This will begin on Friday 2nd October and most of Greece will close down to allow the citizens of Greece to travel home to the villages of their childhood to vote in the coming National election. The election itself takes place on Sunday 4th. Voting is obligatory for those over 18 ensuring a more active participation in the electoral process.
What do you think about this method and its benefits or disadvantages to the voter?
[question posted by thea09]
responses and comments:
I don't think about it normally, especially this early in the morning on a Saturday, but since you insist... I don't really think the having to travel home to the village of your childhood thing is a great idea...just in my opinion of course...many of us here, once we get away, don't like to go back...but I think the mandatory voting thing is cool. [The_Lamb_Lies_Down]
Hi Lamby, so in favour of our mandatory part, good oh. Indeed many long distance journeys here will be involved by plane, ferry and car. Many from the mainland will need to return to the islands of their birth whilst from this area alone many will need to return from Athens and you can just imagine the tail back as everyone tries to head out of there at once. [thea09]
sigh...... not a good idea at all to send everyone to their birth place. And if (like me) you dont have a bunch of family there with the accomodation provided you need than this election is a very costly process. I would not want to throw my hard earned money out of the window to get to my hometown a 3,5 hour drive from here only to vote. We should vote too this weekend but I am very sure we both wont. I find it ridiculous that voting is mandatory for everyone over 18 in Greece. What happens when you fail to turn up in your native village or town. Lets say you simply dont have the money to travel through half of Greece to this very small island where you were born. [book1962]
same any place in the world I guess the older people wont move from their hometowns and stay there all their lives. Not quite like this in Germany, my mom could not even vote in her birth town cause its not even German anymore but now belongs to Poland. [book1962]
Hello my friend happy i like that idea just shows how great things work in greece I love reading your discussions about your home, really feels good hearing how things are done else where, city life stinks (oops) did I write that lol Thanks for sharing this. [kitty42]
Hello my friend happy Seems to be much better , here they make things so complicated thumbdown what a pain. Thank you. [kitty42]
confusedInteresting, but not practicable everywhere. I think that they might have problems if they tried applying it in Russia for example. If someone now living in Saint Petersburg had to get to some obscure village 300 km North of Vladivostok, how long would it take?whistle As for obliging people to vote, I hope that they have enough worthwhile candidates. Is "none of the above"thumbdown allowed? I can certainly imagine a scenario in the UK where that would be the obvious choice (Labour - incompetent, Tories - no thanks, not after what you did to me in the 1980s, BNP - racist thugs, UKIP - silly xenophobes (and Tories in disguise), Lib Dems - well maybe if I can work out what they stand for, but ...). Consider the Greek equivalent. [astonysh]
Hi Tony, the actual voting part of it isn't too bad as one does have to turn up to vote but it's not against the law to deface the voting papers, that one is allowed, so if one has no interest thats the way to go. However most Greeks do follow the tradition of voting as the family has done for generations and the two main parties are interchangeble anyway, it's just it's more likely to gain some advantage to favour the party that wins. I'm sure a more modern way than travelling back to ones birth place could be arranged if they ever brought computers into play but for now most see it as a holiday to get back to their village for, bearing in mind most of them will do so anyway for the Greek holidays in August. [thea09]
Good Saturday, thea.....I may ramble this morning, as my son got home @10:45 last nite, we started chatting, next thing we knew it as 1:45, and my alarm goes off at 3:30, work at 4:30....thank goodness, last weekend for that nonsense!I think I have left my political musings in the past! I shall have to make an attempt to re-vigorize myself!Mixed emotions about mandatory voting, only because it would be disaster here, as oft, you would be voting for the "devil you don't know!" But flip the coin, and often I think it should be compulsory, especially when I chat with veterans, the ones still vertical, and truly listen to how they gave live & limb for us to have this priviledge! (that shud read life & limb!) And truly get irked, by people like my Neighbours (whom I love) do not vote...but complain about the encumbent government! Some of our local elections, sorta like Municipal, would have been won or tied, with their 2 votes. Have a great weekend, thea...and I may take 'til Tuesday to reply, as my son & I have a pretty heavy schedule planned for the next few Days! Keep charming, one & all with that lovely smile. Cheers! [pergammano]
