Australian electoral system: Difference between revisions

Although in theory it is compulsory to vote in Australia and 95% of Australians do, it is not a strictly enforceable law. All that is really required by law is that the voter show up to a polling place between 7am and 6pm on polling day (always a Saturday) and have their name ticked of the electoral roll. Once in the polling booth, due to the secret ballot, what you do is up to you, that is whether you choose to register a "formal ballot" or an "informal (spoilt) ballot paper". A fine for failing doregister soat willthe setvoting youbooth backfrequently $50results in a fine, unless youone havehas a 'valid and reasonable excuse' as defined by the [[Australian Electoral Commission]] (AEC), what actually constitutes a valid excuse is of course a safely guarded secret. Even if one fails to turn up on polling day and receive a letter after the election, one still has the opportunity to provide a reasonable excuse (perhaps saying "I did vote; there must be an error in your records").