Media release-beware
dodgy election practices
Mark Aldridge
Independent 8/2013
It’s sneaky, dishonest and it’s bad for our
democracy, dodgy practices should never be a part of our election conduct, but
each year it gets worse, more than good enough reason to put those who endorse
such practices last on the ballot paper.
Innocent voters are receiving letters from
political parties, disguised as “Postal Voting Information.” Turns
out, that letter is a trick to try and get your personal information so they can
“target” you and your vote!
Australian political parties are tricking
people into thinking the form inside that envelope is going straight to the
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), but in reality, they’re redirecting the
mail back to party headquarters.
Don’t make the mistake of handing over all your
information to a political party because the reply paid envelope was addressed
to the “Postal Vote Centre” but the address is their party headquarters. They
all seem to do it slightly differently - but all with the same
intention.
In 2010 the state Labor party even registered
the name of the opposition leader as a reply paid address to intercept your
information.
If you've still got your reply-paid envelope,
use it to send a message back to the parties telling them you despise dodgy
practices, and that they have now lost your support.
Dodgy how to vote cards, false promise,
dressing up as other parties, intercepting postal ballot applications and your
personal information is not good enough, so use your vote to send them a clear
message at this federal election, by putting the honest candidates above them
when you preference.
Being forced to attend, forced to prefer even
those you oppose diminishes your right to a free vote, dodgy information, lies
and deceit, let alone many lobby groups providing false information about the
candidates themselves denies you the right to cast an informed vote. Add to this
fake how to vote information, dodgy electoral rolls and reply paid addresses and
democracy in its true sense
fails.
Do not let your vote endorse such an
undemocratic system.
Mark Aldridge
Independent federal candidate for
Wakefield
Link to all the latest dodgy practices, facts and figures
Other detailed articles on my site and at www.howtovoteinsa.net