• maegul (he/they)@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I … did not know this was a thing. I heard someone in the line mention they had brought their own and thought it quirky. JFC, what a cheap and meaningless way to feel like you’re in control of your world.

    • Nonameuser678@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      Oh it’s a thing. My mum worked for AEC on the day and said lots of people in her area brought pens with them. I handed out HTV cards on the day and saw a few people come up to the no campaign people to ask them if their votes were legal because they did it in pencil.

      • abhibeckert@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        To be fair, there’s nothing wrong with bringing your own pen (or a pencil).

        Their reasons might be stupid but there are enough good reasons and lots of people carry a pen or pencil with them everywhere they go anyway.

        Those pencils the AEC provides are not free, they do wear out, and they do need to be cleaned/sanitised continuously throughout the day which is definitely not free. Tens of thousands of people were paid a lot of money to clean those pencils. Bringing your own reduces staffing costs for the AEC.