[LINK] Fwd: vip-l: Electronic votiing

[Chris Maltby]

On Wed, Nov 15, 2006 at 10:39:52AM +1100, Stewart Fist wrote:
> Coercion by family, in my opinion, has long been a problem for women, who in
> the days of male domination in the family were often 'guided' by husbands
> (and allowed to enter the ballot booth with them).  Sons did the same with
> elderly mothers.
> 
> I remember my mother being very proud of her independence in voting -
> without seeking any advice from Dad (and probably contrary to his choice).
> In those days it was almost unknown for most women to express political
> viewpoints different from their husbands.

I can recall that being a topic of discussion in my youth - it was
common for the man to complete both his own and his wife's ballot
papers - though my own mother would never have submitted to it and
was also very proud of her secret ballot.

It's a story in my family that there was a lot of unrest when Jessie
Street stood as the ALP candidate for the blue-ribbon conservative
seat of Wentworth in 1943. My staunchly conservative paternal
grandfather (a Royal Navy man) had a lot of trouble with his wife and
daughter voting for the ALP, and indeed a woman, but they did anyway.

She came the closest of all ALP candidates to taking the seat -
leading on primaries but losing narrowly on preferences. It was the
same election that Edith Lyons was elected as the first female MHR
(for the UAP).

Chris