More Anti-Democratic Moves by Barnett

Click to enlarge

In yet another assault on democracy, Colin Barnett is apparently now proposing, in effect, that all those who do not vote against local government boundary change proposals are in favour of them.

This conflicts with one of the fundamental principles of democratic voting systems, which is that the result is determined by those voting - not by those who do not vote. This is so whether we have first-past-the-post or preferential voting systems.

People may choose not to vote for reasons other than being against a proposal, including their not having strong views either way on the matter. There is also the matter of people being unable to vote for reasons beyond their control.

And we know from experience that a proportion of those who do not vote would, in any case, have cast invalid votes if they had voted.

If Barnett is genuinely concerned to make sure the voices of all electors are heard in the process, then voting in local government elections and referenda should be compulsory - don't simply assume that those who do not vote are of a particular point of view.