Hi guys,
I now have a greater understanding of electoral commissions. I had never bothered to find out exactly what goes on with those 'Yes, Minister' types until today.
I was under the misunderstanding that I had been chucked off the electoral roll, as I once tried to vote in a Fed election in the Hawke days but was told I wasn't even on it and it was prob cos I hadn't notified the Nazis when I had changed addresses. This was in the eighties! So, since then I hadn't bothered to rock up and vote. I'm ok with that.
However, I got a nasty infringement letter recently, demanding immediate payment of about 80 bux. Charge was: not voting in election. I thought WTF???
So I made some enquiries at the AEC today and they told me that it was for not voting in the state election earlier in the year (not the Fed election, cos those fines haven't been sent out yet!)
They actually explained that as I am a resident and not a citizen, I can't even vote in the Fed Elections. I'm way sweet with that.
They then sent me down SGTce to the WA electoral mob. They were even nicer BECAUSE.....and read this slowly if you too, got a fine for not voting....I was informed that if you hadn't been living at your registered address for the 3 months before election day, you are INELIGIBLE to even vote and therefore can't be fined. My registered address was from 18 YEARS ago. So I had to then sit down and write a brief letter telling those who ARE REALLY IMPORTANT that they should now chuck my bill in the bin.
I wonder how many people freak out when they get this type of extortion demand? It threatened me with loss of driver's licence if payment wasn't paid by due date. I can easily lose my licence by myself without these guys taking it! Give 'em nothing!
I now have a greater understanding of electoral commissions. I had never bothered to find out exactly what goes on with those 'Yes, Minister' types until today.
I was under the misunderstanding that I had been chucked off the electoral roll, as I once tried to vote in a Fed election in the Hawke days but was told I wasn't even on it and it was prob cos I hadn't notified the Nazis when I had changed addresses. This was in the eighties! So, since then I hadn't bothered to rock up and vote. I'm ok with that.
However, I got a nasty infringement letter recently, demanding immediate payment of about 80 bux. Charge was: not voting in election. I thought WTF???
So I made some enquiries at the AEC today and they told me that it was for not voting in the state election earlier in the year (not the Fed election, cos those fines haven't been sent out yet!)
They actually explained that as I am a resident and not a citizen, I can't even vote in the Fed Elections. I'm way sweet with that.
They then sent me down SGTce to the WA electoral mob. They were even nicer BECAUSE.....and read this slowly if you too, got a fine for not voting....I was informed that if you hadn't been living at your registered address for the 3 months before election day, you are INELIGIBLE to even vote and therefore can't be fined. My registered address was from 18 YEARS ago. So I had to then sit down and write a brief letter telling those who ARE REALLY IMPORTANT that they should now chuck my bill in the bin.
I wonder how many people freak out when they get this type of extortion demand? It threatened me with loss of driver's licence if payment wasn't paid by due date. I can easily lose my licence by myself without these guys taking it! Give 'em nothing!
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