Rob Reacts to... What is preferential voting and how does it work in Australian elections?

[@andytaus1939]

Here in AUS we end up with the least disliked candidate wining.

[@whatwhatinthewhat4400]

which is still better than the most disliked person winning because the vote was split

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

I'm glad Australia by comparison is more calm about politics. Unlike America where its treated like a religion, people take it very seriously and will get upset if they find out you voted the other way. In Australia, I don't even know what way my friends vote and honestly it doesn't matter. After election day we all move on

[@Ozvideo1959]

Agreed. The parties are so similar these days that if we got all wound up like the yanks do then we would be arguing about nothing really. The other thing about America that I've never understood is Why, when you register to vote, do you have to register as either a Republican or a Demorcrat ? Any other democracy doesn't use that system.

[@kerricappy4890]

I would never ask my friends who they vote for. Number one it's rude and none of my business and two, like you said, who cares?

[@ront2424]

@@Ozvideo1959 always wondered that myself, who do you register with if you are a swinging voter.

[@brianmckenzie4890]

@@ront2424 we don’t register any party affiliation

[@micheledix2616]

@@ront2424 absolutely NO party registering here in Australia unless one wishes to join a particular party. We have to register to vote with the Australian Electrol Commission which is a NON party Federal Government department ( they organise all elections & referendums in the whole of Australia whether Federal, State or Local ( Council) elections). They are VERY on the ball for those who are registered and do not vote ( fines are issued if a very good reason is not given). Our system of voting is VERY VERY hard to cheat. So over the years political parties who have been in power use other methods to 'cheat' ( like gerrymandering electoral ( divisions or districts) areas to remain in power. It is compulsory voting for all eligible Australian citizens. We have pre- polling and postal voting & since Covid for those isolating, telephone / electronic voting. To postal vote or telephone /electronic vote one has to request in advance. Our Official voting day is ALWAYS on a Saturday although pre polling means one can vote 5days a week ( business hours) for the 2weeks before the Official date it is all very orderly and very rarely are there ever any problems at polling stations which are usually at a local suburban hall or school or in a larger city CBD at the Town Hall.

[@doubledee9675]

Now you've sorted out preferential voting in your mind, think of the election for the Senate (and the upper houses in 4 of the 6 States) where you're voting to return a number of candidates, not just 1. We have a system for that as well, called proportional voting. Look that up (and make sure you've got plenty of strong cups of tea, it will blow yur mind a bit). Then remember that in Tasmania proportional voting is used for the lower house and preferential for the the upper.

[@fransmith3255]

Yep, preferential voting - the best and fairest way.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@nickbilske8140]

Would be much better if people vote for people that supports their electorate and put the leaches from major parties at the bottom

[@jaromanda]

Not sure if it's the same in the UK, though I'm sure this is a universal problem. The biggest issue with politics is that it attracts the sort of person that should NEVER be a politician to become one.

[@kimnovak8985]

Jeez absolutely agree. Look at some of these independent parties. The major parties are bad enough but when you get a millionaire -who still hasn’t back payed his workers , has a party so he can influence policy to benefit his own needs and a racist in another I think we have to consider why are our politicians being payed so much for doing bugger all.

[@RobReacts1]

The people who are only interested in their own personal gains

[@TheGreatLordDufus]

It does take a certain type of narcissist to be able to cope with the campaigning, and also to believe that out of all the thousands of people living in an electorate you are the best possible person to represent them. Add to that you need to a backstabber and slimy toad to get through pre-selection just to get onto the ballot paper for a major party, and even if someone starts with honest intentions the nature of the position is such that they have to be corrupted to some extent in order to wield enough power to get anything done. And that is a slippery slope that quickly becomes about chasing/holding power, and not about doing whatever they originally set out to do.

[@micheledix2616]

@@kimnovak8985 agreed , it is totally obscene the amount of Thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ that old white collar crim has plowed into not only this election but the last one in 2019 just to make sure 'his preferred ' party was back in. Absolutely sickening

[@aussieragdoll4840]

@@kimnovak8985 But on the bright side... Clive spent over $70MILLION and has NOT ONE SEAT to show for it. Not even his beloved minion Kelly retained his seat (which he had won as ScumMo's 'Captain's Pick' for the Liberals in 2019). Even Pauline Hanson is looking like losing her own seat in the Senate.... the the GREENS! It seems like the voters are finally waking up to the grifters and idiots and no longer wanting to have them in the parliament.

[@nicegan8902]

Although mathematically what happens is that candidates are eliminated and votes redistributed, when they are actually hand counted, the actual process is quite different, even though the same result is reached. First they count the 1st preferences of all candidates and then the Returning officer opens an envelope saying which 2 candidates are most likely to be in the final 2 and the votes are all counted to those 2, skipping every other candidate. If it is mathematically impossible for another candidate to reach the final 2, the seat is declared, if not they sometimes do a "3 candidate preferred" to determine the correct candidates. If they still need to do a full count after that then they do it. The result of this method is that results can be known much faster than straight up doing a full count. Don't worry, they still do a full count of every seat but that is usually about a month after the election.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@simbob26]

The good thing about voting in Australia is that it is compulsory and it is independent. The AEC (Australian Electoral Commission) is an apolitical independent body tasked by the Governor-General of Australia, for and on behalf of Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, to fund, coordinate and carry out all local, state and federal elections in Australia. No political party has any involvement other than to be a competitor. The USA has a problem in that last respect.

