🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Jun9.134326.15737@ips.oz.au>, dave@ips.oz.au (Dave Horsfall) writes:
> Why does AUUG feel it necessary to indicate the incumbents on the ballot
> paper (received this morning, BTW)?  Not that I have anything against those
> blessed with the little mark, but surely they can stand up for themselves?
> 
Well, actually, it has long been the Committee's policy NOT to do this.
We also see it as unfair. For example, what happens when someone runs
for a different position - should there be some notation?  They can't
be marked as the incumbent.  Far fairer is for everyone to stand on
their own merits.  If they are an existing committee member, they can
put that on their policy statement, and one would hope the general
membership would have noticed who the committee was anyway.

I raised this again at a Committee meeting recently, and asked that
the Returning Officer be so instructed.  I don't know what happened
after that.

> Note to out-of-towners: the reference to NRMA is about a long-standing practice
> of them (National Roads and Motorists Association) indicating the incumbents
> with a little "*" on the ballot paper, in order to assist the great unwashed
> in perpetuating what has become an Old Boys (and Girls) Club.  This action
> is being challenged by the Motorists Action Group (Jane Singleton etc).

Yup, the RACV does this too.
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