If a candidate in an election does not achieve a majority of first preference votes, the winner is determined by the allocation of subsequent second, third and so on preferences. Show How Preferential voting works: There are two systems of preferential voting: Full preferential and optional preferential voting. With full preferential voting, voters are required to indicate their first preference by placing a “1” against a candidate’s name, then make a second preference and so on for the number of candidates on the ballot paper. Optional preferential voting only requires the voter to make a first preference. If a candidate does not get an absolute majority of first preference votes, then the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and those votes are allocated to the other candidates according to the number of second preference votes. If no majority has been achieved, the next candidate with the least number of primary votes is eliminated and those votes are allocated to other candidates according to the second preference or third preference and so on if the second preferences have been exhausted. Supporters of preferential voting say:
Opponents of preferential voting say:
What do you think? Have your say. Join the conversation below. Drawing of Electoral BoundariesSometimes people find themselves in a new electorate when voting comes around. That’s because electoral boundaries - approximately 100,000 people within an area - are sometimes changed to reflect changes in the movement of people and the demographic makeup of the area. Electoral authorities regularly hold hearings to review boundaries. Political parties are not allowed to participate in the hearings so as to avoid the perception of manipulation of the system in their favour. Some people do not think electoral boundaries are being decided fairly. What do you think? Have your say. Join the conversation below. How we votePostal voting Postal voting is designed for people who cannot attend a polling place in their electorate. How voting works: Once a person has voted, the ballot paper is placed in a sealed envelope which does not contain any voter identification, and then is placed in another sealed envelope that contains the name and address of the voter. When it is received by the electoral authority the outside envelope is used to confirm the person has voted. The ballot paper is removed from the inside envelope and place in a pile for counting. The system is designed so the identity of the voter cannot be linked to the ballot paper, thus ensuring tick the person’s vote is anonymous. Opponents of postal voting claim that the system is open to abuse because votes can be tampered with and there is nothing stopping the voter’s personal details being copied. What do you think? Have your say. Join the conversation below. Early voting Early voting is officially known as 'Pre-Poll' voting -- voting before the actual day of the election or poll. When voting early, voters are required by law to give a valid reason for their request to vote before election day. How early voting works: For the 2019 federal election, early-voting or pre-poll voting centres opened in each electorate three weeks before election day in metropolitan areas and two weeks before election day in rural areas. According to AEC figures, 2980498 people voted early for the 2016 federal election. In 2019, 4766853 people voted early -- a 60% increase in early voting compared with the 2016 election. Vote Australia recognises that early voting is convenient for those who need it. Should all voters be allowed to vote before all issues have been fully debated? What do you think? Have your say. Join the conversation below.
In Australia, preferential voting systems are majority systems where candidates must receive an absolute majority, more than 50% of the total formal votes cast, to be elected. If the absolute majority is not gained on the first count, then preferences are distributed until an absolute majority is obtained. The term "preferential voting" means voters can indicate an order of preferences for candidates on the ballot paper, i.e. who they want as their 1st choice, 2nd choice and so on. The elector must show a preference for all candidates listed on the ballot paper. In some electoral systems which use full preferential voting, the voter can leave one box empty if the voter's intention with regard to the other preferences is clear. The empty box is treated as the voter's last preference, e.g. voting for the Victorian Legislative Assembly. The number "1" preference must be shown and other preferences may be indicated, e.g. voting for the NSW and Queensland Legislative Assemblies. The elector must show a minimum number of preferences as set out on the ballot paper. e.g. voting for the Tasmanian Legislative Council. Count ballot papersPolling officials sort and count formal and informal votes. Informal votes are set aside and do not take further part in the count. The formal votes are counted according to the 1st preferences given by voters. This is the primary count and the results are made available. Not all votes are counted immediately as absent, postal and pre-poll votes including declarations received by post after the close of polling need to be processed and checked before they can be admitted to the count. If no candidate receives an absolute majority (more than 50% of the total 1st preference votes) after all valid votes have been admitted to the count, then subsequent preferences have to be distributed. First (Primary) CountFormal votes received by each candidate are counted according to where the voter placed number "1" for each candidate. In this example there are 100 000 formal votes. The absolute majority is more than 50% of the total formal votes cast, i.e. 50 001 votes.
Second CountNo candidate received an absolute majority in the first count, so the candidate with the lowest number of 1st preference votes is excluded. In this case Lee has the lowest number of votes, 16 000. Those votes are distributed to the remaining candidates according to the next available preference. In this case, this is where voters placed their number "2" preference.
Third CountStill no candidate has an absolute majority so the counting procedure continues. Again the candidate with the lowest number of votes is excluded. In this case Jo has the lowest number of votes, 25 000. Those votes are distributed to the remaining candidates according to where voters placed the next available preference for the candidates remaining in the count.
ResultPaul is declared elected as he has a majority of votes, 54 000. See also |
What are the advantages of preferential voting?
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