John Howard is no dill when it comes to denying voters their democratic right to vote in the upcoming Federal election.Under the Liberal party's new electoral laws administered by the Australian Electoral Commission, the voters' roll will now close at 8:00pm on the day the writs are issued for the election.
There must be a minimum 33-day period between calling the election and election day itself.
Elections are often called on a Sunday in order to comply with the minimum 33-day limit for the election which would normally be held on the 5th Saturday after that date.
If John Howard calls the election this weekend, it would be held no earlier than Saturday 17 November, with the rolls closing at 8:00pm Monday night - the first working day after the announcement.
This would give tens of thousands of possible Labor voters limited opportunity of getting on the roll on Monday.
Of course, the Liberal Party would see that as another successful nail in the coffin of Australian democracy.
If the Sneaky Devil from the Lodge calls the election this weekend, potential voters would have only until Monday night to get on the roll - making it very difficult for many of them to exercise their democratic rights, to say the least.
If you were a fair and honest Prime Minister, you would make the announcement but delay issuing the writs for a few days to give everyone the opportunity of getting on the roll.
But because it is John Howard, expect a big announcement this weekend with the doors of the Electoral Commission slammed shut in people's faces come 8 o'clock Monday night.
