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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Sometimes it's easy to forget how lucky we are to have the opportunity to decide who our leaders will be. On my way into to the polling place this morning, I saw an Indian couple who (I Guess) were voting for the first time. They had their sample ballots in their hands and US flag buttons on their jackets. I could see that they were very excited to have the chance to vote. As screwed up as our system seems to be sometimes, we still need to remember how lucky we are. No matter who your choice is, please take a few minutes and get out and vote.
Please do not turn this thread into a political debate. It's not what I intended, and we all know how "Mr.Big" feels about it. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I will be so glad when this thing is over. I am so as in SO SO SO tired of all listening to all the bullshit that goes with it. And I try to avoid all that spoo at all costs. |
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Location: south east Michigan | I predict that this thread won't last 9 posts. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by Slipkid:
I predict that this thread won't last 9 posts. Let's see. Vote early, vote often. |
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Location: East Tennessee | +5 |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Get out and vote for whoever you want. Then go to Starbucks for a FREE cup of coffee. In states where there is no proof of voting, like NY, just say "I voted" and the coffee is free. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
I will be so glad when this thing is over. I am so as in SO SO SO tired of all listening to all the bullshit that goes with it. And I try to avoid all that spoo at all costs. With ya there Bill! |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | PLEASE people, John B is supporting our history and heritage , not politics! That's why he said vote regardless of party.
So much blood, sweat and tears have have been sacrificed in order for us to partake in what should be considered a sacred right. So just do your sacred duty, VOTE!
Thanx John B!  |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I voted first thing this morning. John's right, and I'm a little ashamed to admit that I truly did not appreciate the privilege we enjoy when I was younger. I just blew it off because I didn't like politicians. Never again.
GO VOTE! 
(Apologies to all the non-USA members, but cut us a little slack, it's a big day over here. :) ) |
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Location: South of most, North of few | I actually voted a week ago during the early voting here in Fl. Turnout will be a record this year. |
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Location: Nashville, TN | I voted early, too! Curious to see how the new guy handles EVERYTHING! I wouldn't want that gig! |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | A poem by an4340
Voted here too.
Tired of the spoo.
Hope there no talk o' chads
If there ain't, I be glad. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | My oldest turned 18 in August and he is VERY excited about being able to vote this year. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | We voted absentee a couple weeks ago. I was worried that something would happen that would make me regret my decisions, but nothing did. It just made the political ads all the more unbearable. |
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| I, too, am tired of all the political spoo on seemingly every moment of TV and radio. I, too, voted early here in FL and I'll be glad when all this is over and done.
With that said, I couldn't agree more with Iffy. My parents came from a country where voting is a joke. After they came here they never missed a chance to cast a ballot. My nursing home-bound, 86-year-old invalid mother voted by absentee ballot this year. I have never missed voting in an election - city, county, state or national - since I turned 18. It doesn't matter your political views. We Americans owe it to the millions of men and women who have served their country, and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us this privilege, to have our say. Thank YOU, Johnny, and all the other US members here who are veterans!
If you haven't already done so, Go Vote! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | I voted to buy myself a resonators :) |
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Location: East Tennessee | I voted last week early. Today I'm going to stop by the Guitar Center and let some pimple faced kid insult my intelligence instead of the politicians. :D |
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March 2005
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | SWMBO became a citizen of our country in April. This was her first time voting freely in her life...what a cool moment for her and for me as I watched...
Yes, there is a bunch of stuff (spoo-or you name it here_______)but it is the priviledge that is important. We are blessed folks, admit it or not. |
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Location: south east Michigan | 17 posts!!!
1)I'm pleased to be proved wrong in my guess,
and 2)... I'm proud of you guys! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I ALWAYS vote. Wish I lived in Chicago so I could vote more than once.
I'm going to be glad when this election is over. It was started a year early when one of these two candidates announced his candidacy. Even if I loved his politics, I wouldn't vote for him just because he's exposed me to all this ka-ka for an extra year. A**wipe.
Will this close it down? I didn't talk politics, just poor judgment..... |
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Location: closely held secret | I agree with you, Paul. I take voting so seriously that when I get real old I'll move to Washington State so I can continue to vote after I'm dead.
The only thing I'll add to all the great things mentioned in this thread is that it's not just important to vote, it's important to vote intelligently, not emotionally. Make an informed decision using as much honest information as you can gather.
