One Vote

Pillar 5: Participation of Citizens

Media description: The fate of the US nation hangs on the vote of one man in the movie Swing Vote (Touchstone Pictures, 2008).

MEDIA CONTEXT
In the opening scenes of Swing Vote (Touchstone Pictures 2008) Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner) lectures his 12 year old daughter Molly (Madeline Carrol) on why voting doesn’t count for a thing. Little does he know they’re about to get swept into a personal political campaign, the outcome of which has potential global consequences. Conscientious Molly is greatly disappointed when Bud forgets to show up for voting that day, so she sneaks in to vote for him. But things go haywire; power to the electronic polling booth is cut before her choice is recorded. It then turns out the election figures are so close one vote really will decide who is to become the next US president - Bud’s vote.

MEDIA CRITIQUE 
The character Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner) is depicted in Swing Vote as an ignorant man with no ambition, but the concerns he raises regarding affordability of health insurance may be typical of low income earners in America. Is Bud’s contention that his vote will make no difference to their situation also a typical attitude of many Americans? Or, is it the opinion of the writers (Jason Richman and Joshua Michael Stern)? The way patrons of the diner begin paying close attention to the news anchor on television is clear indication that this particular election is unusual. The anchor’s tone of amazement also adds weight to the fact that one voter will swing the election.

ANALYSIS & REVIEW

1. Discuss any similarities between the presidential election in Swing Vote and the 2010 Federal Election in Australia.
2. Consider, alongside more than 13,000,000 registered voters, how can your vote make a difference?
3. Many regard voting as a civic duty. How does voting contribute to the kind of democracy Australians enjoy?

THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION & AUSTRALIA TODAY
In the USA, as in Swing Vote, voting is voluntary. In Australia voting is compulsory. (This wasn’t always so. Compulsory voting came into effect in 1924 largely because few eligible people had cast a vote in the previous election.) However, votes are anonymous therefore there is no control over whether or not an individual casts a valid or formal vote.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
Start making a difference in your school or community by serving on student councils, or attending community meetings with a parent.
Find out how to register to vote in Australia and set a goal to register as soon as you are eligible. (Citizens 16 years and older may enrol, but may not vote until 18 years of age.)

AUSCIVICS FILM & TV SERIES LINKED TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Learning areas and/or outcomes relating to the questions and issues above have been identified for each state and territory in the following links*: