Brookvale Public School

By Jenny

On the 2nd of July two ladies called Nicole and Jenny from the Australian Electoral Office came to our school to talk to our class 5/6T about elections.

You have to be a Australian citizen aged 18 and over to vote. We watched the video about governemnt and democracy that they put on. The Manly Daily Newspaper came and some people got to be in then photo.

Then it was our turn to vote. We had to get our names ticked off the list to show that we voted already. When we finished voting we had to put the votes in to the box. They said that if you didn't put the numbers 1 - 5 and only put number 1 your vote wouldn't be counted.

So then they counted the votes. It was out of Pizza and Subway who would win. Pizza won because they got a majority.

It was a good day and we learnt all about how elections work.

By Monica

On Tuesday the 3rd of July, 5/6T had two visitors from the Australian Electoral Office. Their names were Nicole and Jenny. Their purpose at our school was to teach us about accepting responsibility for voting.

To vote in Australia you must be 18years or older and must be a Australian Citizen. In Australia it is compulsory to vote, that means if you don‘t vote without a really good reason, you get fined.

There were three volunteers, Matilda, Jenny and Rosanna. Rosanna had to turn the chocolate ball wheel which had balls in it numbered from one to five. Matilda was blindfolded and had to pull out a numbered ball. Jenny had to read it out. After that there was another draw. This sorted the candidates on the ballot slip.

Next, the Manly Daily came and Xin-Xin, James and I got chosen to be in the photos. I had to kneel down with my head up and pretending to be voting.

The voting was about which was the favourite Fast Food Shop. It was out of Red Rooster, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway and Burger Kings. Pizza Hut won.

It was like a real voting, though we were under 18.

On the 3rd of July, 5/6T had 2 visiters come from the Australian Electoral Office. They showed us a video and they showed us how they get the names in the order on the ballott paper.

The first thing we did was the ordering which was real simple. Matilda, Rosanna and Jenny had to draw out the numbered balls. The second step was to do another draw.

The third step was to right down the order from the second draw.

My favourite part was when we got to vote.