Damon Mcknight
In Australia, voting is compulsory, and failure to vote can result in a fine. This has led to the rise of donkey voting, where voters rank candidates based on the order they appear on the ballot paper. This type of voting is considered valid as it contains a number 1 and has numbered every square sequentially. While donkey voting is not illegal, it has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. The practice has been reduced due to candidates being listed in random order on ballot papers and the inclusion of political party names.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Donkey voting definition | In electoral systems which use ranked voting, a donkey vote is a cast ballot where the voter ranks the candidates based on the order they appear on the ballot itself. |
| Donkey voter definition | A voter that ranks the candidates based on the order they appear on the ballot itself. |
| Donkey vote validity | Donkey votes are counted as valid votes because they contain a number "1" and have numbered every square in sequential order. |
| Donkey vote incidence | Donkey votes are most common where preference voting is combined with compulsory voting, such as in Australia. |
| Donkey vote incidence reduction | The incidence of donkey voting has been greatly reduced by the following: - Candidates' names listed in random order on the ballot paper - Political party names appearing on the ballot paper - Electoral education programs conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission |
| Donkey vote percentage | The donkey vote has been estimated at between 1% and 2% of the vote. However, this is difficult to establish. |
| Donkey vote impact | In a marginal seat, a donkey vote of 1-2% could be critical. |
| Donkey vote examples | - The election of Steve Fielding of the Family First Party in the Victorian Senate election in 2004 with a party vote of 1.88% - The high vote (4.83%) for Australians Against Further Immigration in an election |
| Donkey vote causes | Donkey votes may be caused by apathy or ignorance of the voting system. |
| Compulsory voting | Voting is compulsory in Australia. |
| Compulsory voting support | There is evidence of strong popular support for compulsory voting in Australia. |
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What You'll Learn
Donkey voting is counted as a valid vote
In Australia, voting is compulsory, and electors are given numerous ways to cast their votes, including postal voting, pre-poll voting, absent voting, and voting at Australian overseas missions, among others.
A donkey vote is counted as a valid vote because it contains a number "1" and has numbered every square in sequential order. This means that a voter's ballot paper will be considered valid as long as it has a "'1' in one of the boxes and every other box is numbered in sequence, regardless of whether the vote was cast thoughtfully or as a donkey vote. This is because, due to the secrecy of the ballot, it is impossible to determine whether a person has completed their ballot paper before placing it in the ballot box.
The donkey vote has been estimated to account for between 1% and 2% of the vote, which could be critical in a marginal seat. The donkey vote was reflected in the high vote (4.83%) for Australians Against Further Immigration, who likely would have gained far fewer votes if they had not been placed first on the ballot.
The incidence of donkey voting has been greatly reduced by reforms such as listing candidates in random order on ballot papers, including political party names on ballot papers, and conducting electoral education programs by the Australian Electoral Commission.
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Donkey voting is reduced by listing candidates in random order
Donkey voting is a type of voting system where voters rank candidates based on the order they appear on the ballot paper. Voters are required to vote for candidates in order of preference, marking "1" next to their first choice, "2" next to their second choice, and so on. Donkey voting can also occur in reverse, where voters rank candidates from the bottom to the top of the ballot paper.
In Australia, donkey voting is reduced by listing candidates in random order on the ballot paper. This reform was introduced in 1983 to Federal electoral legislation to reduce the impact of donkey voting. Previously, candidates were listed in alphabetical order, which led to parties nominating candidates with names beginning with letters early in the alphabet to secure a higher position on the ballot. By listing candidates randomly, the advantage of being at the top of the ballot is removed, reducing the likelihood of donkey voting.
The random listing of candidates has been combined with other measures to reduce donkey voting. One such measure is the inclusion of political party names on the ballot paper. This allows voters to more easily identify their preferred candidates, reducing the need for donkey voting. Additionally, electoral education programs conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission have helped to inform voters about the voting process, encouraging them to make informed choices rather than simply voting based on the order of candidates.
While these measures have reduced the impact of donkey voting in Australia, it still occurs and needs to be considered when assessing election results. Donkey voting is most common in jurisdictions with compulsory voting and preference voting systems, such as Australia. It is difficult to determine the exact number of donkey votes, as they are counted as valid votes and can be cast due to various reasons, including apathy or ignorance of the voting system.
