Postal voting is not in the best interests of democracy

Compulsory voting in local government elections is something I agree with.

However, postal voting, which is being pushed at present, is not in the best interest of Tasmanian democracy.

Why? Because the electoral office cannot give me any assurance that postal votes are totally secure; only that they are as secure as can be. There is a big difference.

When a person casts a postal vote, the papers go into the mail and can be out of site for weeks with your name attached. What can happen to them is anybody’s business. Even prior to this it is possible for pressure to be exerted on a voter, or for someone other than the voter to fill out the paper. Sure, it is not meant to happen but who would know?

If the Premier and some councils want local government to be a third tier of government then the same ballot box voting system should apply, where voters roll up, cast their secret vote, and then it goes into a locked box on view to everyone until it is opened at the close of voting. Votes are then counted in front of scrutineers if candidates wish. This is the way of a democracy, a secret ballot.

West Tamar council used postal voting for elector polls where the votes were posted off and then the ‘secret result’ did not match people’s expectations, even closely.

Local government was put to the Australian people at two referendums and on both occasions it was defeated. Sadly, it seems councils are not up to it yet with this proposal.

In a state which is about to explode because of alleged undemocratic issues, I feel people would embrace compulsory voting if they knew their secret, ballot box vote would be secure and count.