Politics

I don't like to talk politics - it's not polite and i'm all about Emily Postinessity - but on Annie Choi's blog I read that in Australia there's a little box on the ballot you can check that says "No Vote."

So, then, does this mean you get up, you find the card they sent you in the mail, you go to the polls, you stand in line, and THEN you become apathetic?

Does this make any sense? Why not just be apathetic at home, while watching Ghost Hunters International? Not that that's what I did. I'm just SAYING. It doesn't make any sense.

I'm going to check with my Down Under Experts (aka My Sister and Brother-In-Law). They are both Australian. It doesn't get much more authentic than that. Unless I were to ask Mick "Crocodile" Dundee. Which isn't an option.

Me: Is it true that there's a No Vote box on the election ballot?

Sister: Are you doing research for your next book?

Me: No. Just wondering.

Sister: Are you in a debating club?

Me: As if.

Sister: I don't remember a "No Vote" box. Their voting ballots are really long though and can be confusing but you do need to check at least one box somewhere. Not sure if you just handed in an unchecked ballot if that would essentially be a 'no vote'. Voting is mandatory for Australians.

Me: But you're Australian. What will happen if you don't go back to vote? (She lives in Vancouverland).

Sister: I notified my electoral office that I would be a non-resident when I moved to Canada and am now exempt until I return to Australia.

Me: Oh phew. What if you hadn't? What would happen then? Jail? Deportation? Loss of citizenship?

Sister: I don't know. I'll ask your brother in law.

Brother in Law: Voting in Australia is compulsory. If you don't vote you get fined $50 or $100 depending if the government officer got laid the night before or not.

Then we started talking about what Coco (their cat) and Mr. Baz (my cat) are going to dress up as for Halloween and forgot all about voting. When I hung up I realized that we didn't get to the bottom of the No Vote box though it does make more sense that there would be one if you have to go vote and really don't care, but really I'm over that topic anyway. On to Halloween costumes...