Reply #8: Preferential voting system [View All]

[no safe haven]

In the House of Representatives election candidates who receive an absolute majority (50% + 1 vote) of formal votes are elected. The distribution of preferences is required when no candidate receives an absolute majority. In this instance, the candidate with the fewest number of first preference votes is excluded and their second preference votes are distributed to the remaining candidates.

If after that exclusion no candidate has obtained an absolute majority of formal votes, the next remaining candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and ALL of his/her votes (i.e. first preference votes PLUS those votes received from the first excluded candidate) are distributed to the remaining candidates.

This process is continued until one candidate obtains an absolute majority of formal votes and is elected.

www.aec.gov.au/_content/ what/media_releases/2001/nov/hor.htm

Greens will be directing their voters to preference Labor in most electorates this election, and I think vice versa. Left wing parties favour each other, while conservatives preference each other. This way, you can put your Howard and right wing parties waaaay down the bottom of the list, knowing they won't get a look-in on your vote.

Voting is compulsory in Australia. Everyone is supposed to register with the Electoral Commission when they turn 18 and their names are listed with the electorate they live in. When we go to the polls, our names are checked off our electoral rolls, and we're given PAPER ballots to be filled out with a PENCIL. If our names aren't crossed off the electoral roll, there is a fine of about $200. If we don't want to vote for any of the parties, then we can vote "informal", simply by not filling in the form.