[@jonsant7232]

Rob don't forget in Australia suffrage is compulsory for all Australians over 18 and you are fined if you don't vote

[@PiersDJackson]

Rob, two points to recognise in Australia, it's compulsory voting, as well as preferential distribution.... secondly they completely glossed over or ignored the second piece of paper given when voting.... the Senate paper aka the Bayeux Tapestry.... where you formerly had to put 1 above the line or ALL below, now 1 to 6 above or 1 to 12 below minimum... Adam Hills did something about it...

[@zwieseler]

The Senate vote is still preferential.

[@xkimopye]

“Compulsory” just don’t enrol

[@PiersDJackson]

@@xkimopye it may be compulsory to collect and submit the ballot papers, but that doesn't mean you can't draw a c**k'n'balls or other such doodles, and not actually fill in the details.... you just need to sign in.

[@PiersDJackson]

@@zwieseler it is preferential, but has been made easier for the "Below the line" option, where it was previously numbering 1 to maybe 140 candidates, now you can stop at 12... and in the "Above the line" option it's 6, so if you're not at the wims of the infamous "Preference Whisperers" who created complex microparty deals, that if person A came above B then the distribution fell in such a way that some one with less than 10% of the primary vote could get a seat.

[@coasterblocks3420]

@@zwieseler no, the senate vote is proportional.

[@TimberwolfC14]

In America just like the UK there is no politician who would even remotely consider a change to the electoral system if there was the slightest chance of their party being kicked to the curb.

[@vicki6496]

Just finished voting and whenever I was offered a how to vote card I said in a joking way "no thanks it's my vote not yours". Not every one appreciated it. It's going to be fascinating to see what happens there's been a lot of interest in the independents and minor parties. When I went past Flinders street Station last night there was a group playing John Farnham You're the voice with a banner saying "Vote them out" and a list of the major parties. I don't know who they were representing I was too busy reading their list. I will be be watching the election coverage from 6pm tonight to see Antony Green say within the first half hour things like "I happen to know that voting poll is very small perhaps less than 100 votes so I don't think we can call a swing just yet" I'm going to need a box of Arnott's TeeVee Snacks.

[@kimnovak8985]

I just say no thanks I know how to vote and wear pants with pockets and keep my hands in them. They can thrust bits of paper all they want at me I’m not touching it with my hands stuck in my pockets.We the public actually pay for those flyers and if we keep taking them them chuck them in the nearest bin we may as well start throwing cash in the bin. If no one takes them they stop printing them and they stop spending taxpayers money on thousands of flyers that you can’t recycle.

[@crazymusicchick]

I took one of every how to vote card but I needed paper for my pets cage haha but only 2 at my local lol

[@micheledix2616]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@coasterblocks3420]

I was a volunteer for the Australian Democrats handing out HTVCs. These HTVCs can have value for a voter particularly if there’s a large field of candidates, particularly in the Senate. If you trust a particular candidate or party then you’re likely to trust their assessment of the other parties and where they should sit in preference allocation to get the result which best aligns with your preferred ideological or policy positions.

[@aussieragdoll4840]

The How to Vote cards are not compulsory. They are a guide. A suggestion. Your comment just exposes your ignorance and rudeness.

[@erose1710]

Wish she had discussed the Senate ballot, I swear that thing gets longer every election. My friends son voted for the first time this year and found it so confusing, especially when he spotted the Cannabis Party.

[@geofftottenperthcoys9944]

Too bad the Cannabis Party are now also anti-vax.

[@kerra3699]

🤣😂🤣

[@neil2402]

Move to one of the territories - it's much shorter 😀

[@micheledix2616]

Quite right the Senate ballot is just as important as the house of Reps

[@1969firefox]

I have great respect for that party they got rid of Clive.

[@billthewhovian]

When I turned 18 (voting age) we were in a election year so I had no idea about how to vote cards and how voting worked. I got given how to vote cards from about 6 people and I thought it was something they gave out to all first time voters. I didn't look at them until I got to the booth and realised it was how to vote cards and that they were telling you how to vote for their candidate. I thought it was how to vote in each house not telling you how to vote for their candidate. I voted how I wanted to vote then put the how to vote cards in the bin. Yep totally ignored them. Haven't taken a how to vote card since.

[@drbosommd]

I find How To Votes are useful . Quite often I will get at Labor , Greens and LNP How To Votes so I get an idea of what the other parties and independents are like . Very happy we've gotten rid of Scumo.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

There is another important advantage, COST, that is no run-off elections are required. Thus lower cost to run an election. The other thing we hold dear, is compulsory voting, the will of all the people is truly known.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

In Australia unlike the US, you vote for a party, not a person, the prime Minister is simply the leader of the party in charge. What this means is the prime minister will be someone whose been in politics. Unlike American where people who aren't politicians run for president and can win

[@sjwhatley2781]

We don't vote for a Party. We vote for candidates who are members of Parties.

