Australian Electoral System

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Australian Electoral System Distinctions

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compulsory voting, preferential voting and proportional voting (for Federal Senate)

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Introduction of compulsory voting in 1924

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introduced in 1924 as a response to the low election turnout: 59%

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Section 425 of the Electoral Act

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"It is the duty of every elector to vote at each election. Popular myth is that you only have to have their name marked off at the electoral role, but if your are caught as not putting a ballot in the box you get a fine and get recorded as not voted.

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Informal voting

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voting incorrectly, either accidently or intentionally. Intentionally is illegal but it cannot be proven to the secrecy of the ballot process.

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For and against compulsory voting

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○ For - Maximises voter turnout, maximises campaign cost reimbursement (only need 4% of votes to be reimbursed), instills civic responsibility in citizens, ensures a more representative government is elected.
○ Against - parties supported by ethnic and immigrant communities, indigenous Australians and people with lower levels of education would lose out as these people would be less likely to vote. Powerful minority groups with wealth and influence could adversely affect the outcome of elections

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Preferential voting

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voters number candidates on the ballet paper in order of their preference

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Gerrymandering

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the drawing up of electoral boundaries (usually by an incumbent government) to favour their own party over another thus denying the opposition a fair chance to win seats

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Malapportionment

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electorates are constructed without due regard to the level of population so a country electorate might have half the electors of a city making it easier to win
Most conspicuous examples - South Australia 1856-1968 2 rural electorates - 1 urban, Queensland 1957 national party, WA - 2005 rural worth 4x than in Perth

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Objectives of the authors in the Australian Constitution

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To reproduce the Westminster system of parliamentary government while creating a federation in which there would be a division of powers, between the national Government and the states, regulated by a written constitution

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Structure of Australian Parliament

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A House of Reps is elected from single member electorates of aprox equal population, and there a senate consisting of an equal number of senators from each state, regardless of population

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Function of the Australian Parliament

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Follows in the Westminster system, PM holds office because he controls majority in the House of Reps. His government must resign if he loses a vote of no confidence. All ministers must be members of parliament (a non-mp can hold a ministerial position 3 for a max of 3 months

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Australian Federal House of Reps

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150 members elected from single member electorates for 3 year terms. Preferential voting system used, all candidates must be numbered in order of preference

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How to vote card

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expresses preferences of a particular party, reduces informal voting

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Donkey voting

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this is where voters may number candidates in the order which they appear on the ballot, there is some value in being the top candidate on the ballot paper, after 1984 it was done randomly

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Poll's closing @ 6pm election day events

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votes are counted, conducted by officers of the Australian Electoral Commission and watched by nominated volunteer observers from the political parties called scrutineers. If one of the candidates has more than 50% of the vote then they are declared winner, elimination and second preferences are distributed until some1 has 50%+ of the vote

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two-party-preferred vote

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Electoral commission distributes all preferences until only 2 candidates remain, even in a seat that already has been won the preferences will be distributed

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Election pendulums

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when the 2 party majorities in all seats are known, a election pendulum is the order they will be in to be lost in in if there was an adverse swing next election

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Redistribution of electorates

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boundaries are drawn up by the Aus. Electoral Commission, an independent statutory authority, completely independent of political considerations. The electoral Act stipulates that all seats have approximately equal numbers of enrolled voters. New boundaries are made when population shifts cause an imbalance in electorate numbers. This is called redistribution, a redistribution may occur between states.

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Australian Federal Senate

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The Federal Senate has 76 members, 12 for each State and 2 of each Territory. Senators serve 6 year terms with half the senators up for election at each Federal Election. Territory senators are elected for the term of the House of Reps. (3 years). The Senate is elected both proportionately and preferentially except that each state has an equal number of seats. In each state registered political parties present lists of candidates which appear as a group on Senate ballot paper

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How senate is elected

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Voters can vote 2 ways for the senate; either number all the candidates in order of preference ( below the line voting) which is not popular because there are usually 50-60 candidates. Or they can simply write 1 in a box indicating which party they wish to vote for (above the line voting) Over 95% of vote are cast above the line

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Counting senate votes

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Once a party has achieved a quota or quotas any surplus votes will e distriuted and direct to the second choice candidates on the distributed ballots the surplus is the candidate's vote minus the quota

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transferred preference votes

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Surplus votes are not distributed at their full value but as a weighted percentage. The surplus is calculated as a percentage of the total votes gained by the candidate, thus if the surplus number of votes is equal to 60% of the total votes cast for that candidate then the surplus votes are transferred (distributed) at a value of 60%

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Double dissolution/Section 57 of the Australian Constitution

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Whilst the House of Reps and the Senate generally have equal legislative powers, with the exception of money bills, which must originate in the House of Reps. Thus a hostile Senate could frustrate the Govt by refusing to pass Govt legislation. Section 57 of the Constitution allows the Governor General to dissolve both Houses of Parliament including the entire Senate, on the advice of the Prime Minister.
 24 Section 57.
If Govt legislation is rejected twice within a six month period this gives the PM a ‘trigger’ to ask the GG for a DD. If after the DD Election the Senate still rejects the legislation the Govt may convene a joint sitting of both Houses and this would ensure the passing of the legislation.

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Nexus Clause

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To preserve the balance of power between the two houses Section 24 of the Constitution provides that the House of Reps should as far as practicable have twice the number of members as the Senate. (Presently HoR 150 Senate 76!!!

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Requirements for candidate nominations

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Candidates must formally nominate with the Electoral Commission
Requires the signature of the Registered Officer of a party registered under the Electoral Act. A registered party must have at least 500 members.
50 signatures of registered voters are required for an independent candidate.
A deposit of $500 is required for the HoR and $1,000 for the Senate.
This deposit is refunded if the candidate gains 4% of primary votes.
To receive public funding the candidate or party must receive at least 4% of the vote.