Preferential Voting in Australia
The system of preferential voting is relatively exclusive to the Australian political system. Most similar political systems employ the Simple Majority (First-Past-The-Post) system.
Preferential voting is employed in elections for the House of Representatives and all State lower houses in Australia, apart from the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the A.C.T. Legislative Assembly.
Preferential voting:
- is used in single-member electorates
- requires the winning candidate to secure either an absolute majority (50%+1) of the primary vote or an absolute majority after the distribution of preferences
The main elements of the operation of preferential voting are as follows:
- voters are required to place the number "1" against the candidate of their choice, known as their "first preference."
- voters are then required to place the numbers "2", "3", etc., against the other candidates listed on the ballot paper in order of preference.
- the counting of first preference votes, also known as the "primary vote", takes place first. If no candidate secures an absolute majority of primary votes, then the candidate with the least number of votes is "eliminated" from the count.
- the ballot papers of the eliminated candidate are examined and re-allocated amongst the remaining candidates according to the number "2", or "second preference" votes.
- if no candidate has yet secured an absolute majority of the vote, then the next candidate with the least number of primary votes is eliminated. This preference allocation continues until there is a candidate with an absolute majority. Where a second preference is expressed for a candidate who has already been eliminated, the voter's third or subsequent preferences are used.
Following the full allocation of preferences, it is possible to derive a "two-party-preferred" figure, where the votes are divided between the two main candidates in the election. In Australia, this is usually between the Labor and non-Labor candidates.
The distribution of preferences takes place in every electoral division in federal elections so that national two-party-preferred figures can be calculated.
Advantages of the Preferential System
- It ensures that only a candidate with the support of an absolute majority of the electorate can win, eliminating the possibility of minority winners. Put another way, the winning candidate is the "most preferred" or "least disliked" candidate.
- It ensures that voters can support minor parties and independent candidates, knowing that their preferences may be used to decide the winner. Thus, votes for minor parties and independents are not wasted.
- It allows parties of like-minded philosophies or policies to "exchange preferences" in order to assist each other to win.
- It promotes a strong two-party system, ensuring stability in the parliamentary process.
Disadvantages of the Preferential System
- It is more complicated to administer and count.
- It can produce a higher level of informal voting.
- It promotes a two-party system to the detriment of minor parties and independents.
- Voters are forced to express a preference for candidates they may not wish to support in any way. (The use of optional preferential voting, as used in New South Wales State elections, is a solution to this problem.)
See Also:
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