Good morning Shirley, I thought it was your cold getting you up so early each day not work. Put your feet up and let your son pamper you for a bit. This one wasn't really political more of a case of getting to the voting station which is a pretty amusing thing to see, as everyone and his donkey tries to tell you which way to vote but that's not as important in a national election whereas a local election things can be gained by being on the right side. My koubara fell out with one of her customers must be 3 years ago now and they haven't spoken a word since to each other although pass daily - argument about who she was telling him to vote for when he already knew he was voting the other way. I agree with you though that people shouldn't complain about the politcos if they can't be bothered to vote. Now have a good long weekend with your son and enjoy the boat, don't even think about replying. Say hello to DJ, Hugs thea [thea09]
an interesting process. is voting really mandatory? what if someone doesn't vote? i don't think traveling all the way to vote might be a good idea. here we have an option to register on voters list of the place of current residence. but since it is a cumbersome process, not voting is a better idea.wink voting is not mandatory here and if your country's laws are implemented here people would start demanding traveling allowances to vote...lol [sunny68]
should i say...the politicians were scared like a rabbit...w00t [sunny68]
I am against compulsory vote. I think voting should be a right, not an obligation. Was it like this always in Greece? I'm asking because they are considering making such a law in Romania too. The reason is quite simple: the people are sick and tired of voting a party or another and seeing the winning party do nothing for the people. As the winning parties try and steal from the budget as much as possible, and as all parties do that once they have the power, most of the citizens consider it is a huge waste of time to go and vote. That is why you see an average 30% percentage of voters on local, Parliament or presidential elections. So our caring leaders are considering issuing a law to force the people to vote. I think you didn't presented things how they really are... Are the people of Greece forced to go and vote in their home villages and towns? Or they have to vote in the locality written as address on their ID cards? Because it's a small difference - you can be raised in a village but established in a city - that way you don't have to come in your natal village, you must vote where your address is. And also, is this trip needed when voting for the Parliament or also for the president? I understand this need of making the people vote in their home towns for the Parliament, as the Parliament members represent more areas of the country and must be voted by the people living in the respective areas, but I think it would be pointless when voting for the president - after all, it's the same list of candidates in all the regions. I'm glad we are not forced by the law to vote, and I hope this situation won't change. This "all for the political leaders and nothing for the people" policy needs to stop... [stvasile]
the answer is in your box Mys. [thea09]
I think it's a good thing to let people go to their native village and have the opportunity to vote or some would never get the chance....it's very insighful of your government to do this! [jillhill]
Hi jillhill, well the system here has been going on for centuries so it obviously works in the way people don't complain about voting but expect to do it as their right. Plus they get an extra two days off work. The majority of the ones who will come back to the local villages here to vote will come down from Athens so it's only the normal four hour drive they'd often make for various holidays anyway. [thea09]
thea I think that idea is just wonderful as it would' make our people here in the US less apathetic to going to vote.maybe then all those people who now dont vote'but lament the choice we voters made will be forced to put' in their own two cents. I would love it myself as it'would make those who scold about everything political have to take account of how they themselves voted. think it is' a really good idea. [Hatley]
Hi Hatley, I'm glad to hear some approval for this system. The funny thing is that people do actually want to vote here and would make more of a scene if they couldn't than if made to. The ones who don't want to cast a vote for any of the parties have the right to spoil their own ballot paper as long as they have turned up to do it. There is no apathy about politics here even though the two main parties are both useless and always close in the polls. So a four day weekend to look forward to next week.happy [thea09]
Oh voting is mandatory there, here it isnot. Though the minimum voting age is 18, many do not vote..The system here is too corrupted.Here in west bengal the left front ie the marxist has been ruling for the last 35 years, and that is when we have more number of parties than people here (a bit exaggerated hi hi)..I havent voted yet, I might vote once in my life time to know how it is like...I dont think the people going to occupy the important chairs will be responsible for their posts or more loyal to the duty and that is the only reason I dont vote..Our president who is supposed to have no links with any political party is pulling all threads to get a seat for her son!!! I lost intreset in that lady too... But why would you travel to vote? cant you vote from where you stay? Here we can do so... [malpoa]