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

@@sjwhatley2781 true but the point still stands. I was more trying to point out that a prime minister will have political experience unlike the US where a celebrity could run and win

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@gregmayoaussie]

We vote for the party as the party can change the leader anytime they like

[@jkumm12]

At the recent Australian election the preferential system resulted in a significant number of seats being won by a group (colloquially called the Teals) with policies that promoted women, equality, and the environment. With a percentage of just over 5% of the vote, independents now hold 10 of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives. If first past the post voting was operating, almost all of these candidates would have failed in their attempt to win a seat.

[@gregorturner4753]

and it put the big parties on notice as they suddenly found themselves losing once safe seats.

[@matthewcharles5867]

Rob it's the same in some places in Australia for example where I live at the minute the the national/ liberal party has only lost this electorate 3 times since 1900, so all we can do is anoy them by making sure they are last on the ballot and try a get one of the other mob into a winning position

[@lemonade3809]

Sometimes we don't vote for who we want in 'power'. Sometimes we need to vote to keep someone out of that 'power'.

[@pia4432]

Hey Rob…Labor has won!!! The Hon Anthony Albanese…31st Prime minister of Australia, affectionately known as Albo🥳lol

[@mrookeward]

I voted this morning - I was going to get my sausage but they had bacon and eggs, too!!! So I missed my democracy sausage in favour of my democracy egg and bacon!

[@topsyfulwell]

Mate they don't even have democracy sausages at my school. Just Pascal's Clinkers. Times are tough fore sure!

[@bernadettelanders7306]

@@topsyfulwell we had sausages and onions. Home made cakes and the children at the school made lovely potted plants. Was a lovely atmosphere and the school made a decent few bucks. Oh and amongst all that, I remembered to vote lol

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@grendalsuncle4040]

I do despair that nearly everybody who follows a party thinks that the opposite party is evil (both left and right) when they just want to tackle the problems of society from different directions

[@bman68au]

The other thing to realise is that voting in Australia is COMPULSORY. If you are enrolled to vote YOU MUST VOTE, and if you are eligible YOU MUST ENROL. Also in my electorate there were 12 lower house candidates, and it gave me great joy to walk past all their volunteers handing out how-to-vote papers, never making eye-contact, and politely (but firmly) saying "thank you" as I went on my way. But even better than all of that was enjoying a perfectly cooked democracy sausage. Democracy tastes good.

[@adriansmith3139]

In Australia voting is compulsory. Ninety-five percent participation meaning each government can be confident more or less it has a mandate to govern from the majority voters. Preferential voting causes a lot people confusion, basically because they don't pay attention. In essence Australia's preferential system is a form run off election performed in one poll. Further in most run off elections if there isn't a majority winner >50% of the votes. The top two candidates return for another round to pick a winner. In the Australian system the candidate with the least first preferences is eliminated and the second preferences are distributed to the remaining candidates. This process continues until one candidate has >50% of the vote.

[@RavenMacy]

I did a postal vote ( I'm disabled ) , so no pushy paper people but also no sausages 😕 , you win some , you lose some 🤷

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

Voting in Australia is compulsory, $222 fine if you don't. Already done it, let's see if Scotty from marketing get's the boot

[@petergreenham7235]

Technically. You really only have to have your name marked of the electoral roll

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

@@petergreenham7235 true, and I have done that in the past

[@lancehanrahan562]

I got stung with a$50 fine a few years ago, for not voting in the local government election. I actually thought that it wasn't compulsory for council elections!🙄

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

@@lancehanrahan562 Really, what council do you belong to, I've never voted in council elections

[@thelibraryismyhappyplace1618]

The fine for not voting in the federal election is $20. It's only if you don't pay the fine and end up in court that you could get stung for $222.

[@flamingfrancis]

Australian Electoral Commission...Preferential Voting. A very good and OFFICIAL explanation can be found there.

[@skullandcrossbones65]

G'day, The way I look at it is , If you don't vote then don't complain. I am not going to vote today. I will complain. . . . We have "Early Voting" and "Postal Voting" options.

[@drew3030]

I hope you voted early then, otherwise don't be complaining the fine you receive 😀

[@madenabyss6981]

There is also phone voting for people with covid

[@aussiehorndog]

There is a disadvantage in the Australian system. The Labor party is a self standing choice, whereas the LNP is a coalition party that presents different candidates in each constituency and then combines the votes for each separate party, giving them an unfair advantage, where if the Liberals(who as you noted are not liberal) and the National Party (previously the Country Party) were counted as individual parties it would be more representative.

[@drew3030]

To some extent I think most people who vote labor will preference greens but, more importantly, most people voting green will preference labor over the coalition, so it should balance itself out.

[@mitchellcotton7346]

It's not really an unfair advantage for the Nats and Libs to join forces. Even if they weren't combined, every election would eventually end up the same result, either a) Labor win outright or b) Hung Parliament 》 Nationals MP's guarantee supply to the Liberals 》Liberals form government.

