Preferential voting system

[MoreCoffee]

For those who are curious here is a flow chart depicting how votes work in an Australian election.

Here is a sample ballot for the recent Canning byelection

The above is the Liberal Party's suggested voting order. The Liberal Party is a conservative party in Australia.

I hope the above helps folk to understand how elections using preferential ("instant run-off") voting works.

 

[Alithis]

i dont get it ..

hey its mandatory voting i Oz isn't it ?

 

[MoreCoffee]

i dont get it ..

hey its mandatory voting i Oz isn't it ?

Yes

 

[MoreCoffee]

The system is quite simple to master; perhaps Australians are just smarter than other folk ...

 

[Ruth]

The system is quite simple to master; perhaps Australians are just smarter than other folk ...

Some of them, maybe.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Some of them, maybe.

Maybe most of 'em

 

[Highlander]

Maybe most of 'em

Could be that a nation (NOTE: Australia is a GREAT nation) of 24 million can handle major elections with less complication than one with over 300 million. LOL

 

[MoreCoffee]

Could be that a nation (NOTE: Australia is a GREAT nation) of 24 million can handle major elections with less complication than one with over 300 million. LOL

That's possible, but I think a city of 5 million is a city of 5 million no matter where it is ... and the more people one has the more officials one will have for counting and other things.

 

[Biblicist]

i dont get it ..

hey its mandatory voting i Oz isn't it ?

In the chart that MC produced, if you look at the <Eliminate Last Placed Candidate>, they remove the candidates who did not get enough votes and redistribute the "preference" votes to those two or three who got enough votes. So the chap with the most votes (1st), may not necessarily win as the 2nd or 3rd candidate may have received more "preferential" votes, which means that the second or third candidate could actually win . . . simplzzzz, yes, no!

If you want the really easy option, as I rarely find any candidate to be of much value (most Aussies tend to view politicians in a very low light), just take the slips of paper from the Officials, smile, walk into the booth and then place the unmarked blank slips into the voting boxes.