the much speculated election... what will you be doing??

[SpaghettiMummy]

Hey girls,
I was just thinking that the speculated federal eletion date is currently for Sat Oct 13th so smack bang in the middle of our month (well basically) so I was wondering if anyone has thought about it and what is your plan B in case you are in labour or have just had your bub on the day?

I was thinking about looking into absentee type ballot, where you can post it in, for me and my DH (as of course if I'm in labour no way on earth is he to leave my side until after the baby is out especially for voting even though it's compulsory)

so what will you be doing?

[nicoleE]

I couldnt care less to be honest (no offence!:p ). If they want to fine me for not voting then they can go ahead, i wouldnt be paying it and would be kicking up the biggest stink ever! It would certainly be the last thing on my mind.

Im due on the 11th so this could be a possibility. I guess closer to the date if they send out info on absentee votes I might think about it.

[erinp]

I couldnt care less to be honest (no offence!:p ). If they want to fine me for not voting then they can go ahead, i wouldnt be paying it and would be kicking up the biggest stink ever! It would certainly be the last thing on my mind.

Im due on the 11th so this could be a possibility. I guess closer to the date if they send out info on absentee votes I might think about it.

Although I agree with Nicole and don't care too much, DH would get very upset if he couldn't have his say as he is quite interested and opinionated when it comes to politics whereas I think :sleeping:

Anyway a quick search on the electoral commision page and it says the fine is $20 if you can't provide a reason for not voting, so it's not that big a deal (but don't quote me on this....)

Another thing is that some hospitals have mobile polling booths that come around so you can vote (obviously not if you're in the middle of labour but if you are still in hospital this could be an option!) or you could apply for a postal vote if you are "nearing childbirth" or caring for someone who is near to giving birth (for the partners).

I think if any of us are in that situation (and we may well be), saying you were having a baby is a pretty good reason not to vote and you wouldn't get fined - at least I hope not, what better excuse could you have!?!

[SJE]

Thanks for raising this one:yelclap: .

I'll probably see if the absentee vote is okay to do. If they come to me in the hospital theres no telling who the vote would be for! Probably for the anaethetist!:laughing: With DD I wanted to name her after him!

[michblb]

Hi ladies

Hadn't thought about the election at all. For me I'm due on the 1st so hopefully bub will be out before the election. Otherwise I'll be dying to give birth and be really over it. Guess I'll wait and see.

[SpaghettiMummy]

Thanks for raising this one:yelclap: .

I'll probably see if the absentee vote is okay to do. If they come to me in the hospital theres no telling who the vote would be for! Probably for the anaethetist!:laughing: With DD I wanted to name her after him!

No probs, I know what you mean if we didn't have a name picked out I would have named DS after my middie:laughing: as I was really out of it and funnily enough not from drugs, LOL.

I have no idea at the moment who I'll be voting for right now any ways.

I was surprised that the fine is so small though.

btw I am not political at all but we were in WA last year for th QLD election and I had to make some phone calls and send a letter as being in WA there wasn't the whoohaa on as there was in QLD and my MIL said the week before it "who are you voting for" and I had no clue what she was talking about OOPS! oh well it was sorted and we didn't get a fine

Seeing as I have 2 young kids already and my DH is currently working away I have to start organising all these sorts of things, well thinking about them at least.

If they have the polling booths that would be good.

[robinson]

Just found this old thread.. I havent checked but I thought that someone is usually at the hospital to take your votes.. Not sure though.. But if i was going to be going naturally I'd just do the absentee vote a week before and so would DH.

[AshleeClaire07]

Hi guys,

Don't mean to hijack this thread but I was in a similar situation bck in March - State elections for NSW were on 24th March and my EDD was 23rd March..

Didn't really care who I voted for but I did a postal vote for the sake of having my name ticked off the electoral roll... you just send in an application for postal vote (you tick the box that says that you're about to give birth) and your electorate will send you all the voting forms.. you vote and then send it back in the reply paid envelope..

It was rather easy!

(Good luck to all of you October mum-to-be's!)

[sam's mum]

When DD was born there was an election and the guy delivered the paperwork to me in bed on the Saturday and I filled out and put it in the locked box he was carrying around.