[@drew3030]

You don't need to tell us to vote Rob. It's mandatory in Australia so there is no GOTV campaigning here!

[@crazymusicchick]

It's compulsory in Australia so every citizen will or get a fine lol but we also can get a sausage sizzle when u vote

[@crazymusicchick]

@Michael Rogers yea true lol

[@philipmccarthy6175]

Your neighbours across the Irish Sea use a system called proportional representation , it's probably the most democratic system of voting. It usually ends up with a coalition and while some don't like it , it does mean that the government of the day doesn't have it all their own way when they get into power. It means they have to negotiate with their government partners to get policy implemented which means they are kept in check.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@1969firefox]

Rob you can't have that system without democracy sausage. 😆

[@professornuke7562]

How to vote cards are a good idea. You can learn a lot just by looking at them and seeing who the candidates give their preferences too. I'm a Labor voter, and it was interesting to see that in my electorate this time, the LNP didn't have Labor as last preference, as they have every other time I have voted (first time I voted, it was for Bob Hawke's 2nd term, and he was my local member). The fact that there were people standing in Menzies who the LNP think are WORSE than Labor is something I'm still getting my head around.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@petercrispin2129]

Oh Rob, you are hilarious on several fronts. I used to be a Labor man till they went into bed with the Greens, you are right that that the Tories here in Australia is not the same as in the UK, I voted independents then major parties last, so the counters have to hang on to my papers. The ONLY reason to go to a polling booth these days is a snag sambo AKA sausage sizzle. So yeah, everyone support your local fund-raiser and grab a snag whilst waiting or leaving. Thank the volunteers for all their hard work when they try to hand you how to vote "cards" but politely decline. These guys are doing what they feel is best for the region regardless of political persuasion.

[@baird55aus]

the Labor Party is not in bed with the Greens but they do agree on some policies.

[@nicegan8902]

As someone who has done counting, it's really no slower to count votes like that. You are not making people "hang on" to your papers.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@letsseeif]

In Australia it is COMPULSORY to vote. If you don't vote, you are fined. This applies to States & Territories, Federal Elections and Local Councils [LGA Local Gov Areas &/or Shires]. AND Good news. Out tonight, is that Federal Labor (ALP) WILL GOVERN IN ITS OWN RIGHT. [Yippee!]

[@marianodrobinski584]

it compulsory but it is a way to avoid paying fine just put an informal vote

[@letsseeif]

@@marianodrobinski584 spot on. If someone is not convinced by either side, 'informal' is the option.

[@andrewhall9175]

I think the reason that UK doesn’t have the preferential system is because the politicians (particularly on the right) are afraid of the scale of the change that would ensue. And they would look selfish in the extreme if they then tried to change it back. The only problem with the preferential system that I know of is that it is possible to waste your vote by accidentally mis-numbering the squares. If you do that (and you don’t realise and ask for a fresh ballot paper) your vote will be declared informal and will play no part in the electoral process

[@RobReacts1]

I dont think the tories would stay in power with a preferential voting system

[@Teagirl009]

Mate we did it! Smirko and co are gone! Australia voted for change and decency. Labor won. 🙂

[@angeliawhyte3355]

Australia also has compulsory voting, so we all have to vote. If you want to see the (in my opinion) awesome results of this system, check out our results from Saturday. Liberals (your Tories) got absolutely smashed and Labor got smacked too, though they will form government. We now have a heap of independents all focused on climate change. I have high hopes for our new parliament.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@TerryT304]

Australia does not have compulsory voting, we have compulsory attendance. Just don't fill out your form and shove it in the box. You do not have to vote!

[@angeliawhyte3355]

@TerryT304 is also known as a donkey vote (which is still a vote, even if invalid). Don't whinge about the state of Australia if you can't be bothered to cast a vote.

[@janetmitchell9980]

My dilemma was, do I go to the community centre, about 10 houses from home, or the primary school, about 1.5k away but democracy sausage sizzle will be on offer?

[@michellestevens8343]

There has never been a sausage sizzle at the school our voting is held at. I'm missing out!

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@richardknight4328]

I love our preferential voting, it's not about who you put first its about who you put last. I always start with who I hate most and work backwards. FYI we have compulsory voting so you don't have to worry 😁👍🇦🇺

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@Ausecko1]

My lower house vote is wasted - I'm in one of the safest Coalition seats in the country (the largest electorate in the country btw), so they just can't be removed. Fortunately, my Senate vote isn't wasted because of the proportional system used there.

[@anneclough7064]

I must add that I am the opposite to you! I hate Labor and the Greens but live in one of the safest Labor held seats. It is totally depressing. We have "swinging seats" North, South and West of us and they get everything! You can even tell by the change in the road conditions when you enter the "safe" Labor held area that I live in.

[@mitchellcotton7346]

@@anneclough7064 That'd be because the Liberals don't Pork-Barrel in seats they know they can't win.

[@sandgroper1970]

Well in my state one seat which has been liberal for years, has gone to Labour, and a traditional safe Liberal seat ( been Liberal all of my 50 years or so this planet) , One of the Independents has a lead, but is expected to claim the victory when postal votes are counted. So obviously the Current Liberal party wasn’t talking the same language as the voters in those electorates.

