The whole registering your affiliation deal is one of the most retarded thing's I've ever seen in an democratic system. The fact you aren't automatically registered to vote by the government is another one to boot.

Well your descicion will only help the Republicans. Please no 4 more years!

me2

except things, not thing's. also not a fan of the phrase "to boot".

otherwise, 'greed.

why would you see or hear something like that in the first place? and why would changing yr registered party stop that?

Agreed.

Are there any benefits to registering your affiliation? You can still be a registered Democrat and vote Republican if you wish, no?

Forgive my ignorance, but I don't live in the US.

no doubt, indepedent is always the way to go. tying yourself down to one party is stupid.

I vote democrat and I am registered as an independent as well.

Why would it be the Govt responsibility to register people to vote anyway. Maybe some people don't want to vote and don't want to be registered. What's corrupted your thinking?

In most countries you're automatically allowed to vote when you turn 18 - to people like Gulli and I the very idea of registering to vote seems absurd. If you're already a registered citizen, you should be able to vote. End of. Besides just because you're registered to vote doesn't mean you have to.

Or does it in America? If so, that's even more retarded.

They should automatically go on the register when they turn 18, easy and simple. Thats pretty much the method in all Western style democracies. Off the top of my head Australia is the only other major Western country bar the US that doesn't automatically register people and its completely idiotic.

You can register to vote when your 17. It's compulsory to vote in Australia, unlike in the UK. so if you don't wanna vote in future, don't register. registering also helps clear up things like what "seats" you vote in.

And unlike the US system, we don't have to be a registered Liberals or w/e.

just because u don't understand something gulli, doesn't mean its idiotic. you sound like americans when they say we drive on teh "wrong" side of the road.

We can also revoke voting rights for released felons.

The only problem is that the 'independent' candidates are always completely nuts or mental midgets. My favorite example:



If they could field a candidate or two that didn't feel like rejects from the main parties, I'd be an inpendent too. But as it is now, it's like trying to watch the WNBA when you know the NBA exists.

I do understand Dino I don't offer my view on something unless I have a good grasp of it, seriously man can you make one reply without being snide or talking down to people its become tiresome.

The only reason you can give for the current US system's register usage is down to the mobility of the population and moving from district to district. It still doesn't stop the government from default registering you in your place of birth and leaving it up to you to notify if you've moved because the vast majority of people will live where they are born.

Poor Admiral Stockdale

it seems to me you don't have a grasp of the issue at all. its relatively easy to change your address and the government usually knows when you've change your address when you change the address for your drivers license. they usually send you a form telling you to change your electoral information, they give you the form and an envelope.

i don't know how it works in the US or if it is that simple.

the only reason why you have to register in Australia, is because it's compulsory to vote if you do register.

Yes, in the general election. Party affiliation is usually all about the primaries to elect your party's candidate.

It's to allow you to vote in the primaries, and a way for the parties to make sure that everyone who votes in the primaries really do care about the party.

EDIT: Sorry Beeble, should have read the whole thread before answering and duplicating your answer!

In many states, when you get a driver's license or whenever you renew it, they ask you if you want to register to vote right there.

It's really easy, and in some ways, if you are too lazy to register, I'm not sure how valuable your vote is anyway. On the other hand, democracy shouldn't be based on whether you filled in a form or not or if you made a slight mistake when doing so...