Only 2 weeks till the 2008 Election Day. Have you registered to VOTE? 
I proudly "Pledged Allegiance to the Flag" in 2004 and as a new American Citizen I registered to vote within the first month of my Citizenship. The first time I voted in this Country was in the primaries. I can still recall that day 4 years ago, how proud I was, how I shed a personal tear because of the journey I had taken and how I wore my "I voted" sticker for the entire day.
As American Citizens it is our duty to vote.
DID YOU KNOW that in Australia it is COMPULSORY to vote? YOU DON'T GET A CHOICE!
All Australian citizens over the age of 18 (except those of unsound mind or those convicted of serious crimes) must be registered to vote and show up at the poll on election day. Australians who do not vote are subject to fines although those who were ill or otherwise incapable of voting on election day can have their fines waived.
Compulsory voting in Australia was adopted in the state of Queensland in 1915 and subsequently adopted nationwide in 1924. With Australia's compulsory voting system comes additional flexibility for the voter - elections are held on Saturdays, absent voters can vote in any state polling place, and voters in remote areas can vote before an election (at pre-poll voting centers) or via mail.
Voter turnout of those registered to vote in Australia was as low as 47% prior to the 1924 compulsory voting law. In the decades since 1924, voter turnout has hovered around 94% to 96%.
In 1924, Australian officials felt that compulsory voting would eliminate voter apathy.
Hmmmmm. I wonder how this would go over in the USA?
Ellie McIntire
The McIntire Team
410-480-3398
410-750-8781(FX)
443-418-7668(cell)
E-mail: Ellie@LNF.com
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