The future of our country, children, grandchildren, etc. is at stake. |
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Location: Cincinnati | I voted this morning. I only had to stand in line 30 minutes. Lines will be long after work. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I voted for Obama two weeks ago.
I voted for McCain last week
But today I voted for Ralph Nadeur.
Hey this is Florida, we get to do stuff like this.
I just know that tonight I'll be in a car with Debanjo heading west and we will not be listening to the radio but the banjo instead.
Hey, some people will do anything not to listen to a political speach! (that's for you Old Man Arthur)
Now let's see if my prediction is correct. I think so.
see ya'll in a week or so. |
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Location: closely held secret | So you're saying that you voted for him before you didn't vote for him? |
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Location: Jet City | The whole get out and vote thing only matters in swing states. Trust me, my state's color has already been counted on.
Beal, have fun. |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Originally posted by Mitchrx:
Get out and vote for whoever you want. Then go to Starbucks for a FREE cup of coffee. In states where there is no proof of voting, like NY, just say "I voted" and the coffee is free. Guess you don't even have to say you voted now..
IMPORTANT: To ensure that we are in compliance with election law, we are extending our offer to all customers who request a tall brewed drip |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I did my Absentminded ballot last week.
Still prefer Season 3 of Lost DVDs over the so called News. |
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| Re the first post - the Indian couple may have been celebrating their first American vote but India is the world's biggest democracy (by about half a billion people or more). |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I voted last week, and my thanks go out to all the veterans, and sufferegettes who made it possible. Regardless of the "spoo", this is still the greatest country in the world. |
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| Thanks for the insult. Was it free? |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by Damon67:
The whole get out and vote thing only matters in swing states. Trust me, my state's color has already been counted on.
We're a Republic, not a democracy. Which makes voting on your local stuff the most important part of this whole deal. You want change in Washington? Everyone's gotta vote in honorable local people with instructions to go to Washington and kick some ass. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by schroeder:
Thanks for the insult. Was it free? No. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Seems like absentee/mail in voting will be at an all time high this year.
This was the first year I ever did that and I LIKED IT! Much more time to look over the ballot and no hassles with lines. |
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May 2008
Posts: 154
Location: Michigan | I was in line about 10 minutes or so before the doors opened in our rural used to be farming community. I was # 196, walked out the door at 7:28 to go to work.
Nationally my vote probably won't do anything except negate someone elses vote, but there are other things on the ballot that made it worthwhile.
Hopefully we won't have to re-distribute our guitars :D
Wally |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | I hope it works better than the military absentee balloting. Over 26 years, only one of mine has actually been counted. This time around, I missed the Jan. 2008 enrollment deadline and missed out :( |
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| Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
Originally posted by schroeder:
Thanks for the insult. Was it free? No. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Interestingly, in NY we don't bother to count the absentee ballots until after the regular ballots have been counted. |
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Location: closely held secret | Schroed, I'm sure CS meant no slight to you or your country. It's simply the way some of us feel about our country. As bad as some of our leaders or decisions have been, we've got a lot to be proud of. There are quite a few countries around the world who enjoy their freedom due to the sacrifices made by the US.
We aren't gloating or boasting, we just feel lucky to be here. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The early voting in Colorado is setting all-time records this election. With something like 1.6 million registered voters in Colorado, over a million had already voted by the end of last week, me included. Glad I did, too, because the local issues were so numerous that two ballots were required. The early voting should result in shorter lines later today in Colorado, but this may not be the case in other states. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Lying about Coffee is just wrong!
I'm at home today, a little tired flu-like, and I've already answered 3 "surveys" phone calls and refuse to turn on the TV.
Oh, and the fact that the Redwood and a set of electronics for the 1537 just happen to be "out for delivery" is a bonus. Should be a FD 14 showing up eventually as well...
Schroeder - I'll be willing to insult you for free - but there is a charge for the good ones! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Tim in Tidewater:
the military absentee balloting That is a disgrace, inexcusable, unacceptable, !
I was hoping that this issue would have been resolved after the last election!
I'll leave it that so that this thread may continue... |
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October 2008
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Location: Califon, New Jersey | I went to the polls @ 5:50am. The line was so long I had to leave...my son turned 18 this year, too, but waited too long to register and got the dreaded letter---we received your information too late--you are not eligible to vote in this election....I'll be standing in line after work... :D |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Wow, Schroeder, I am sorry if I insulted you. I am just so grateful to folks like Iffy who fought for us that I feel lucky to be alive, free, and able to vote. I meant no insult to anyone, rather to praise those who make America great. Maybe I should have said "this is the greatest guitar forum in the world." I have made so many friends here. Forgive me? |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I lucked out. At 8:30 AM, there was no line at all, though the volunteers said they had been packed until then. When I left, the parking lot was FULL of cars. |
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| Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
Wow, Schroeder, I am sorry if I insulted you. I am just so grateful to folks like Iffy who fought for us that I feel lucky to be alive, free, and able to vote. I meant no insult to anyone, rather to praise those who make America great. Maybe I should have said "this is the greatest guitar forum in the world." I have made so many friends here. Forgive me? He's just still sore about Yorktown and Cornwallis :D |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Hey Mitch, Thanx for the reminder of the Free Starbucks Coffee.
I really don't like their coffee, but it IS worth $0.00. :p
The advantage of living in Oregon is that I voted by mail two weeks ago.
The disadvantage of living in Oregon is that your boss doesn't have to let you go early to Vote. |
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Location: GA USA | I passed by a Starbucks an hour ago. The cars were overflowing the parking lot. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | I went to Dunkin Donuts. It was worth the $1.79 not to have to drink starbucks. |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Ahh...Dunkin Donuts, how I miss you! (They don't have them in S.D.) You can get it at the grocery store, but somehow it's not the same. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Since when are we worried about insulting Schroeder? You think he would be afraid to insult us back? If he was allowed to talk politics he could really lay it on us, but he still manages to hold his own just fine. |
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Location: New South Wales, Australia | It's compulsory to vote down here. If you don't...you get a fine. |
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Location: closely held secret | It's worse here. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about your candidate losing. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | But at least you get free coffee! Mmmmmm, free coffeeeee!!! |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by ozwatto:
It's compulsory to vote down here. If you don't...you get a fine. Thank You for reminding me...
I knew that there were some countries where you HAVE to vote.
Also, if you live there you are registered to vote.
But the problem with that is "undecided voters"...
If you don't know who you want to vote for... Stay Home!
As some know, in Oregon everybody votes by mail.
They send you a voter guide a while in advance, then they send you a ballot.
So you can sit-down with your guide and your ballot and take your time and know what or who you are voting for.
It is a good system.
People born in America nowadays are given a Social Security number at birth.
Voter registration should be the same.
It is good to hear y'all Aussies (Ozzy's?) got it all worked-out...
Now, does your boss give you two paid hours off work to vote like they used to in Massachusetts?
[Oh! In the Real Old Days, in Massachusetts we use to vote at the "Towne Public House" (Bar)...
We need to go back to that too! :p ] |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Voting is on Saturday. If you can't do it then you can do an absentee or early vote. Most people aren't working on Saturday so it's not a major issue. If you really don't know who to vote for (or are too stupid to know how) then you can vote informal by not filling out the ballot paper properly. The law requires you to turn up and get your name ticked off, what you do in the voting booth is up to you. From recollection I think something like 96% of registered voters (registration is compulsory) cast a valid vote.
I think it cuts out the "Come out and vote" campaigning that you do in the US. The only people suggesting you come out and vote are the Electoral Commission and they restrict it to "There is an election on x and you are required to vote. If you can't make it then, cast an early or absentee vote"
It's a good system |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
As some know, in Oregon everybody votes by mail.
They send you a voter guide a while in advance, then they send you a ballot.
So you can sit-down with your guide and your ballot and take your time and know what or who you are voting for.
It is a good system.
I agree, except for the huge potential for fraud, and the possibility of damning information coming to light the day before the election concerning the person you cast your vote for two weeks ago...
The idea is great, but I think they should eliminate the 'early voting' part and require the ballots be personally turned in (not by mail, and with ID) no sooner than two days before the election. |
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Location: Montreal | If I can add something...... the rest of the world is looking the United State today.
It's something!!! :) |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent |  |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I was worried about Waskel's concern, but I didn't receive any pertinent information between the time I voted and today that would have changed my vote. As a matter of fact, I received very little pertinent information at all. For the most expensive election ever, we really learned very little. I agree with Beal, we went right from spin to spoo. |
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Posts: 160
Location: Montana | It's interesting how different locales handle election day. In my current state (confusion?) the State employees get the day off to vote, so they all vote absentee and then go hunting on election day. When I lived in PA there was a law that the bars could not open until the polls closed. Supposedly this was to keep the politicians from scouring the bars and buying votes for the price of a drink. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Washington has the mail-in thing too. It was really nice to sit back, read the issues, even do extra research to vote.
