Quoting Freaker from 10:24, 4th May 2007
Yes! I don't understand...
Also, I arrived at my polling place, not being able to find my card quickly enough, and got my ballot just by saying my name and address. No form of identification required whatsoever! Now if that kind of system doesn't just scream for abuse...
I worked as a poll clerk in the european elections a few years back and yes, all you have ever needed is your name and address. You can't use a poll card as a valid form of ID, because it could easily be stolen during posting and used by someone else. You also can't ask people to provide any other type of ID, because some people won't have any - and you can't disenfranchise people for not having passports or new driver's licences. Basically the whole system is based on the idea that almost everyone will vote - your name is crossed off a list so that if you turn up and someone else has already voted using your name, it can be investigated.
However in a low turnout election, yes it is easy to abuse. Another reason to try and reduce voter apathy. I suppose.
And its always been in pencil. The idea is that a pen running out of ink might be too faint to be seen properly but people will tender the vote thinking that it is visible, wheras the mark of a pencil will always be the same strength until the pencil runs out.
[hr]
saru mo ki kara ochiru
)