Don't touch that button Sherman
May. 22nd, 2007 01:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysWaaaaay way back when I was in the 5th form, we studied the history of universal suffrage in Britain*. It was a long and complex process involving many twist and turns with big political battles along the way. One of the key steps was the abolition of multiple voting. Back in the 19th century there was a time where if you owned property in multiple electorates (borough, county whatever) then you could vote in each of those electorates. Abolishing that was just one step in the process that led to full universal suffrage in 1928.
Today, with the rates bill, I received a flyer from "New Zealand Local Authority Electoral Officers". It contains this headline: "Do you live in one area and pay rates on a property in another?" "Then you may qualify to vote in more than one local authority election this October."
Well OK, I understand the reason and why it may be appropriate, but doesn't it just typify where our local body politics still reside - somewhere in the mid 19th century.
*Why Britain and not our own country. Well we did cover that too - it took the teacher about 10 minutes.
Today, with the rates bill, I received a flyer from "New Zealand Local Authority Electoral Officers". It contains this headline: "Do you live in one area and pay rates on a property in another?" "Then you may qualify to vote in more than one local authority election this October."
Well OK, I understand the reason and why it may be appropriate, but doesn't it just typify where our local body politics still reside - somewhere in the mid 19th century.
*Why Britain and not our own country. Well we did cover that too - it took the teacher about 10 minutes.