I look at this failure to enrol in two quite different ways. The first is, if those not enrolling are too lazy or dumb then so be it, we are all better off if they don’t vote.
The second way is that clearly NZ has a problem with many young folk not engaging with civil society which shows up in several ways, including not voting. Not completing their school education, not being in employment, education or training (NEETs), is a social disaster and an economic drag. Forget about having first class stuff if so many people are not engaged. We apparently over 400,000 people of working age on benefits which is a major concern as many are NEETs.
Failing to enrol is not voter suppression – that accusation is a very lazy way some academics and journalists use to attack the government, because its an accurate term to describe what has happened over the decades in the USA and other countries. The USA provides wonderful opportunities for the left to warn Kiwis against. It also has positive stories we should note.
Kiwiblog has very helpfully pointed out that Australia, The UK and Ireland all have enrolment closeout dates that are longer than NZ. In the State of Victoria this year its 25 days and for Australia’s last federal election it was 26 days, Ireland 17 days and UK for 2024, 16 days.
Has any NZ media reported these facts? If not why not?
Not enrolling is simply just one indication of the lack of civil engagement and requires actions from parents, civil society and governments. Government alone cannot compensate for inadequate parenting.
As registering on the roll is a legal requirement one action the government could take is to enforce the law by prosecuting those failing to enrol. Police would likely resent using their valuable time for such civil actions, but maybe that would jog the lazy non engagers into action. Australia has compulsory voting and does prosecute those who fail to vote.
Time for some hard headed practical actions – not lazy bleating.
Barrie Saunders has a background in Government Relations and blogs at www.barriesaunders.wordpress.com. - where this article was sourced.
Failing to enrol is not voter suppression – that accusation is a very lazy way some academics and journalists use to attack the government, because its an accurate term to describe what has happened over the decades in the USA and other countries. The USA provides wonderful opportunities for the left to warn Kiwis against. It also has positive stories we should note.
Kiwiblog has very helpfully pointed out that Australia, The UK and Ireland all have enrolment closeout dates that are longer than NZ. In the State of Victoria this year its 25 days and for Australia’s last federal election it was 26 days, Ireland 17 days and UK for 2024, 16 days.
Has any NZ media reported these facts? If not why not?
Not enrolling is simply just one indication of the lack of civil engagement and requires actions from parents, civil society and governments. Government alone cannot compensate for inadequate parenting.
As registering on the roll is a legal requirement one action the government could take is to enforce the law by prosecuting those failing to enrol. Police would likely resent using their valuable time for such civil actions, but maybe that would jog the lazy non engagers into action. Australia has compulsory voting and does prosecute those who fail to vote.
Time for some hard headed practical actions – not lazy bleating.
Barrie Saunders has a background in Government Relations and blogs at www.barriesaunders.wordpress.com. - where this article was sourced.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for joining the discussion. Breaking Views welcomes respectful contributions that enrich the debate. Please ensure your comments are not defamatory, derogatory or disruptive. We appreciate your cooperation.