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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Jul 2006 : 21:43:52
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Njuck,
You can vote blanco or make your voting biljet unvalid.
If you are out of the country then you have a valid excuse (but you have to prove that by attestation by your travel agent, employer, ... )If you are in hospital the hospital excuses you and give you the necessary attestation. and so on.
I think it's very well organised here.
Non-european (legal staying in belgium) are allowed to vote if they register before.
I discussed it before the benefits about obligatory voting systems. By this system the government at least knows the votes of every citizen. If there is a large group who votes unvalid or blanco this gives a signal to the politicians. So I'm very pro that kind of system. I don't think you have to view it as forcing someone into something as you have the choice to vote for who you want.
Moreover if you bring that over to other aspects of society then going to school must also be free choice ???
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2006 : 22:40:17
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| thanks Jede, i think its a good idea that everyone votes, democracy can't work well when people don't want to express their opinions or desires. |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2006 : 22:47:36
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Well Kasma, this is a good evening for me. At least one of this Bantaba that i could convince of the benefits of our system. LOL
May I ask what your nationality is ? (can do it private if you wish^) |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2006 : 22:59:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Jede
Well Kasma, this is a good evening for me. At least one of this Bantaba that i could convince of the benefits of our system. LOL
May I ask what your nationality is ? (can do it private if you wish^)
Its more than one Jede. We do follow your contributions and appreciate them. Keep up the good work! |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 14:07:41
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| Jede, you convinced me, too. In Germany we have a similar voting system, but there is no obligation to vote. We should change this quickly, as our governments meanwhile are elected by almost a minority! |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 17:42:48
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In the UK there is no obligation to vote, and some parties get in by the narrowest of margins. I always vote, because having travelled i appreciate that i am allowed to vote. also no vote no say. When the wrong person gets into power, i know that i had no hand in helping them to be put there.
I think it is the mora duty of every citixen to use their votes. Use it or loose it. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 18:22:15
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jede,
it looks like an impressive system and i'm impressed by the organisation. not only do you count the votes registered but also absentees, and find out why?
however i still like my gambian system, i dont think we can have that level of organisation yet. its too expensive and a bit controlling too i think.
it would be interesting in an african context if the majority voted blanco. |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 18:27:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Jede
Well Kasma, this is a good evening for me. At least one of this Bantaba that i could convince of the benefits of our system. LOL
May I ask what your nationality is ? (can do it private if you wish^)
do you mean, what country i was born in or what ethnic group i belong to?
I was born in Gambia, yeah that's right to all you haters out there!! i'm just kidding.
I'm Mandinka/Manjago. so i feel i have the best of both worlds, even though traditionally i'm whatever my father is, but in my case, i really can't say i'm either because seriously i'm a mixture of both cultures.
it really isn't that serious do it privately. some people here won't want to do it so that they won't be judged or something. however, i dare someone to say something. |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 18:29:05
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
jede,
it looks like an impressive system and i'm impressed by the organisation. not only do you count the votes registered but also absentees, and find out why?
however i still like my gambian system, i dont think we can have that level of organisation yet. its too expensive and a bit controlling too i think.
it would be interesting in an african context if the majority voted blanco.
can you explain to me the Gambian system. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 18:45:15
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| the system, its the same as the belgian or other democratic systems just that there is no compulsory voting. |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 18:46:06
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LOL Njucks.
As a detail we vote with a red pencil. The colour of the voting biljets change with every election but is never black |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 20:59:30
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Quotations on voting from Statements of NADDs flagbearer under:
" Secondly, the key battle for countries in the 21st century is the struggle to build democratic institutions, practices and cultures. Section 214 (2) of the constitution states categorically that “the people shall express their will and consent as to who shall govern then and how they shall be governed through regular, free and fair elections of their representatives.” Section 26 (b) adds, “Every citizen of the Gambia of full age and capacity shall have the right, without unreasonable restrictions to vote and stand for elections at genuine periodic elections for public office....”
It is therefore clear that the type of registration practice that is underway where some party chairpersons and village heads appear to have formed a compact to issue attestations that enables those who are not entitled under law to get ID cards and voters cards is undermining the integrity of the political system.
The under-aged youth and the non Gambians should bear in mind that it is the vote that creates the representatives who shape the policies and programmes of government and how to implement and administer them.
Those who allow themselves to be used just to corrupt the electoral system must equally accept responsibility for the decline in liberty and increase in poverty, fear and hardship of the people. What should be abundantly clear is that the 185,000 children in our primary schools, the 66,000 children in our upper basic schools and the 27,000 youths in our high schools deserve a future in about 10 years time that provides quality living. They should not accept anyone who provides them with food and green tea to eat and drink today just to become beggars tomorrow. They deserve a life of prosperity in liberty and dignity. They deserve to grow and work to live and not to live just to be a tool to individual sovereign Gambians like themselves whom they should relate to as equals. The time has past for mental slavery. The youths of the country must liberate themselves. They must not accept party chairpersons leading them like sheep with ropes around their necks towards the slaughter house of poverty and marginalization. I have followed the registration of underaged youths. I have followed the organisation of parties after the AU Summit. While some of the schools are without adequate benches and desks and toilet facilities. The food provided lacked adequate protein. The rice and oil were meant just to feel their stomachs. Finally, a large portion is destined for the pigs. I have trust in the Gambian youth. I am confident that with their votes they will liberate their brothers and sisters, parents and people at large. They will never accept permanent residence in the colony of the marginalised, poor and wretched of the earth."
END of Quote
This statement was written on Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 52/2006, 10-12 July, 2006 |
Edited by - kobo on 13 Jul 2006 21:00:21 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 21:06:59
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Well the biggest problem is having a working register of births and also control of issuance of birth certificates.
Secondly the constitutional requirements for citizenship is not clear to gambians. Merely being born in the Gambia does not make one a Gambian. Unfortunately most people think a birth certificate is enough proof of citizenship. It is a proof of birth and not citizenship. |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 21:27:59
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| can you make it clear then what constitutes a Gambian |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 21:31:54
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| oNE OF YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS MUST BE BORN IN THE GAMBIA TO BE QUALIFIED AS A GAMBIAN. |
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