[@michellestevens8343]

Well my area has been a safe Labor seat for as long as I can remember and we now have an independent so anything is possible.

[@aussie405]

At the very least your vote tells the pollies they shouldn't take you for granted. First preferences tell them they haven't got it all their own way.

[@Ozzcaddy]

In the UK, can you end up with a "Hung Parliament" with the first past the post system, not govern outright? In Australia to govern outright, the Party requires 76 seats in the Lower House. The Party with the highest number of seats won in the Lower House will be the elected government. But if that elected government has less than 76 seats, they cannot govern outright and they then have to cozy up to the minor parties (Independents, Greens, One Nation, etc) to make deals with those parties to support them, so they can govern and get their mandate policies through the Lower House, before those policies go to the Senate for their vote. That is a Hung Parliament in Australia.

[@no_triggerwarning9953]

The UK had a hung parliament about 10 years ago. The Liberal Democrats entered into government with the Tories. Part of the deal with the Tories was they would hold a referendum on changing to preferential voting from first past the post. The referendum failed and the first past the post system remained.

[@RobReacts1]

Yes we can then you have to try and team up.

[@nswinoz3302]

I never vote in the UK (too young), but But was a checker on a local government election (councillor) as my sister ran for the Labour Party. She was unsuccessful but I learnt a lot about politics and have imparted that to my partner and my kids to ensure they know how the voting system works here in Oz as it’s much better than the UK system. We have also postal voted for well over two decades mainly as my partner is a nurse working weekend, sometimes things get overlook and a letter of explanation as to why she has not voted has been necessary to avoid a fine. Plus as a Venturer (scout) leader I have been in the middle of know where on polling day so have just continued the practice as you get to decide with a clear and level head without any pressure. Stephen M

[@sandgroper1970]

We do have preferential voting system, but what has happened with the upper house/ senate, we had a case where the smaller parties/ independents used a guru, to spread the preferences around until one of them gets enough votes to get the seat. But this meant the major parties didn’t like that especially the conservative liberals, because it means negotiating with these independents to get legislation through. So the major parties connived together to change the rules, so that hopefully they will get the majority, and if they control both houses they can then ram through legislation. It has happened, the Liberal party had both houses, passed through legislation that changed industrial relations / employment conditions, to a system which made it impossible for a industry wide ( usually union brokered) agreement to stand and businesses could design their own individual work contracts. Which was by design anti worker and anti Union. The other thing we have is that voting is compulsory for both state and federal elections, if you don’t vote and you don’t have a valid excuse , you have to pay a fine. Compulsory voting came in here in the 1920’s , because both major parties were annoyed at a low voter turnout at an election .

[@evanflynn4680]

Australian Liberals: Most people think the term liberal is in relation with social liberty. The Australian Liberal Party has been around longer than that concept, so it's actually in relation with business liberties and more recently, corporations. They're our version of the USA's corporate Democrats, essentially. With a bit of Republican thrown in there for businesses.

[@krpurple2678]

The Australian Liberal party was only formed in the 1940s, they were always conservative and chose the name liberal based on the American use of it which was sneaky. The Australian Labor Party was formed in 1901

[@andrew6414]

@@krpurple2678Economic liberalism and liberal conservatism.

[@melissabarrett9750]

The person who was leading them at this election was our very own Al Capone.

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

7:30 yeah, at most polling places, you'll usually see people handing out flyers advertising parties to vote for

[@Bellas1717]

Although Labor has now won government of some form, with a huge swing against Liberal-National Party coalition, there are still a few seats undecided.This was an historical election as a lot of independent candidates banded together as 'Teals' - colour of their campaigns, but still running independent platforms. Many of these, as well as the Greens, the largest of the minor parties, won seats. Our electorate is a knife edge of 50% to both Labor and Liberal candidates with 56% of votes counted. It will probably come down to preferences to decide. Most Labor voters had Greens as their second preference, climate change being reported as the biggest issue for voters across the country.

[@queenslanddiva]

Using a how to vote flyer can be helpful if you want your chosen party to get the best result. Go Labor

[@petercrispin2129]

After what Queen Palachook did to QLD you are still going Labor? You deserve whatever comes to Australia, including the Chinese, lockdowns and WW3. BTW regardless which party gets in, they are coming.

[@queenslanddiva]

@@petercrispin2129 blah blah blah.

[@JB-zs1oq]

@@petercrispin2129 Irrelevant. She is not a federal politician. Some could say look at what happened in Sydney under a liberal government BUT again, not federal politicians.

[@petercrispin2129]

@@JB-zs1oq ok, if it is irrelevant because Queen Palachook is in state politics, then tell me why Chairman Dan and Emperor McGowan all Labor states have hard lockdowns? After all other state and territories had opened up? One word China!

[@grahamwatt6290]

Hi Rob. Interested to hear your views on 'compulsory voting.' It is compulsory to vote in Australia. If you don't register, or vote you will receive a $20.00 fine in the mail. I'm for it.

