Cactus said:
It's true though....its not compulsory to register a vote, so long as you turn up to the place of voting. Personally I would never throw away my vote like that, and I think we have a better system than in the US where voting is not compulsory, however I think it is a fundamental right that a person does not have to vote if they don't want to. Maybe they don't feel any of the candidates will fairly reperesent them. Maybe they don't care. At least if the people who dont care dont vote, a more accurate election will take place because there will be no donkey votes
fair enough.
i just think that voting is a privilege.
and i don't think some people understand how important it is.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/04/14/timor.vote/
Timor voters choose first president
April 14, 2002 Posted: 5:11 AM EDT (0911 GMT)
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DILI, East Timor -- Polling has ended in East Timor's first ever presidential election with voters turning out in large numbers to elect the man who will lead the country into independence.
Across the territory voters began queuing from early in the morning with many walking for miles from remote jungle villages to cast their ballot.
In the capital Dili, in a display of unity rarely seen in presidential elections elsewhere, the two candidates contesting the election walked to their polling station arm in arm to cast their ballot.
Former guerilla leader Xanana Gusmao is widely expected to dominate the vote, easily beating Francisco Xavier do Amaral who briefly held the post of East Timorese president before the Indonesian invasion in 1975.
Gusmao, who is already regarded by many East Timorese as the territory's de facto leader, says his priority will be economic growth.
For his part Amaral has said he is resigned to coming in second, saying he is running largely to give East Timorese a choice.
The election is the final milestone before East Timor is formally granted independence on May 20, ending a long history of bloodshed and foreign occupation -- first by Portugal and then by Indonesia.
Among those lining up to vote Sunday was Afonso Mendoza.
"This is an important day for us," he told CNN. "I have to vote to secure a better future for my daughter."
Another voter, Joao Fernandes, said he had waited a long time for this day to arrive.
Joao was a pro-independence guerrilla fighter and still carries the scars where he was wounded battling Indonesian troops.
"We suffered under the Portuguese," he said. "The Indonesians were worse. Now, we're so happy we're gaining independence."
The role of president will be largely ceremonial under East Timor's constitution, but the new leader is expected to play a crucial role in uniting the territory and helping heal the bitter wounds of the past.
The ballot is the last major step in East Timor's long and often bloody road to independence
Around 430,000 residents were eligible to vote in Sunday's poll.
The formal announcement of the winner is scheduled to take place on April 17 with analysts forecasting that Gusmao could win as much as 80 percent of the vote.
The United Nations -- which has administered East Timor since the territory voted to cut ties with Indonesia in 1999 -- says no security problems have been reported and it expects a huge turnout.
Dozens of local and international observer groups have been monitoring the progress of voting.
Most East Timorese consider the result a foregone conclusion, with many observers focusing on the difficulties Gusmao will face as the country moves to full independence.
One of the key concerns raised by observers is whether he will be able to work with the ruling Fretilin party, which has held back from backing Gusmao's candidacy.
Gusmao says there is no tension between them, just differences of opinion.
For many East Timorese, the fact that the election was held at all is a triumph after years of struggle, but it doesn't obscure the immense challenges facing this new nation.
Independent East Timor will be one of the poorest countries in Asia, unemployment is close to 80 percent, there is no industry or foreign investment, and virtually no tourism.
In villages across the territory life is a daily struggle to survive with no running water, sporadic electricity supplies and minimal medical care.
-- CNN Senior Asia Correspondent Mike Chinoy contributed to this report
