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Comment on Discussion Thread 🗳️ Saturday 3 May 2025

sqgl@beehaw.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

Although my intention was clear I don’t think my vote will count. This is what the AEC says when I practice, numbering only 5 boxes. Image

And in the section on “vote saving provisions” it says:

For Senate ballot papers the requirement for a formal vote is that when voting above the line, at least the numbers 1 to 6 shall be marked in the squares on the ballot paper (see subsection 239(2)).

For voting below the line, the requirement is that at least the numbers 1 to 12 are marked in the squares printed on the ballot paper (see subsection 239(1)). However, there is a vote savings measure that can operate where only one square is marked above the line (see section 269), or where voting below the line, at least six squares have been marked 1 to 6 using consecutive numbers (see section 268A).

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Pilk@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Quote from page 14 of the “Ballot paper formality guidelines” published by the AEC on 14 August 2023:

Senate guidelines
Consecutive sequence of numbers – Above the line
For an above the line vote (ATL), voters are instructed to consecutively number at least 6 boxes above the black line, in the order of their preference, commencing with the number ‘1’.
[…]
However, where a voter consecutively numbers fewer than 6 boxes, (including only one box with a first preference) the ballot paper will still be formal, but will exhaust after the last consecutive number.

In other words, if you only numbered 5 boxes above the line it does still count, it just exhausts sooner.

Their practice voting tool has sensibly omitted the finer details, they always encourage people to vote “correctly”.

Regardless of you definitely won’t make the same mistake next time I’m sure.

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- StudChud@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Ah so I was right ah ha!
  
  That’s all I’m taking away from this 😂
  
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  - sqgl@beehaw.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Your faith in bureaucracy being sensible was correct…
    
    this time.
    
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- sqgl@beehaw.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Thanks a lot. I am just one insignificant vote but it has bothered me disproportionately all afternoon.
  
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StudChud@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Oops well, my bad. There’s always next election 😂

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