[@RobReacts1]

I'm not really sure. All I would say it's very disappointing when you get a low turn out however, do you really want people voting who don't have a clue and are just being forced into it.

[@melissabarrett9750]

@@RobReacts1 That's the worst thing about it. People in Australia who don't care who gets elected or don't have any interest in politics are forced to participate in the process by law and punished if they don't. In a true democracy the freedom to abstain from voting should be enshrined in the constitution. That said, generally I am happy to vote because I care about which autocrat will be making decisions that impact my life for the next few years. I prefer the one that cares about people more than big business.

[@bernadettelanders7306]

Go and vote now? it’s to dark lol. I went this afternoon. Also bought my obligatory Aussie snag and onions in bread and home made lemon slice😊. Voted at local primary school where my grandchildren go. Parents cook all the goodies and profits go to the school. The children even made little pot plants to sell. So voting in Aus can be a pleasant day meeting up with people, the school make a profit from sales and the Lemon slice my daughter made, and I had to pay for her cooking 😂it was delicious. It really make voting day a social event too 😊

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@brettbridger362]

In Australia it's mandatory to vote. Also, it's not quite as foolproof as it seems and you do get some strange results when it's close and you have a lot of candidates. Plus, this is just our 'house of commons' - known as House of Representative - try something on how the voting works for the senate (our version of your House of Lords) if you want to blow your mind.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@RandomStuff-he7lu]

It felt so good today to number Peter the Potato Dutton at number 8 which is dead last.

[@anneclough7064]

I had the same feeling putting Labor last on my ballot!.

[@domitiusseverus1]

Rob, Australians have to vote or they get a fine

[@TheGreatLordDufus]

This shows only the House of Representatives system. The Senate is a bit more complex. Each State, regardless of population, has 12 Senators - usually six elected at a time. However the whole state or territory (territories only get two Senators) is one electorate (constituency in UK terms). What this means is that a "quota" is required to elect a Senator, with overflow split to the next candidate. And there are two ways to vote, and its basically a video in itself and certainly not a single comment. It does also mean more minor parties get into the Senate, rarely does the Liberal/National coalition or Labor hold a Senate majority.

[@baird55aus]

yes the Senate usually has half of it standing at each lower house election. The only time a full senate is elected is if their is a double dissolution.

[@mce_AU]

Voted early. Compulsory voting in AUS. Cheers.

[@mce_AU]

@Michael Rogers Yes, we all know that.

[@grandmasmagic3858]

as I was standing in line these various people were offering me these 'how to vote' papers..at first I was only interested in one, but as I stood there realising I'd need to number off other candidates I started accepting these papers...at least I was then informed better and could pick my choices to number in the order I wanted..

[@brettbridger362]

I'll let you in on a secret. Even amoung the election workers, most Aussies actually don't know how their election system actually works. Nor our constitution, or our legal system, or our three tiers of government, nor how to change the time on their microwave.

[@aussieragdoll4840]

As long as you complete your ballot correctly (Federal requires numbering the boxes... all the boxes on the Lower House ballot, and minimum 6 ABOVE the line or minimum 12 BELOW the line for the Senate ballot. If you don't fill in the required number of boxes with number in sequence , or you just Tick or put a cross, or even if you write something on the ballot which identifies you.... your vote is called Informal and is not counted at all.

[@zephyrmj]

The answer to why they don't do that in the UK is probably something like, those who can make the decision believe they have the most to lose from it

[@RobReacts1]

I think you are probably right!

[@georgiacoombes699]

That was very enlightening Rob! BTW once you turn 18 & register to vote in Australia it is compulsory to vote! Kind regards from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@garygersbach3617]

Preferential Voting means that the most popular candidate doesnt necessarily win, it means that the LEAST unpopular candidate wins!!

[@jameshumphreys9715]

If anyone doesn't receive a majority of the votes than the least popular is eliminated and so forth, so what you said isn't right.

[@garygersbach3617]

@@jameshumphreys9715 Yes, the LEAST popular is eliminated and their preferences are distributed, and if you think through that logically, then the LEAST UNPOPULAR candidate always wins

[@jameshumphreys9715]

@@garygersbach3617 So the most popular, it likely to be one of the top two

[@stuartspencer2161]

I really hated her last comment in the video - "Go with your gut". It would be a lot better if people actually looked at the candidates, and who best represents their values, and will work best for their community, rather than voting flippantly. As for the "how to vote" pamphlets, they can be informative to let you know where your preferences will be going, in order to be more informed concerning the minor parties. On a side not, voting here is compulsory. Not voting results in a fine, though people can still protest vote and make their ballot invalid, or simply put in a donkey vote.

[@RobReacts1]

Your right, dont go for your gut... do some bloody research! :D

[@brasschick4214]

What she didn’t mention is that you need to number every box for your vote to be valid.

[@RobReacts1]

Oh thats interesting!

[@brianmckenzie4890]

Not quite. You need to number all if there are 8 candidates or less. If there are more you need only number the first 8 preferences. I only learnt this yesterday as I was scrutineering at a booth. We had two ballots that numbered all but one box and the votes were still declared formal by the AEC official

[@jimdale6001]

The UK hasn't Because, the Tories Know they wouldn't get in ever again.

