|
One of the most common questions that I get asked in the lead-up to an election is regarding preferences and their distribution. To make the most of your preferential vote it is essential to that you understand the basics of how preferences flow.
What is particularly confusing and complex are the party preference deals and flow, notably in the proportional voting in the Senate or Legislative Council where a simple ‘1’ above the line has given all of the power of preferences to the political parties.
Most of the political preference deals are focussed on these Upper House arrangements.
While voting is both a right and a responsibility, some voters too easily throw away the opportunity to have a real influence on the outcome by slavishly following a party’s How To Vote Card or taking the easy option of voting above the line in the Upper House. What voters should know is that if you make a mistake you should ask for another ballot paper. A mistake, unfinished number sequence or even an illegible or scrawled number can have that ballot paper ruled informal.
The only way you can guarantee that your vote will not go to a particular candidate, party or group is to put them last on the ballot paper.
You may, of course, support one party or individual, but the way in which each candidate’s preferences have been allocated may not give the result you really prefer.
Understanding preferences may seem complicated – but don’t throw away your rights because of that.
Every household has received, or soon will, an election 2010 pamphlet from the Australian Electoral Commission in preparation for the Federal election on August 21, providing broad information on the when, where and how of voting.
On the last page it states ‘How to make your vote count’ – and it’s worth making sure you understand not just the procedure, but the implications.
After running the ‘How To Vote Card gauntlet’ and on entering the polling place you’ll be given two ballot papers, a green one for the House of Representatives and a white one for the Senate.
The green paper is quite straightforward, with its list of candidates determined by a draw organised by the Electoral Office.
You simply put a consecutive number in each box starting with 1. Each box must be numbered for your vote to count. If you follow the directions of a party’s How To Vote Card (handed to you on your way into the booth) be certain that the number order is actually your preferred order – that the candidates are in the order of your preference. You do not have to follow the How To Vote Card for your vote to go to your preferred candidate.
After the close of the poll, the primary votes are counted and then preferences are allotted if none of the candidates have won an absolute majority – which must be greater than 50 per cent plus 1 of the total vote.
The number 2 votes of the primary vote cards of least favoured candidate are allocated to the other candidates on the basis of your numbers or preferences.
The electoral officers continue allocating and excluding the next lowest candidates until one of the candidates wins an absolute majority of primary secondary and other preferences. In some areas that allocation can be very close – a handful of preferences can make all the difference between winning and losing.
The purpose of it all is so that while some voters do not get the candidate they most preferred, every voter gets a say in electing the preferred candidate.
The white Senate ballot paper can appear daunting.
You have a choice – write above the line for a party or group of candidates, or below the line where you must number every box.
Because of the great number of candidates listed below the line, many people feel intimidated and unfortunately throw away their opportunity to influence the way preferences are allocated by simply voting 1 in the box above the line.
It’s not really that hard to give some thought to how you number those Senate hopefuls. Take a little time and consider voting below the line for a more fully effective vote.
Talk about preferences can be confusing. For example this election there is much discussion about Labor relying on the Greens preferences to get across the line, yet the Liberals have also done deals with the Greens and are preferencing them in the city electorates, potentially gifting them seats.
I have always stood by the importance of the individual’s choice. That’s why, as an Independent, I always run on a split ticket, as they are not my preferences to distribute - they are yours. You can make the choice of the party or candidate you wish to have your second and third preference.
Whether it’s Saturday’s Federal election or the State elections in November, don’t ignore the power you own to determine the direction in which preferences flow.
|
Blog