Very cool indeed. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | But at least you get free coffee! Mmmmmm, free coffeeeee!!! And may I say that the coffee at the Smokey Jam Cabin was Excellent! And Iffy, we all wanted to make sure you need not have worried about it.
By the way, Starbucks is serving mostly Sumatra blends lately and Dunkin Donuts coffee at the store is mostly Costa Rican...We enjoyed mostly Columbian at the Jam...FYI |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
using as much honest information as you can gather. Where are ya gonna get THAT?? :confused: |
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Location: closely held secret | It ain't easy. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | See I told you.
-5 will be here soon, as in January. |
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| Interesting how the popular vote was roughly 50/50 all night and the electoral ends up being more than 2:1
I'll have to read up on that system some day. |
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Location: Avondale, AZ | Can you believe the outcome? YEAH! |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by Joe Rotax:
Interesting how the popular vote was roughly 50/50 all night and the electoral ends up being more than 2:1
I'll have to read up on that system some day. That's what happens in "winner take all" situations. Our House of Reps in Australia goes the same way - a 51/49 vote ends up with about a 30-40 seat majority |
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Location: closely held secret | Welcome to the USSA. |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | Welcome to the USSA Pour taste and getting pointed towards a political slur.. :( |
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Posts: 747
| Originally posted by The Artist (FKA Richard):
That's what happens in "winner take all" situations. Our House of Reps in Australia goes the same way - a 51/49 vote ends up with about a 30-40 seat majority [/QB] Yeah, ours goes by the number of MPs elected from the various ridings for a majority followed by the official opposition.
Only problem is that the local MP can be a complete disaster but his/her party might be better for the country overall.
We just finished our elections here last month - took 90 days from start to finish.
What's the fine for not voting in Oz - last I heard it was $25 or something nominal like that. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Originally posted by Tim in Tidewater:
Welcome to the USSA Pour taste and getting pointed towards a political slur.. :(
USSA |
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Posts: 4820
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Pour, taste, and pour another. It gets better.
Better to deflect than defend..... |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by christian1958:
If I can add something...... the rest of the world is looking the United State today.
It's something!!! :) When I go to sleep at night I listen to the BBC on my clock radio... Puts me right out.*
But they had been asking around Europe, and most Europeans wanted Obama to win.
So they oughta be happy... the people in Kenya too.
*[Something about them English accents puts me right to sleep. :D ] |
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April 2008
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by Joe Rotax:
What's the fine for not voting in Oz - last I heard it was $25 or something nominal like that. I think it's $50. I don't know anyone who's ever been fined. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I've missed more Australian elections than I've voted in. Never been fined or even got a "please explain".
I'm really surprised that Miles or Al hasn't been all over this thread and shut it down.
I think it's been a very civilised discussion, but just wait til Al gets home. Your all gonna be in SOOOOOO much trouble. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Sorry. Section 125B(2)(ii) of the Election Act (1901) reads:
"Muzz does not have to vote and is exempt from fines for not voting" |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "I'm really surprised that Miles or Al hasn't been all over this thread and shut it down."
They must be amongst all those people the news keeps showing who are partying in the bars.
Up in North Portland there is a bar giving away free champagne til closing tonight...
:mad: And I quit drinking! :mad: |
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Location: Melbourne Australia | Just by the way - down here downunder it is compulsory to vote in Federal elections (3 year term) State elections (4 year term in Victoria) AND Local Council elections (3 year term). Sheesh!! |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
See I told you.
-5 will be here soon, as in January. Beal, you had me rolling with that one the other day. :D |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Beal, you need to update that to -5HG, cuz he's shining!
Should we add -ANR to our signatures as well? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I think the -5 designation is not quite right. If I understand it correctly he's only half-rican american.
Dave |
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Location: Upper Left USA | OK, the Election is over so we need to get back to guitar idolotry...
I'm developing an appreciation for wide necks lately!
"YES WE CAN!" |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Election's over and Robin Hood won. Congratulations. Markets are already down 1.5% this morning on the good news. Can we please just kill this thing and move on. CLICK. |
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Location: NJ | thanks for degenerating this thread |
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Get out and vote!