Paul WilliamsTook the in-laws to vote this morning. I figured it would be easier than tomorrow, and with mum needing more 'hand-holding' it made sense to me.
Firstly, incredibly well run, and very smooth. 3 Divisions being managed at my prepoll place, and never had any danger of going to the wrong place. Well signed, and supported by people.
(They even had #democracySausage!)
Secondly, I didn't realise quite how downhill Mum had gone. She went with Dad to get her ballots but then Dad left her on her own. I followed her and went into the booth next to her but kept an eye on her. She was so confused. Took me 20 seconds to fill out, and then went to help her.
She has voted in Aust for 50 years, so she knows how it all works, but being an immigrant and having Alzheimers, I think she was remembering the 'last time' she voted - and tried to just tick the box of the candidate she wanted. God knows what she was going to do on the senate paper!
Thankfully, I spoke to them both extensively about who they wanted to vote for and why, so I could help her by getting the right 'how to vote' card and telling her - put 1 here, 2 there etc. I know it was how she wanted to vote (and similar but not exactly like mine), but can't get over the fact that I basically influenced her vote, but reading the info from AEC I have reassured myself that I did everything exactly right.