Getting your message across

Elections these days seem to be an increasingly meaningless activity, with little to chose between the mainstream parties in most western countries.

However, a contributer to the Independent Australian website points out a simple but effective way for voters to get their message across at the ballot box. A short, focused statement such as "limit immigration" can be written across the bottom of Australian voting forms without invalidating the vote. I can't remember exactly what New Zealand voting forms look like, or if writing on voting papers is tolerated, but I'm pretty sure there's space to write in such messages, so I will certainly be giving it a go in this year's national elections.

Given the lack of meaningful choice between Helen Clarke's tired Labour Party, and John Key's increasingly unconservative, wannabe David Cameron National Party, I haven't got much to lose.