The right to vote
We assume the right to vote is enshrined in a democracy. Exercising that right requires the provision of polling apparatus.
The weekend election in Western Australia raises some questions about how well geared state electoral commissions are in this regard.
I voted absentee because we recently moved from Kalgoorlie.
There were no absentee voting options through Australian Electoral Commission divisional offices, as one might expect. I had to apply for a postal vote.
I read tonight on The Sunday Times website, there was no polling place in Eucla on the South Australian border.
There are 29 voters there and the nearest polling booth is five hours away at Norseman!
Surely those people were entitled to expect a polling booth or some local voting facility (eg internet)?
I'm a 41-year-old father of four working as a newspaper editor at Mount Gambier in South Australia.
