Joe" and has run far, far from home. If found, please notify Stressed College Student Immediately. (Only valid for the next 34 days.)

Happy birthday ND!

My god, we're almost ready for another thread, aren't we?

Donkey voting (e.g. just numbering in order straight down the page)

For a brief moment, I thought you had a problem with donkeys voting....

Hey!(lifelong Dem...that's my "hey!")

Is there a word stronger than doomed?

L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can

Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart and please don't break it
Love was made for me and you

t trumpet instrumental

L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can

Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart and please don't break it
Love was made for me and you

(Courtesy of Mr. Nat King Cole.)

Funnily enough, though I don't agree with the weighting in the EC that gives greater weight to the less populous (and thus generally less urban) states, I'm in favour of having something like it. The 2000 election involved an extremely contentious and IMO thoroughly botched dispute over the state of Florida. Without an EC, the popular vote was still close enough (i.e. well within the margin of error) to lead to a dispute over the entire country. Would've been highly impractical to have to investigate all the voting irregularities in every state and county of a nation the size of the US.

What prompted this from DH was that when we were discussing South Dakota, is that the entire state of SD has roughly the same population as the city of Columbus--but they get 3 electoral votes. I'm sure he could support his position with pie charts and graphs and stuff.

Turnout hasn't been less than 94% since the mid-50s, IIRC. The rate of invalid ballots is in the single digits. Donkey voting (e.g. just numbering in order straight down the page) is a potential issue, which the Australian system deals with by randomly ordering the candidates on each ballot slip.

Wow. That's just...wow.

Hey!(lifelong Dem...that's my "hey!")

Hee. I hadn't even thought that this would be an Australianism. I can see where it would come across differently in the US of A. Though I think maybe you should be more concerned with the continued existence of MTV's Jackass.