This friday is a hliday for india too. it is our father of nation mahatma gandhi's b'day. so it will be a long weeknd for us too. enjy , have fun, eat more and merry more... [malpoa]
hiya thea I don't think it's right that it should be obligatory, that infringes on people's rights IMO thumbdown What if it were like myself in the U.K. and I did't think any of the candidates/political parties were worth my vote? How do you feel about it? Alice happy [Aliceinwebland]
lol yep those voting boothes sure are small, can't swing a cat in them. [Aliceinwebland]
That's very interesting, I mean in the US when you move you register to vote in your new area. When I moved my new polling station is less than 100 feet away, it's much nicer than when I was in the country and had to drive several miles away to vote. Your country's voting process seems like it would be a little hard for some voters, like, what happens if one is too old or too sick to travel? [ZephyrSun]
Of course it's not JUST an excuse for a long weekend, things will be taken very seriously next Sunday and there will be huge arguements going on in all the cafenions, which the Greeks excell at. But I doubt anyone will miss the opportunity to check up on how their olives are doing whilst they are out here. [thea09]
Hi Thea! I saw this notifier yesterday but I have oly just managed to get here. When I first saw it I was a little astonished by the fact that it is compulsory to vote. What happens if people do not go and vote? Also the fact they have tomove location too. How can doctors and nurses and the like leave their job and go? The expense too doh Makes voting sound like some sort of national celebration though whistle Here everyone has the right to vote once they are of age at 18 but it is not compulsory. They vote in the town they live and if they move their right to vote moves with them and is added to the list of names in the town they move to. [mysdianait]
So they voluntarily go without needing to, to get a paper stamped to say they went, but then they don't vote at all and are not allowed to deface the voting slip. Hmmm. [thea09]
Dear Thea, Have you decided who and which party will gain your vote? In Malaysia, we had out last polling nationwide on 8th March 2008. It is quite meaningful and change the whole political landscape here. For the first time 5 states which previously belong to the current Government lost out to opposition. The Government will pay allowance about RM100-200 for those in the city to go back hometown to vote. Most of them who received this token will vote for the Government / the party that paid those travelling allowances. However, surprisingly, last year, even though they paid those allowances, many has vote differently. All this has change so much because of new voters who are now more educated and well informed by blogs, internet, emails and sms. In Malaysia, only at the age of 21, we can vote! I think it has its advantages and disadvantages on going back to the hometown to vote. However many do change their place of voting... Thanks and all the best. May the good political party that care for the people 'REIGN'happy [Iriene88]
Hi Iriene, they vote for the party which pays their travel allowances - what a good idea. I expect though it was good to see a few changes in Malayasia as it always wakes up the present incumbents a bit. Here we don't have much of a choice as the two main parties don't really have much between them but I prefer the ones which are currently out to the ones that are currently in. [thea09]
This means there will be a lot of traffic travelling from the city to their hometowns this Friday. And the traffic back again to the city after the national polling. Does the Government provide any travelling allowances for those who travels. Wow, you all can vote much earlier age compared to Malaysian. How is the ambience there over in Greece. In Malaysia, you can see all the posters and flags of all the parties there.. [JamesKYTan]
Hi James, it's actually all appearing to be very low key this time, but that could be because the current prime minister called an election only two years after the last one and two years before he needed to. I never asked about a travelling allowance but I shouldn't think so, I've never heard of one, and Greeks are used to travelling back and forth to their villages a lot anyway as they have property and land back there. The roads indeed will be packed this weekend with a mass exodus from Athens. So what is the voting age in Malaysia and are women allowed to vote there too? [thea09]
In The Usa we don't have to travel home, we just go to the district we are assigned once we move in to where we we reside. I think that making voting obligatory is a good idea in that it will help a lot to make the votes count, but then again those feeling forced to vote may just "vote" without having real knowledge of the candidates and what they have to offer. [SomeCowgirl]
Hi SomeCowgirl, reading of the numbers who do vote over the pond then some kind of measure to make more people vote would be handy I would think. There isn't apathy about politics here, the Greeks are crazy to vote and argue constatly about politics and vote for the party which will have the most benefit for them personally, especailly in local elections. They can spoil the ballot paper if they don't want to give their vote to any who stand. [thea09]