Registerwhat?

[Oliver]

You don't have to be registered to a party, but you have to be on the National Register of Electors, which is unaffiliated.

Parties do call you to make sure you vote (they pick your name off the Register's list), and if you say you are sympathetic to them, they will keep you on their list and call you the next year. That doesn't mean you are registered to the party, unless you campaign for them.

Are you talking about Canada or the US now?

 

[Rob Lister]

canada -- not that their elections really matter.

 

[Pardalis]

Are you talking about Canada or the US now?

Canada.

 

[Oliver]

canada -- not that their elections really matter.

Canada.

Oki, thanks.

 

[Elizabeth I]

Good, good I'm learning (it's like 2am here and I am learning. Some life I lead...).

So this party affiliation thing is basically used as a method of determining the leanings of the voters then?

If this is the case then wouldn't it be open for tampering, where a supporter of one party will make the registration of people from other parties "disappear" so these people can't vote in the primaries?

It does sometimes happen, especially in hotly-contested local elections, that voters from one party cross over to vote in the other party's primary to ensure that that party's selected candidate is not really viable.

So nobody ever heard of such a registering procedure in other western countries outside the us?

How does it works in other countries then? Automatically registered and invited to elections as well?

So we come to it again, Oliver? The U.S. is the most criminally oppressive, non-democratic country ever in the history of the world? You're good, I must admit it: this thread went to - what, 15-20 posts? - before your old sweet song re-emerged.

 

[ServiceSoon]

2) Every 'official' party has a primary. Several people will run to be the candidate for each party. During the primary election, the 'people' choose which candidate that want for that party (but they can only vote in one primary) Whoever wins gets to run in the national election for that particular party.

This is assuming the "delegates" vote appropriately. You simplified the process but being the cynic I am, I will expound upon the short comings of this system. It should be further explained...each state has a certain amount of delegates that is based on that states population.
In Indiana, after the people vote for their candidate and a winner is chosen, the 27 congressional district delegates choose that candidate, but there are around 30 bonus delegates (at-large delegates) that can vote for whoever they want. Do you see the problem. We the people Futhermore, as far as I can tell, the primary or cacus voting information is not public information. Albeit, this was ruled constitutional by the supreme court of the United States (SCOTUS).

Good, good I'm learning (it's like 2am here and I am learning. Some life I lead...).

So this party affiliation thing is basically used as a method of determining the leanings of the voters then?

If this is the case then wouldn't it be open for tampering, where a supporter of one party will make the registration of people from other parties "disappear" so these people can't vote in the primaries?

I'm not sure what the purpose of party affiliation is, but the SCOTUS ruled that each states party can choose its rules. So this obvious tactical approached was ruled constitutional. Personally, I don't like it.

So we come to it again, Oliver? The U.S. is the most criminally oppressive, non-democratic country ever in the history of the world? You're good, I must admit it: this thread went to - what, 15-20 posts? - before your old sweet song re-emerged.

Would it be better if it came from me? Or are you blinded by the truth because Oliver is the person who mentioned it? Not that he criticized the system we speak of, but rather asked a few questions. Our system isn’t perfect and does need improvement. I’m sure you agree.

 

[gtc]

You need to register to vote in Australia. We do not have a compulsory ID card and you do not have to register your address with the government. I presume this is why Germany has automatic registration and the US and Australia do not.

The electoral commission does a good job of ensuring that everyone can get an enrollment form. I have recieved a letter in the past saying that no one is enrolled to vote at my address*.

The form does not ask which party you support. To influence the choice of party leader and candidates you need to actually join a party (which usually costs money).

On voting day, the person handing out voting papers has a list of names and addresses of registered voters. Your name is checked off and the lists are compared later to see if people voted twice or did not vote (you get a fine for not voting). You do not need ID to vote.

I presume the number of people who vote twice is very small. The electoral commission is bipartisan and the losing candidates would complain very loudly if they lost due to fraud.

*This is interesting as there is no official list of addresses either although there are various lists kept by local councils, state governments, the federal government, the post office, emergency services (I presume), telecommunication companies, private firms etc)

 

[Elizabeth I]

Would it be better if it came from me? Or are you blinded by the truth because Oliver is the person who mentioned it? Not that he criticized the system we speak of, but rather asked a few questions. Our system isn’t perfect and does need improvement. I’m sure you agree.

Of course anything can be improved. However, Oliver has a similar thread going in "Conspiracy Theories," and ANY thread he starts eventually winds up at the shortcomings of the U.S. Does the U.S. have shortcomings? Of course we do, some times more than others. Does that mean nothing else in the entire world should be discussed? I don't think so.

 

[Flo]

So nobody ever heard of such a registering procedure in other
western countries outside the us?

How does it works in other countries then? Automatically
registered and invited to elections as well?

Nope. In France, you have to register, usually at city hall. You don't need to be affiliated to a party, nor do you have to tell which party should you be affiliated to one. You can be affiliated to several parties if you so want ...

And could you stop being so transparent with your obsession about finding something, anything, wrong with the US ? It's way past boring ...

 

[bozothedeathmachine]

Just out of curiosity:

In contrast to the US, here in Germany you get automatically
"registered" and invited to vote. So there is no need to do any-
thing besides actually go and vote on election day.

