They walk among us. . .

I had a co-worker complain after Election Day that she hadn't been allowed to vote, and that was because she wasn't registered. Sheesh! When she asked me what she had to do, I shrugged my shoulders and walked away. (Seems to me that people intelligent enough to vote should already know how to go about registering, and as to the rest . . . )

go about registering,

Not necessarily. I wouldn't know how to do it either if I moved to a different state. We don't have voter registration here in ND. Maybe she was from ND, too, originally. I would, however, make the effort to find out how to do it! :)

Joan

go about registering,

Here, you wouldn't have too much trouble finding out. There are racks with Voter Reg forms at places as diverse as DMV, every library and some McDs.

But they fill them out, and then don't bother to vote.

After that you're on your own but at least you can't use the excuse of not having registered.

Lucille

go about registering,

At least in Canada, (and possibly in other Commonwealth countries), we don't have to register, but are 'enumerated'. That is, someone goes door to door (or at least they used to) to make sure you are on the voters' list. As well, you can check a box on your income tax return which automatically gives your information to the Elections Canada. Voters lists used to be posted on the neighbourhood telephone poles,(boy, am I dating myself) but I think now you have to go to the Elections office in your particular riding, to see the list.

In addition, you can go to the polling station on the day of the election and after producing photo id, swear an affidavit that you are a Canadian citizen over the age of 18, and you will be given a ballot.

MargW I think (iirc) in Australia, voting is mandatory (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

to go about registering,

That is correct, I asked my cousin how they enforced that and he said no voting, no drivers licence renewal lol

However, that would not work here because one government computer Revenue Canada can't communicate with the computers in the Dep of Motor Vehicles. That ability was recommended in the knee jerk reaction after 9/11 but thankfully the bill died on the books.

Uh oh - I spot a fantastic moon rising, must go get my camera !

to go about registering,

I can remember my Father just cursing about the poll tax ... when I was a youngster of course. Can't remember how much it was, but it must've had something to do with voting.

Sharon (N.B.)

It did and it was still in effect when we came in 1967. It was applied to any home owner, so if you rented an apartment, you escaped. AFAIR is was fairly high, maybe $60 per adult of voting age and above.

to go about registering,

I just took a look because I was interested and here is what goes down. Unfortunately they skimped the Canadian part, as I said, I know it was still in effect in 1967 but not the $500 bit lol

Until 10(?) years ago, we had a poll tax in NH - about $10 dollars a head for each adult over the age 18. I think there as lower fee for minors, I seem to recall some one ( a neighbor) bitching about children being taxed.

I always thought it was fair - as renters, we used town/state resources but didn't pay into the coffers except if you ate out (no income or sales taxes). Gas taxes were supposed to go into a different pocket of $$$ for road and bridge works. Cheryl

Yep, we do have compulsory voting. So you stay on the electoral roll all the time. When you move it's your responsibility to get a form from your local PO and send in a change of address.

It's possible to get out of voting on religious grounds, or by never getting onto the electoral roll at all.

When you vote they cross your name off and those that don't vote are usually fined.

All for now.

Rosemary, in Melbourne

Hmm. This does not seem right to me at all. It couldn't have been called a poll tax as those were outlawed in the 1960s by a Constitutional Amendment. Or at least a "poll" tax as a requirement for voting was banned.

Now it's possible that it was a type of residency tax. In my hometown there is still a resident tax of $10 per person between the ages of 18 and 65 (there are exceptions for insanity, surviving spouses of war veterans, etc.). No fees for minors. It's one of 10 towns in NH that still have a resident tax on the books, but it's being abolished next year.

Now as for renters - they may not directly being paying property tax, but their landlord is paying and that is reflected in your rent.

Donna in Virginia

It was a requirement for "town services" like my library card. It was gone about 15 years ago.

Actually, the taxes charged on my rental unit condo are cheaper than the taxes on my house; I pay a fee to the condo association that covers the "land taxes" and I pay a value tax for the structure. On the house, there is tax on the land and a different valuation on the house....