Dana Said:

preferential voting?

We Answered:

Australia implemented preferential voting in 1919 after using the First-Past-The-Post system for a number of elections.
Preferential Voting is a uniquely Australian system of voting. Based on the principle that the winner should have 50% + 1 support, it allows voters to number the candidates in order of preference. It ensures that everyone's vote counts and gives smaller parties a chance to build up a following over a number of elections. The Greens are a case in point as they have grown and developed through 20 or so years from a 'one issue' small party to now where they have become a strong and influential force in Australian politics. It is seen by many as a fairer and more democratic way of voting although it is quite a complicated system.

This site explains it very well:

http://www.eca.gov.au/systems/single/by_…

Peter Said:

Preferential Voting?

We Answered:

Northern Ireland's Assembly and Local Councils are elected in this method as well. On the good side it allows as many parties as possible to get elected but on the down side it can lead to block voting. For instance, in the 2007 Assembly Elections the Green Party polled 2% of first preference votes and won an Assembly member in Down North, however the UK Unionists polled a similar amount and failed to get an Assembly member

Andrea Said:

Why do some people get angry or make me feel bad when I tell them I don't vote?

We Answered:

Just think, one day it's possible that a vast majority of people will choose not to exercise their right to vote and then the people in power whoever they might be will have no other choice but to appoint someone to a particular position regardless of what a lot of people think. Then we for sure will no longer have a democracy...

Amy Said:

why did australia decide to use compulsory and preferential voting ?

We Answered:

Despite what many people now believe, the beginning of Australia's democracy was NOT an egalitarian affair, with people of all classes joining together to form a commonwealth.

The overwhelming majority of Australia's prominent politicians at the time of Federation (1901) were rich and powerful men of business, many of whom dabbled in international trade and ALL of whom had an eye for their own interests!

The early 1900s were a period of fervent nationalism in Australia, and also great social turmoil.

The electorate was sharply divided along social and religious lines, with a large 'conservative' protestant population generally at odds with pre-socialist and catholic voters on the other side. Due to Australia's world first secret ballot system, it was impossible to control these voting patterns directly.

Politicians and their supporters were keen to ensure their own 'brand' of Australian-ness stuck, and took no prisoners in their efforts to use propaganda, sentiment, voter inducement and persuasion to gain the advantage.

Looking at other new democracies around the world, they soon noticed that proportional representation and 'simple majority' voting (as practiced until then in State elections) led to the rise of many small or 'minority' parties, which needed to form alliances, often with some difficulty, to ensure government. When these alliances broke up, so did the government, resulting in unrest and disturbance to civil services.

A 'Preferential' system (in which votes cast in favour of those who did not achieve outright victory are attributed to the candidate with the most 'primary' votes in an electorate), would clearly hamper the rise of minority parties, ensure the development of a strong two party system and provide stability of government.

Introduced at Federal level in the 1919 general election, Preferential voting is now used in Federal elections for the lower (legislative) house of Parliament.

Another voting system, Proportional Representation, is used for the upper (review) house, which is known as the Senate. This system fosters the election of minority parties and although most Senators do belong to one of the major parties, a number of minority Senators are generally elected and ensure an even spread of interests are represented at the most senior level of Australian government.

Compulsory voting was first used in Federal elections in 1925, resulting in a turnout of more than 90 per cent of eligible electors.

The reasons for its introduction were almost certainly entirely political. It is said that the then government introduced compulsory voting in the hope of gaining additional votes, and this may be true.

Whatever the original reason, compulsory voting is extremely popular in Australia.

Despite a tiny group of people who argue it is somehow an infringement on individual liberty to 'force' people to vote, the fact is, the small fine (about $100 Australian) would not be likely to 'force' anyone who truly objected, yet over 90 per cent of voters continue to attend the booths and register themselves as having done so, at every Commonwealth (Federal) election.

For most peple, attendance at a polling place (what they write on their ballot will never be known as it is secret) is the minimum standard of adult participation in our peaceful, diverse and respresentative democracy.

Cheers :-)

Kevin Said:

Question about preferential voting in Australia...?

We Answered:

Your vote remains active until it either becomes part of a pool of enough votes to decide a winner or is exhausted because you run out of preferences.

All it means, really, is that your vote continues through your second, third, fourth etc preference until someone has enough votes to win!

Many an Aussie politician has been elected on preferences, in fact the current Howard government got a winning boost from preference deals made between the Democrats and some religious whackjob party in Tassie (to name just one of the dirty deals done). Check where your choices are sending their preferences!

So to be blunt in answer to your question ~ yes, your vote keeps counting until it elects someone or all your preferences are exhausted.

The AEC link below explains preferential voting in an easy to understand way.

Cheers :-)

Sam Said:

what is Preferential voting in australia?

We Answered:

In Australia, preferential voting systems are majority systems where candidates must receive an absolute majority, 50% plus 1 of the total formal votes cast to be elected.

The term "preferential voting" means voters can indicate an order of preferences for candidates on the ballot paper, ie. who they want as their 1st choice, 2nd choice and so on.

Full preferential voting
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, eg: voting for the Victorian Legislative Council and Assembly.

Optional preferential voting
The number "1" preference must be shown and other preferences may be indicated, eg: voting for the NSW Legislative Assembly.

Partial Preferential
The elector must show a minimum number of preferences as set out on the ballot paper. eg: voting for the Tasmanian Legislative Council.


For more information, visit these links
http://www.eca.gov.au/systems/single/by_…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_…

:o)