Submitted 1 day ago by zero_gravitas@aussie.zone to australianpolitics@aussie.zone
In short:
A high number of informal votes in a rural NSW electorate with a record number of candidates has been labelled “shameful” by the region’s MP.
By May 6 more than 11,000 informal votes had been recorded in the Riverina electorate, accounting for more than 10 per cent of the voter turnout.
What’s next?
Riverina MP Michael McCormack and political scientist Dominic O’Sullivan say the voting system should be reformed.
Guy who relies on votes complains about wasted votes. News at 6.
My understanding is that an informal vote IS a valid way of voting.
Is he whinging that they didn’t vote for him?
The Riverina electorate had 13 lower house candidates – the equal-highest nationally – and he said such a “large number” was known to confuse voters.
Old mate thinks the locals can’t handle double digit numbers.
Yeah, I commonly assert to people that we don’t actually have mandatory voting in Australia. The only thing that’s mandatory is showing up, having your name crossed off the roll, and putting your ballots in the box. Considering the sanctity we treat the secret ballot with, that’s always going to be the case!
Besides, I get a lot less irked by people doing that in Australia, because it’s still a very active decision that (some? most?) people make. Compare that to America where a bunch of lazy cunts just don’t bother (and a bunch more can’t vote because the government isn’t obliged to make it easy for them)!
My understanding is that an informal vote IS a valid way of voting.
An intentional informal vote is a valid form of political expression. I think it’s stupid idealism, and it’s not a valid vote, but it’s valid as political expression. Like you mentioned, there are also accidental informal votes, like [1, 2, 3, 1, 4] or [1, , , , ].
(A donkey vote, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], is a valid vote)
More people should spoil their ballot instead of doing the donkey vote. If they want to express disinterest, the former is better than the latter.
Nath@aussie.zone 8 hours ago
🎶 Why can’t you seeee~eeeee~
You belong to meeee~eeeee~ 🎶