It pays to lie

[d2dave]

About 30 years ago I failed to vote at a federal election. I was busy that day and had full intentions of voting, but time got away and I missed the dead line.

I got the please explain in the mail. I told them a lie that I was sick in bed all day and could not get to a polling booth. This was excepted.

Fast forward to October 2012. We had council elections.

Now I have two sons, one 22 who is a pilot and the other a 20 year old uni student. His uni is three hours from home so he lives on campus. From time to time he comes home on weekends.

He was not going to be home on the weekend of the election and neither was his brother as his pilots job can have him away for weeks at a time.

So I rang the electoral commission a few days before to explain their situations. I was told that this would be fine.

It was for the eldest, nothing more came of it. The youngest one however got sent a fine for failing to vote. Apparently a please explain was sent which we never received, so they took it as though we have ignored it, so they then sent the fine.

We responded with a letter telling them that we never got the first letter and explained why he did not vote. We got a reply stating that they did not accept our excuse and that we have to pay the fine.

I rang them but this was a waste of time so we ignored it. The final notice came today with an extra $20 added for costs. Pay up or go to court.

I rang legal aide this morning to see if he would qualify for assistance, and after explaining it all they suggested we just cope it and pay, which we begrudgingly did. I reckon this sucks big time.

I said to my son, if this ever happens again, just lie and tell them you were sick. I was bought up being told to always tell the truth, and I have raised my own two with the same principle, but sadly it appears to not always be the best option.

[Disco Muppet]

Dealing with the political system, I thought lying was expected?

[roverrescue]

Dave,
I said to my son, if this ever happens again, just lie and tell them you were sick. I was bought up being told to always tell the truth, and I have raised my own two with the same principle, but sadly it appears to not always be the best option.

Pretty long bow to draw - I would be pretty sure you could have done a "postal vote" or some such prior to the council election. PPPPPP and all that.

S

[bob10]

Just a thought, Democracy is not a spectator sport, Bob


Postal voting - factsheet - Australian Electoral Commission



Australian Electoral Commission › ... › Publications › 2013 federal election fact sheets‎

• Cached

Mar 18, 2013 - Postal voting overview. The AEC provides a number of alternative arrangements for voters who are unable to cast their vote on election day

[Eevo]

When I go to vote, I get my name signed off and walk out the door.

[87County]

.............. PPPPPP and all that.

one "P" short ?

just laughing at it - not being pedantic

[Ean Austral]

Guess you could look at it the other way....If you hadn't have lied and got away with it years ago, you would have made sure your son's voted. Maybe your son should make you pay the fine...

Cheers Ean

[d2dave]

The thing is I rang them a couple of days before the election and was told that this would be ok.

[crispy]

Ean, Im laughing so much ,Im crying........

[numpty]

When I go to vote, I get my name signed off and walk out the door.

I hope you never complain about what the Government does or doesn't do then