Leslie Massey
In Australia, an informal vote is one that has been incorrectly completed or not filled in at all. Following each general election for the House of Representatives, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) conducts an analysis of informal voting. The national informality rate decreased from 5.91% in 2013 to 5.05% in 2016. Factors such as social exclusion, relative disadvantage, and confusion over the voting system can influence the rate of informal voting. Additionally, some voters may intentionally cast informal votes as a form of protest or to express their attitudes towards the electoral system or politics. Understanding the factors contributing to informal voting is essential for improving electoral integrity and ensuring that votes are cast and counted accurately.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| National informality rate in 2013 | 5.91% |
| National informality rate in 2016 | 5.05% |
| State/territory with the highest informality rate in 2016 | Northern Territory |
| State/territory with the highest informality rate in 2016 | New South Wales |
| State/territory with the highest informality rate in 2016 | Victoria |
| Reason for informality | Incomplete numbering |
| Reason for informality | Non-sequential numbering |
| Reason for informality | Scribbles, slogans, or other protest marks |
| Reason for informality | Confusion over the difference in voting requirements between the House of Representatives and the Senate |
| Reason for informality | No candidate from a major party |
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What You'll Learn
- Rules for the House of Representatives and the Senate differ, causing confusion and informality
- Ballot papers must be marked according to rules to avoid being informal
- The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) analyses informal voting after each general election
- Informal voting rates differ between states and territories
- Higher levels of informality are associated with higher levels of social exclusion
Rules for the House of Representatives and the Senate differ, causing confusion and informality
In Australia, the rules for the House of Representatives and the Senate differ, which can cause confusion and lead to informal votes. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has acknowledged that some voters may be unsure about the distinct voting requirements for the two chambers, resulting in ballot papers that do not comply with the formal guidelines.
For a vote to be considered formal in the House of Representatives, voters must number every box on the ballot paper with a series of consecutive numbers according to their preference. Voters need to assign a number '1' to their first choice, number '2' to their second choice, and so on, until all boxes are numbered. An informal ballot paper is one that has been incorrectly completed or left blank.
On the other hand, the Senate voting system allows for an "above the line" vote, where voters only number '1' to '6' according to their preference. This difference in voting requirements between the House of Representatives and the Senate can cause confusion, as some voters may mistakenly apply the Senate's "above the line" instructions to their House of Representatives ballot paper, resulting in an informal vote.
The AEC has conducted studies on specific by-elections, such as the 2018 Fremantle by-election, to analyse the factors influencing informal voting. The results indicated that some ballot papers included scribbles, slogans, or protest marks, reflecting voters' attitudes towards the electoral system or political climate. Additionally, the absence of a candidate from a major party, such as the Liberal candidate in the Fremantle by-election, may have influenced voters to intentionally submit informal votes as a form of protest.
To address the issue of confusion and reduce informal voting, the AEC utilises research and data to inform education and information strategies. By providing robust information at the polling place level, the AEC aims to ensure voters understand the distinct voting requirements for the House of Representatives and the Senate, ultimately lowering the rate of informal votes.
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Ballot papers must be marked according to rules to avoid being informal
In Australia, ballot papers must be marked according to specific rules to be considered formal and counted. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) provides guidelines to ensure votes are valid. Failure to follow these rules will result in an informal vote, which will not be counted.
For a ballot paper to be considered formal in the House of Representatives, each box must be numbered consecutively, indicating the voter's preference. Voters must write the number '1' beside their first choice, '2' beside their second choice, and so on until all boxes are numbered. This process is known as "full preferential voting". It is important to note that the numbers must be consecutive, and any breaks in the sequence will render the vote informal.
The AEC has identified that higher levels of social exclusion or relative disadvantage are associated with higher levels of informal voting. Additionally, having a larger number of candidates on the ballot paper increases the likelihood of voters making a mistake or not completing the numbering. Voters may also be confused about the difference in voting requirements between the House of Representatives and the Senate, as the rules differ between the two chambers.
To assist voters in completing their ballot papers correctly, polling officials are available at polling places. If a voter makes a mistake, they can return the ballot paper and receive a fresh one. The AEC also undertakes an Informal Ballot Paper Study (IBPS) after each general election for the House of Representatives to analyse the types and levels of informal voting. This research helps inform strategies to reduce informal voting and maintain electoral integrity.
It is worth noting that some informal votes are intentional, with voters deliberately marking their ballot papers with scribbles, slogans, or other protest marks to express their dissatisfaction with the electoral system or politics in general.