Now even if I never voted myself. Since many Members in here
come from all over the world: In which other western country
than the United States do people actually have to register for
the party they wanna vote for?

Ok, I'm not sure if the OP was specifying registration for a party or voter registration in general. I'm addressing the latter.

Oliver, correct me if I'm wrong, but in Germany you have to be registered with the government (either Federal or Bundesstaat, I can't remember which). Whenever you move, you have to register with a new address. So you're already "in the system", and that is used for voting. Such an umbrella registration system does not exist in the US. One is registered to vote in the county/parish they live in. In my experience the only time I've had to notify a county I live there is when I register to vote.

I prefer that method to mandatory registration with the Federal government.

P.S. As others have said, you are not required to note party affiliation in your registration.

 

[Darat]

In the UK we have the "electoral role" unless you are on that you cannot vote. It's (usually) based on where your primary residence so when you move and so on it can take some time for it to be updated. Being on the electoral role is compulsory and it is maintained by the local authorities.

 

[Oliver]

Ok, I'm not sure if the OP was specifying registration for a party or voter registration in general. I'm addressing the latter.

Oliver, correct me if I'm wrong, but in Germany you have to be registered with the government (either Federal or Bundesstaat, I can't remember which). Whenever you move, you have to register with a new address. So you're already "in the system", and that is used for voting. Such an umbrella registration system does not exist in the US. One is registered to vote in the county/parish they live in. In my experience the only time I've had to notify a county I live there is when I register to vote.

I prefer that method to mandatory registration with the Federal government.

P.S. As others have said, you are not required to note party affiliation in your registration.

You're correct. Basically you're registered once you're
born. And if you're old enough to get an own residence,
you register your address at the local community. This
way you get automatically invited to elections by the local
administration, not by or in the name of a party.

I heard the argument that many Americans don't want
their Government to know where their residence is, but
this argument doesn't make much sense to me concerning
elections - besides the fact that the Government can
track you down very easily anyway if they want to.

But I thought it's the same system all over Europe as
well - so I'm surprised that Flo thinks otherwise, even
if "register at city hall" sounds exactly like the German
system. (You register your residence - not explicitly
for elections).

 

[Oliver]

In the UK we have the "electoral role" unless you are on that you cannot vote. It's (usually) based on where your primary residence so when you move and so on it can take some time for it to be updated. Being on the electoral role is compulsory and it is maintained by the local authorities.

That's basically how it works over here as well. Even
if I'm unsure if there are any delays at all whenever
you move to a new community - thanks to the computer
system in place.

 

[bozothedeathmachine]

I heard the argument that many Americans don't want
their Government to know where their residence is, but
this argument doesn't make much sense to me concerning
elections - besides the fact that the Government can
track you down very easily anyway if they want to.

That's certainly the case now. Hell, anyone can track almost anyone else down with the Intraweb. But there are still people there are people who can and do live "off the net". It's getting harder to do these days, but it can be done in principle. The bottom line is there's not compulsory registration. I live in Switzerland now and I'm registered all over the place. I'm surprised they haven't asked me to pee in a cup yet. That's a concession I make to live here. When in Rome and all that. But in general, I don't agree with mandatory registration.

 

[Minadin]

I've never been required to acribe to any sort of party affiliation to vote in the US. Nor have I been asked, for that matter, in the several places I've been registered to vote over the course of my adult life.

 

[Flo]

But I thought it's the same system all over Europe as
well - so I'm surprised that Flo thinks otherwise, even
if "register at city hall" sounds exactly like the German
system. (You register your residence - not explicitly
for elections).

It's got nothing to do with what I think, in France, you have to specifically register to vote. Registering your residence is another matter pertaining mostly to fiscality.

 

[gtc]

It's got nothing to do with what I think, in France, you have to specifically register to vote. Registering your residence is another matter pertaining mostly to fiscality.

It seems to me that there are three systems.

US, Canada, Australia, UK - you do not need to register your address with the government but you need to register to vote.

France - you need to register your address with the government and seperately register to vote.

Germany - you register your address and the system automatically enrolls you to vote.

There is also the separate issue about registering your party affiliation with the government so you can participate in the selection of candidates. The US does this, Australia leaves it up to individual parties to sort out.

 

[ServiceSoon]

There is also the separate issue about registering your party affiliation with the government so you can participate in the selection of candidates. The US does this

Only some states in the US require you to register what party you are down with. It is called open or closed primary/caucus. Here is a list from my buddy RP.

I heard the argument that many Americans don't want
their Government to know where their residence is

American's are weary of government, while Europeans are weary of corporations. It really is dumb. The gov has access to all of American's information and more....whoooo

I've never been required to acribe to any sort of party affiliation to vote in the US. Nor have I been asked, for that matter, in the several places I've been registered to vote over the course of my adult life.

You never have to declare your party affiliation for the presidential election and you only have to do this in some states for your parties primary. The list of states that require this is above.

 

[WildCat]

This
way you get automatically invited to elections by the local
administration, not by or in the name of a party.

Do you have primary elections in Germany Oliver? Do you even know what a primary election is, and how it is different from a general election?

 

[Phaedrus74]

Do you have primary elections in Germany Oliver? Do you even know what a primary election is, and how it is different from a general election?

[Correct me if I'm wrong Oliver]

In Germany the President is elected by Parliament (and has no political power) therefore no primaries in the American sense.