The Australian
electoral system
(fun, fun, fun!)
Our electoral system
After much experimentation (aka arguments) and
change over the past 150 years, Australia has found
electoral arrangements that are accepted by Australia’s
people, political parties, and parliamentarians.
Compulsory voting
• Voting is compulsory (you have to do
it) at both federal elections and at
elections for the state and territory.
• You must be an Australian citizen to
vote.
• You start voting at the age of 18
What happens if I do not vote?
• After each election, the AEC(Australian electoral council)
will send a letter to all apparent non-voters requesting
that they either provide a valid and sufficient reason for
failing to vote or pay a $20 penalty.
• If, within the time period specified on the notice, you fail
to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or
decline to pay the $20 penalty, then the matter may be
referred to a court. If the matter is dealt with in court
and you are found guilty, you may be fined up to $170
plus court costs and a criminal conviction may be
recorded against you.
VS
+
Voting systems
The Australian electoral system has experienced
three types of voting systems:
• First past the post
• Preferential voting and
• Proportional representation (single
transferable vote).
First past the post
‘winner takes all’
• Under this system, the winner is the
candidate with the most number of
votes, though not necessarily an absolute
majority of votes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziFqIe9vl8
Preferential voting
• Under this system, voters number the
candidates on the ballot paper in the
order of their preference.
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xs1TU
GwqiE
-BtN clip “Preferential Voting” http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3835708.htm - Good for J&R groups
Proportional representation
This system is designed to allocate parliamentary seats
to parties in proportion to their overall vote.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE1vUdfg8Rs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG_X285UODA
What do we use?
•
‘First past the post’ voting
was used up until 1843.
•
Today, preferential voting
and proportional
representation are used for
all Australian parliamentary
elections.
•
Preferential voting is a
majority system which
attempts to ensure that a
candidate secures an
absolute majority of votes.
• Proportional
representation
systems are
designed to
allocate
parliamentary
seats to parties in
proportion to their
overall vote.
Your task (answers in ENH book)
Q1) What is compulsory voting? Can anyone vote or are there special
conditions?
Q2) What will happen if you don’t vote?
Q3) In your own words describe the ‘First past the post’ voting system.
Q4) In your own words describe the ‘Preferential’ voting system
Q5) In your own words describe the ‘Proportional representation’ voting
system.
Q6) What system(s) do we use in Australia?
Q7)Do you agree/disagree with any of the systems? Why/why not.
Q8) Can you think of another way to vote that would be fair?