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Donkey voting is more common where voting is compulsory
Donkey voting refers to the practice of ranking candidates in the order they appear on the ballot paper, from top to bottom or vice versa. This type of voting is considered valid as it contains a number "1" and sequentially numbers every candidate. Donkey voting is more common in places with compulsory voting, such as Australia, where both houses of parliament are elected using preferential electoral systems.
The phenomenon of donkey voting is more visible in Australia due to the combination of compulsory voting and preferential voting. In systems where voting is not mandatory, it seems counter-intuitive that those who do vote would be apathetic. However, in some elections, voters may be interested in certain prominent races but less engaged in others on the same "long ballot". In such cases, it becomes challenging to distinguish between genuine and donkey votes.
Donkey voting can significantly impact election outcomes, especially in close races. It is believed that the donkey vote can account for up to 2% of the vote, which could be decisive in marginal seats. Candidates who secure the top spot on the ballot paper are at an advantage due to the potential for donkey votes. This advantage has led to strategic decisions by political parties, such as choosing candidates with names early in the alphabet to secure higher positions.
While donkey voting is more prevalent in compulsory voting systems, it is not exclusive to them. It has been observed in other democracies, including the UK and Ireland, where voting is preferential but not compulsory. In Ireland, the donkey vote's impact is more pronounced within parties, with candidates from the same party benefiting from alphabetical listings.
To mitigate the influence of donkey voting in Australia, reforms have been implemented. These include listing candidate names in random order on ballot papers, including political party names, and conducting electoral education programs by the Australian Electoral Commission. These measures have reduced the incidence of donkey voting and increased the complexity of preference distribution among parties.
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Donkey voting is reduced by listing party names on ballot papers
Donkey voting is a phenomenon in electoral systems that use ranked voting. It occurs when a voter ranks the candidates based on the order they appear on the ballot paper, without regard to the logic of preference allocation. This can involve numbering the candidates from the top down or bottom up of the ballot paper. Donkey votes are considered valid as long as every candidate is ranked and the ballot paper contains the number "1" for the first preference.
In Australia, donkey voting was common in Senate elections, particularly where all candidates must be ranked on the ballot paper. Before 1984, candidates' names were listed in alphabetical order, and political party names did not appear on the ballot papers. This led to parties strategically choosing candidates with names starting with early letters of the alphabet to secure a higher position and gain an advantage from donkey votes.
To address this issue, reforms were introduced in 1983 and 1984. These reforms included listing the names of political parties next to each candidate on the ballot papers. Additionally, candidates' names are now listed in random order, decided by the Australian Electoral Commission returning officer. These changes have significantly reduced the impact of donkey voting in Australian Federal elections.
The Robson Rotation system is another measure aimed at eliminating the donkey vote advantage. This system requires ballot papers to be printed in equal-sized batches, with each batch having a different candidate's name appearing at various positions within the party columns. While it doesn't eliminate donkey voting entirely, it spreads its effect more evenly among all the candidates.
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Donkey voting is not illegal in Australia
Donkey voting is considered valid because it contains a number one and has numbered every square in sequential order. An example of a donkey voter would be an elector whose first preference is for the ALP, followed by preferences for the Liberals and One Nation ahead of the Democrats and Greens. While this may be interpreted as a donkey vote, it is impossible to tell for sure whether it is a donkey vote or a thoughtful and considered vote.
The donkey vote has been estimated to represent between 1 and 2% of the vote, which could be critical in a marginal seat. The incidence of donkey voting has been reduced by reforms such as listing candidates in random order on ballot papers, including political party names on ballot papers, and conducting electoral education programs.
Donkey voting is more common in systems with compulsory voting, such as Australia, where electors are given a number of ways to cast their vote, including postal voting, pre-poll voting, absent voting, and voting at overseas missions.
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Frequently asked questions
In electoral systems with ranked voting, donkey voting is when a voter ranks the candidates based on the order they appear on the ballot paper. Donkey votes can also occur in reverse, with candidates being numbered from the bottom up.
No, donkey voting is counted as a valid vote in Australia. This is because it contains a number “1” and has numbered every square in sequential order.
Donkey voting is legal because, in Australia, voting is compulsory. Electors are given a number of ways to cast their vote, including postal voting, pre-poll voting, absent voting, and voting at Australian overseas missions. Due to the secrecy of the ballot, it is not possible to determine whether a person has completed their ballot paper before placing it in the ballot box.
Donkey voting has been estimated to account for between 1 and 2% of votes in Australia. The incidence of donkey voting has been greatly reduced due to candidates' names being listed in random order on ballot papers, and the inclusion of political party names on ballot papers.
