I finally made it!!! I exercised today for the first time my right of suffrage. I went to German poll, well because I'm a German citizen already..
Voting in Germany is quite different compared to Philippines voting. I mentioned here yesterday in my Political Engagement some differences with regards to voting already. I'm just adding some more again!! When I voted today, you cannot see so many people standing outside the voting place unlike in the Philippines. In the Philippines, a lot of people are outside the voting place..Some are even trying to convince people who have not voted yet to vote their candidates. Some just simply stay outside to talk with their friends whom they did not see for a long time.
Some candidate supporters or watchers are even staying in the voting place which are usually held in public schools the whole night watching the counting of the votes. Sometimes it's just like a party there because of too much people. They spend overnight there until the counting is done. The vote counting is done manually. I'm just not so sure now if the counting is already done computerized.
In Germany, it is very peaceful. After voting some people go to the gasthaus or guesthouse, drink some beer and wait for the result of the counting. The counting is being done manually through a computer.
In the Philippines, you can only vote once for every candidate.. In Germany, you can vote for up to 3 times in every candidate but it depends. For example for a Municipal mayor (Landrat in German) or Barangay Captain (Buergermeister in German), you can only vote once but for municipal councilors (Kreisrat) or barangay councilors (Gemeinderat) you can give up to 3 votes for one candidate. You can give a total of up to 60 votes for the Municipal Councilors (Kreisrat) and for the Barangay Councilors, a total of up to 28 votes. If you give more votes as 60 and 28 respectively, your votes will be invalid. Is it quite complicated???just let me know??
I still don't know exactly how it is for the Kanzler or Chancellor who is the highest authority in the country. They also have so called the Bundespresident. Hopefully, I can share to you next time about it.
We went there one hour before the voting is over because I waited for my husband who worked till 5pm. The voting lasted till 6pm. Over-all the voting went smoothly. I thought it was complicated because it's my first time...but I did it.
guess that's all for now!!! i hope i give you too some insights about German voting.. see you next time!!
1 comment:
bitaw sis sa atoa sa pinas samok kaayo basta election..hahay, usahay dili gud ko ganahan mobutar. oi maayo kay nakaboto naka diha. :] exercise your right jud! mwah!
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