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The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) analyses informal voting after each general election
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) plays a crucial role in upholding electoral integrity by analysing informal voting patterns after each general election. This process involves conducting an Informal Ballot Paper Study (IBPS) to understand the levels and types of informal voting. The analysis of informal voting is essential for developing strategies to minimise future informal voting and enhancing voter education.
The AEC's analysis of the 2016 House of Representatives election revealed several insights. Firstly, they found that higher levels of social exclusion or relative disadvantage correlated with increased informality rates. Additionally, the number of candidates on the ballot paper influenced the incidence of incomplete or non-sequential numbering. Voters were more likely to make mistakes or stop numbering before assigning preferences to all candidates when faced with a more extensive list of candidates.
The 2016 election also highlighted confusion among voters regarding the distinct voting requirements for the House of Representatives and the Senate. This confusion led to errors, such as voters recording preferences from '1' to '6' on their House of Representatives ballot papers, mirroring the 'above the line' instructions for the Senate. The AEC's analysis of the 2018 Fremantle by-election further supported the notion that some informal votes are intentional, reflecting voters' attitudes towards the electoral system or politics.
The AEC's research extends beyond general elections to include by-elections in certain cases, such as the 45th Parliament, which presented a unique opportunity to examine specific factors influencing informality. By studying the Longman and Fremantle by-elections, the AEC investigated the impact of confusion over the Senate voting system and the absence of a candidate from a major party. These in-depth analyses enable the AEC to identify areas for improvement, inform educational initiatives, and provide an evidence-based foundation for potential reforms to the electoral system.
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Informal voting rates differ between states and territories
In Australia, an informal ballot paper is one that has been incorrectly completed or not filled in at all. To cast a valid vote, voters must number every box with a series of consecutive numbers according to their preference. For instance, writing the number '1' next to their first choice, the number '2' next to their second choice, and so on.
Following each general election for the House of Representatives, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) conducts an Informal Ballot Paper Study (IBPS) to analyse the levels and types of informal voting. The IBPS research is crucial for maintaining electoral integrity and informing strategies to reduce informal voting.
The national informality rate decreased from 5.91% in the 2013 House of Representatives elections to 5.05% in the 2016 elections. However, informal voting rates vary across states and territories. For the 2016 House of Representatives elections, the highest informality rates were recorded in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Several factors can influence the variation in informal voting rates across states and territories. One factor is the number of candidates on the ballot paper. Voters are more likely to make mistakes or stop numbering preferences before assigning them to all candidates when there are more candidates listed. This was evident in the 2016 federal election, where many voters recorded preferences '1' to '6' on their House of Representatives ballot papers, likely due to confusion between the voting requirements for the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Additionally, social exclusion and relative disadvantage may contribute to higher levels of informal voting. Intentional informal votes, such as those with scribbles, slogans, or protest marks, can also impact the informality rate and reflect voters' attitudes towards the electoral system or politics.
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Higher levels of informality are associated with higher levels of social exclusion
In Australia, an informal vote is one that has been incorrectly completed or not filled in at all. For a vote to be considered formal, ballot papers must be marked according to the rules for voting. Rules differ between the House of Representatives and the Senate, which can cause confusion for voters.
Following each general election for the House of Representatives, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) undertakes an Informal Ballot Paper Study (IBPS) to analyse the levels and types of informal voting. This research is fundamental to the AEC's role in supporting electoral integrity and reducing informal voting.
The AEC's analysis of the 2016 House of Representatives election found that higher levels of informality are likely to be associated with higher levels of social exclusion or relative disadvantage. The study identified that the number of candidates on the ballot paper was a significant predictor for both incomplete numbering and non-sequential numbering. Voters with a clear first preference were more likely to make a mistake or stop numbering before assigning preferences to all candidates when there were more candidates on the ballot paper.
Additionally, the AEC's studies on the 2016 Longman and Fremantle by-elections suggested that some informal votes are cast intentionally to express voters' attitudes and opinions of the electoral system or politics in general. For example, the 2018 Fremantle by-election saw a higher prevalence of ballot papers marked with scribbles, slogans, or other protest marks, often referencing the lack of a Liberal candidate.
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Frequently asked questions
An informal vote in Australia is a vote that has been incorrectly completed or not filled in at all.
A vote is deemed informal if the ballot paper is not marked according to the rules for voting. For example, in the case of the House of Representatives ballot paper, a vote is informal if the voter fails to number every box with a series of consecutive numbers according to their preference.
Ballot papers that are informal cannot be counted. However, polling officials are available at polling places to assist voters in completing their ballot papers.
The rules for voting differ between the House of Representatives and the Senate, which can cause confusion. For the House of Representatives, voters need to number every box with a series of consecutive numbers according to their preference.
If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, you can return it to the polling official and receive a fresh one.