[@RobReacts1]

exactly!! and while they are in power, no chance of a fairer system coming in

[@MrBrettley]

It's great. I voted on the weekend and I put Labor as my 4th preference (out of 11) and Liberal (Conservative) 11th preference. My first 3 didn't win the seat so my vote went to Labor (my 4th) who eventually won the seat. Great system

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@tomfrombrunswick7571]

Australia has compulsory enrolment of voters. Voting is compulsory as well. Voting takes place on a Saturday so you don't lose work time. We also have pre-polling so you can vote a few weeks before the election. We also have the tradition of the democracy sausage which means that local charities sell grilled sausages on bread which you can have after doing your civic duty. The general effect of all this is very high turn outs with political parties having to win over the middle parts of the electorate. This tends to kill of extremism. Today I voted and voted for a couple of socialist parties to cheer them up knowing my vote will then go to the party I wanted to win

[@philipwest4553]

Well, we did get rid of Scott Morrison. Now we have Anthony Albanese. It is nice to be rid of the Liberal/National coalition. Labor has a majority in the lower house so they can govern without any help from another party.

[@kenlyneham4105]

Unfortunately, people who vote a particular way because they think the one they really want won't win, ARE wasting their vote. People should be voting for whom they want without worrying whether or not that person will win. I have always voted independent since I was a member of the Liberal party until I saw then saw first hand how they actually worked. I certainly didn't like Labor because I attended union meetings and saw how they worked too. BUT, in the last election, because I was SOO pissed off with Scumo, I voted Labor for the first time in my life and so did a lot of others. Labor won! When we vote in OZ, most of us accept all the how to vote cards. Some throw them straight into the bin. Some follow the card for their preferred party to win. I will vote for the candidate I prefer and my preferences will be the way I want them to go, NOT according to the candidates card. Voting that way, makes it harder for the person counting the votes, they have to put mine in a special pile to work out later. As of 2021, only three national referendums have ever been held across the whole of the United Kingdom: in 1975, 2011 and most recently in 2016. Referendums in Australia are only for constitutional matters except for the 1916 Australian conscription referendum the 2009 Western Australian daylight saving referendum and the same sex marriage question. The 1916 and the same sex one in 2017 were held nation wide while the other was only in Western Australia. For non- constitutional matters they hold plebiscites or postal votes as in the same sex issue. As of 2020, 44 nationwide referendums have been held, only 8 of which have been carried. However, there have only been 19 times the Australian people have gone to the polls to vote on constitutional amendments, as it is common to have multiple questions on the ballot. As to voting in OZ, it's compulsory, from the age of 18 and if you fail to do so without an acceptable reason, you will cop a fine.

[@kimhuett2119]

I voted this morning and the line waiting was huge, at least eleventy-seven hundred people there by 10am. Lots of people wanting to give me How To Vote cards but I tell them I know how to vote. I’m disappointed though that this explanation didn’t include the Democracy Sausage. That’s a very important part of the voting experience and it should be explained to foreigners so they can feel even more jealous.

[@geraldselvey7687]

Can you believe it. No democracy sausage today We went to Bunnings after voting and STILL NO SAUSAGE!!

[@kimhuett2119]

Oh wow! I feel your pain. We need something like the Flying Doctor Service to bring in emergency supplies of Democracy Sausages to the needy!

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@lindawestphalen8417]

Rob, mate, compulsory to be on the electoral roll and at least go and get you name crossed off. Not allowed to ignore the process. Everyone 18 and over has to do that at the very least. Imagine if they did this in the US and the UK. Ours isn’t a perfect system, but it’s pretty good and mostly the democracy sausages are as well. With mustard and dead horse.

[@gusdrivinginaustralia6168]

Labor won tonight, yay.

[@whatwhatinthewhat4400]

Yeah I never understood how other countries dont use preferential voting. Means no matter who you vote for your vote should go to the person you most prefer, lets you vote for minor parties with out losing your vote. Just seems like the superior option, not perfect, but better.

[@IceWolfLoki]

It's not the person you most prefer it's the person most people in that seat are OK with.

[@whatwhatinthewhat4400]

@@IceWolfLoki same diff. if you prefer someone but they are eliminated you vote goes to the next person you prefer.

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@whatwhatinthewhat4400]

@@michaelmaskell5363 compulsory voting means you have to spend next to nothing :D

[@GrethCunnington]

To add, money is awarded for parties depending on how much of the primary vote they got last time. So your fav minor party would get a boost to their budget if lots liked them.

[@roberte5057]

Atttending a polling station is compulsory........doesn't mean you have to vote just fold your ballot and leave blank if you wish.

[@queenslanddiva]

because that's so smart - not.

[@daveg2104]

@@queenslanddiva But it is true. I'd rather people vote informal than do a donkey vote or just randomly number squares.

[@roberte5057]

@@queenslanddiva I don't think it is smart but you can do it.

