Thread: Election stuffup

this is a discussion of process

leave the party political comments out of it please

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

I voted above the line, why?

I only wanted to vote for my party of choice.

... to find out that I had inadvertently supported a party that I hated would cause me no end of personal grief.

Not picking on you personally Arthur, but this demonstrates the lack of understanding about senate voting that most of the public share. By voting above the line you may have suported a party you didn't know or like.

I was also at a party on election night and most people in the room (though all highly intelligent professionals) were not aware that only half the senate is elected each federal election.

This was the first year I have voted above the line; but only because I had done the research and was comfortable with where that party was directing their preferences.

This is the third Federal election I have been in Australia for but the first I have been eligible (got my citizenship early last year). I voted below the line and yes, it took bloody ages, but at least I knew where my preferences were going.

I spent a bit of time researching the parties (okay, not all of them but some you know about already and some give you enough of an idea based on their name!) so that I didn't end up just unthinkingly ticking a box.

Sure, voting below the line and researching the parties does take longer than just a dumb tick in a box above the line but it's only once every 3 years and that 'Below the line' web site helps a lot. I printed out my dummy sheet from the website and took it with me to make it easier.

The only thing that did cause me problems was having to order some of the parties right at the bottom of my preferences list - I wanted to put so many of them last!

This might turn out to be interesting. David Leyonhjelm of the LDP appears to control 4 of the micro political parties listed on the senate ballot sheet.

Revealed: the libertarian Right’s micro-party links

Are right-wing micro-parties merely dummies to funnel votes to each other? Crikey catches them out breaching electoral laws. Now the AEC is investigating.

Originally Posted by sam_d

This is the third Federal election I have been in Australia for but the first I have been eligible (got my citizenship early last year). I voted below the line and yes, it took bloody ages, but at least I knew where my preferences were going.

I spent a bit of time researching the parties (okay, not all of them but some you know about already and some give you enough of an idea based on their name!) so that I didn't end up just unthinkingly ticking a box.

Sure, voting below the line and researching the parties does take longer than just a dumb tick in a box above the line but it's only once every 3 years and that 'Below the line' web site helps a lot. I printed out my dummy sheet from the website and took it with me to make it easier.

The only thing that did cause me problems was having to order some of the parties right at the bottom of my preferences list - I wanted to put so many of them last!

I did the same - an hour of research before hand on the internet, then re-order them on "below the line" website. Took in a print out and took less than 5 minutes to fill in all the boxes.

Without the pre-voting effort, below the line would be ridiculous on the day and I can understand why people go above. It does take some planning ahead, but as you say, 1-2 hours effort every few years to vote for what you really believe is such a tiny price to pay for conveying your views. It seems funny that so many people will spend hours and days discussing and debating politics for 3 years, but then neglect to spend a few hours making their vote match their views.

I wonder if there should be more accountability on the AEC for educating people? They don't seem to go any further than trying to avoid informal votes. Past that, they don't appear to put any effort into teaching people how to vote. Clearly with systems like the Senate, it is not as simple as numbering a box or two. I personally spend quite some time refreshing myself on how it all worked, which influenced my preferences. It would be great if the AEC made it their mission to ensure everyone in Australia understood the voting systems. Sure we can change the system, but then who's going to explain that system to everyone?

Originally Posted by Judo

It would be great if the AEC made it their mission to ensure everyone in Australia understood the voting systems. Sure we can change the system, but then who's going to explain that system to everyone?

I'm pretty sure the AEC is already on to this and trying to improve things for those who don't have English as a first language or just find the whole process of being able to vote a bit alien.

I speak pretty good English (what with being from England and all that) and have a decent idea on how the poling process works but even I thought "WTF?" when I first came to Australia and learned about the Senate election process!

Unfortunately I don't think the AEC can fix voter apathy.

^ Fair enough. Typing the first thing that came to mind.

This article has some good suggested changes IMO:

https://theconversation.com/explaine...tem-work-17768