Australia vs. US on Voting

I don't think people outside of the United States understand what a shit-show our voting process is, and I am positive that Americans don't understand how easy it is to vote outside of the United States. Let's talk about the example of Australia and the current state of affairs in the United States - and we are actively making it harder.

Here is how to vote in Australia - and yes, the process is the same in all Australian States and Territories. (As an American, let me say this one pager is a thing of beauty!)

How does that match up with the United States? Lets take some looks:

In Oz, you can enroll to vote via the internet. In the US? Most states no.

In Oz, you can enroll before you are 18 to be ready. In the US? Most states no, where it was legal (ex. Florida) it is now illegal. Also illegal in Tennessee and Florida (among others), trying to sign up voters. Also illegal, if a voter registrar sends in more than 10 voter requests at a time.

In Oz, you can check if you are already signed up. In the US? No. And you can be struck from the voter rolls for not voting, sometimes you can be struck for only voting in Presidential elections, not off years.

In Oz, national voting takes place on a Saturday. In the US? No, it is always on a Tuesday. This is by Constitutional Mandate (back then the only day off was Sunday and it was the Lord's day. The idea of Tuesday is that it might take more than 1 day to ride your horse to a voting site.

In Oz, if you are away on voting day, you can vote early. In the US? maybe. Some states have absentee voting and some have early voting. Rules vary from state to state and sometimes within the state (early voting times can vary by city and location). Republicans in multiple states have reduced early voting hours, days and closed sites. Absentee voting in some states requires a trip to a notary or travel to a certain drop box in person (which is impossible if you are voting absentee because you're gone for work).

In Oz, voting is easy and required by law. In the US? No. voting is made harder and harder and laws try to block non-white voters.

Election Day in Georgia

Election Day in Australia

Because election day in Australia is required to be on a Saturday, and everyone is legally required to vote, it is a PAR-tay! Since you don't have to line up for hours, miles away from where you live, Australians go to the beach or park or bar-be-que to vote, pop a sausage on the barbie and have fun.

One last thing. In Australia, the one who has the most votes wins. In the US, Arizona is trying to change that so if the legislature (presently overwhelmingly Republican) thinks there might have been fraud, then the legislature can change the vote outcome.