The long weekend to travel home to vote.

I am against compulsory vote. I think voting should be a right, not an obligation. Was it like this always in Greece? I'm asking because they are considering making such a law in Romania too. The reason is quite simple: the people are sick and tired of voting a party or another and seeing the winning party do nothing for the people. As the winning parties try and steal from the budget as much as possible, and as all parties do that once they have the power, most of the citizens consider it is a huge waste of time to go and vote. That is why you see an average 30% percentage of voters on local, Parliament or presidential elections. So our caring leaders are considering issuing a law to force the people to vote. I think you didn't presented things how they really are... Are the people of Greece forced to go and vote in their home villages and towns? Or they have to vote in the locality written as address on their ID cards? Because it's a small difference - you can be raised in a village but established in a city - that way you don't have to come in your natal village, you must vote where your address is. And also, is this trip needed when voting for the Parliament or also for the president? I understand this need of making the people vote in their home towns for the Parliament, as the Parliament members represent more areas of the country and must be voted by the people living in the respective areas, but I think it would be pointless when voting for the president - after all, it's the same list of candidates in all the regions. I'm glad we are not forced by the law to vote, and I hope this situation won't change. This "all for the political leaders and nothing for the people" policy needs to stop...

That's very interesting, I mean in the US when you move you register to vote in your new area. When I moved my new polling station is less than 100 feet away, it's much nicer than when I was in the country and had to drive several miles away to vote. Your country's voting process seems like it would be a little hard for some voters, like, what happens if one is too old or too sick to travel?

Good Saturday, thea.....I may ramble this morning, as my son got home @10:45 last nite, we started chatting, next thing we knew it as 1:45, and my alarm goes off at 3:30, work at 4:30....thank goodness, last weekend for that nonsense!I think I have left my political musings in the past! I shall have to make an attempt to re-vigorize myself!Mixed emotions about mandatory voting, only because it would be disaster here, as oft, you would be voting for the "devil you don't know!" But flip the coin, and often I think it should be compulsory, especially when I chat with veterans, the ones still vertical, and truly listen to how they gave live & limb for us to have this priviledge! (that shud read life & limb!) And truly get irked, by people like my Neighbours (whom I love) do not vote...but complain about the encumbent government! Some of our local elections, sorta like Municipal, would have been won or tied, with their 2 votes. Have a great weekend, thea...and I may take 'til Tuesday to reply, as my son & I have a pretty heavy schedule planned for the next few Days! Keep charming, one & all with that lovely smile. Cheers!

thea I think that idea is just wonderful as it would' make our people here in the US less apathetic to going to vote.maybe then all those people who now dont vote'but lament the choice we voters made will be forced to put' in their own two cents. I would love it myself as it'would make those who scold about everything political have to take account of how they themselves voted. think it is' a really good idea.

This means there will be a lot of traffic travelling from the city to their hometowns this Friday. And the traffic back again to the city after the national polling. Does the Government provide any travelling allowances for those who travels. Wow, you all can vote much earlier age compared to Malaysian. How is the ambience there over in Greece. In Malaysia, you can see all the posters and flags of all the parties there..

Hello my friend i like that idea just shows how great things work in greece I love reading your discussions about your home, really feels good hearing how things are done else where, city life stinks (oops) did I write that lol Thanks for sharing this.

I think it's a good thing to let people go to their native village and have the opportunity to vote or some would never get the chance....it's very insighful of your government to do this!

Hi Thea! I saw this notifier yesterday but I have oly just managed to get here. When I first saw it I was a little astonished by the fact that it is compulsory to vote. What happens if people do not go and vote? Also the fact they have tomove location too. How can doctors and nurses and the like leave their job and go? The expense too Makes voting sound like some sort of national celebration though Here everyone has the right to vote once they are of age at 18 but it is not compulsory. They vote in the town they live and if they move their right to vote moves with them and is added to the list of names in the town they move to.

In The Usa we don't have to travel home, we just go to the district we are assigned once we move in to where we we reside. I think that making voting obligatory is a good idea in that it will help a lot to make the votes count, but then again those feeling forced to vote may just "vote" without having real knowledge of the candidates and what they have to offer.

Dear Thea, Have you decided who and which party will gain your vote? In Malaysia, we had out last polling nationwide on 8th March 2008. It is quite meaningful and change the whole political landscape here. For the first time 5 states which previously belong to the current Government lost out to opposition. The Government will pay allowance about RM100-200 for those in the city to go back hometown to vote. Most of them who received this token will vote for the Government / the party that paid those travelling allowances. However, surprisingly, last year, even though they paid those allowances, many has vote differently. All this has change so much because of new voters who are now more educated and well informed by blogs, internet, emails and sms. In Malaysia, only at the age of 21, we can vote! I think it has its advantages and disadvantages on going back to the hometown to vote. However many do change their place of voting... Thanks and all the best. May the good political party that care for the people 'REIGN'

an interesting process. is voting really mandatory? what if someone doesn't vote? i don't think traveling all the way to vote might be a good idea. here we have an option to register on voters list of the place of current residence. but since it is a cumbersome process, not voting is a better idea. voting is not mandatory here and if your country's laws are implemented here people would start demanding traveling allowances to vote...

Oh voting is mandatory there, here it isnot. Though the minimum voting age is 18, many do not vote..The system here is too corrupted.Here in west bengal the left front ie the marxist has been ruling for the last 35 years, and that is when we have more number of parties than people here (a bit exaggerated hi hi)..I havent voted yet, I might vote once in my life time to know how it is like...I dont think the people going to occupy the important chairs will be responsible for their posts or more loyal to the duty and that is the only reason I dont vote..Our president who is supposed to have no links with any political party is pulling all threads to get a seat for her son!!! I lost intreset in that lady too... But why would you travel to vote? cant you vote from where you stay? Here we can do so...