[@jonsant7232]

My old man hated the Australian voting system and preferred the British first past the post system but he was a Liberal voter and probably didn't understand how it worked I'm a (happy) Labor voter and understand how it works. My area of Sydney was a strong safe seat for the Labor party 😊 but with boundaries been changed we are now a safe Liberal seat 😢 even with this years results

[@chrissneyd9278]

The preferential voting system led to at least 15 non major party contestants (mostly women). The process takes a little longer to count. However, everyone has to vote, if you don't you can't blame the politicians.

[@aussieragdoll4840]

Our entire election system is like the French Presidential election... without the need to hold two elections. Because your preferences are already expressed and the distributed when the votes were counted.

[@IceWolfLoki]

Another name for the preferential system used in Australia is Instant Run Off.

[@cinemaipswich4636]

Australians love our preferencial voting system. The "phamplet" from my local Labour party has the least likely candidates as 2nd, 3rd, 4th... Basically the Cat Lady, the Greens, the Freedom? party and the serious opponent last on the list.

[@benjihero86]

In Australia we have compulsory voting of which only about 5000 odd did not turn up to vote in the 2019 Australian federal vote. 800,000 odd handed in a invalid or blank vote. so 95 percent of voters have their vote counted as they do it correctly. our seats in parliament are about 100K to 110K so about 8 lower house seats of people don't vote hand in invalid votes.

[@toddavis8151]

In the ACT local government elections they actually have a good rule that candidates aren’t allowed to advertise within 150 metres (I think that’s the distance) of a polling place

[@TheGreatLordDufus]

And 400 metres in Tasmania

[@neil2402]

Pity it doesn't apply to federal elections!

[@waza987]

That would take away the most fun I have in the line. I ask the minors and independents to tell me what they stand for/why I should vote for them. Some have something to say but many come out with absolutely ridiculous answers and seem shocked anyone would actually ask them a question. This time I got “because he’s really independent and not Labor or Liberal” but then just walked away when I asked him to tell me one actual policy. My favourite was “Because the candidate is my mum and my grandfather was mayor before”

[@troydaaussie1143]

Well we need to vote anyways unless we want to get fined and possibly lose our car license if we don't pay it

[@stevenlowe3026]

The other thing with the preferential system is that the parties all do deals with each other as to who they direct their preferences to (i.e. who they advise the Faithful to vote for second, third etc) on their How To Vote Cards. This can get pretty bad at times as politics makes for strange bedfellows. Let's say a major party does a deal to swap preferences with a minor party that is totally opposed to their basic philosophy, but which promises to advise their voters to put the major party second in its preferences, which helps *that* major party get elected . . . However, another feature of preferential voting is that if you feel strongly about an issue you can cast your first vote for a minor party that champions that issue, even though you know they won't get in. Because the major parties take very seriously the primary votes which may not result in someone getting elected, but show the issues they need to be addressing if they want to be elected next time (for example the environment, gay marriage).

[@miniveedub]

Preferential voting just got a Labor government in with a 31% primary vote.

[@multioptioned]

Compulsory preferential voting means even those voters who don't want either of the two major parties to win, and therefore vote for someone else, still end up with their vote helping one of the two major parties to win. All that matters is which of the major parties they put ahead of the other on the ballot paper.

[@jennybowd2962]

I voted yesterday in a rural town in Gippsland and was handed 8 different parties how to vote cards

[@michaelmaskell5363]

We do not have to spend half of our campaign funds, just to get people out to vote.

[@triarb5790]

I grew up on the UK with FPP. I love PR and especially voting below the line. It feels like my voice really counts.

[@johnedwards7899]

All the boxes MUST be ticked. You cant vote for 2 out of 3. Your vote would be declared invalid.

[@mitchellcotton7346]

I think the "How to Vote Card" was explained poorly in the video. The preferences the parties give you don't help them win, it's so that if they don't win, someone they like has the best chance of winning rather than their opposition. E.g. Labor "How to Vote Card" might day Labor (1), Greens (2), ... Liberals (8) The idea being that if Labor get knocked out in that electorate your vote goes to the Greens next or any other minor party before it goes to the Liberals. If you voted Labor (1) and Labor ended up winning the seat, it made absolutely no difference what order the rest of your preferences were in.

[@neil2402]

This is why you should ignore the "how to vote card". Several minor parties say "if you don't like the major parties then vote for us", then they give their preferences to a major party anyway - which may not be what you intended. It's just a way to get disaffected voters to vote for them anyway.

[@mitchellcotton7346]

@@neil2402 They have to give their preferences to a major party eventually, otherwise it is an informal vote. While I did not take any how to vote cards, I can make an educated guess at what the Greens one would have looked like in my electorate. 1) Greens 2) Labor/Animal Justice Party 3) Animal Justice Party/Labor 4) Lib Dems 5) Liberals 6) Independent 7) United Australia Party 8) One Nation As the most left-wing party on the ticket, their preferences would basically flow down the list from most to least progressive. (In this case it was a fairly right-wing independent) Put AJP first and Greens second and that's probably pretty close to the AJP how to vote. Besides, in most scenarios the how to vote card will closely reflect what the average voter for there party would probably put of their own accord.

[@neil2402]

@@mitchellcotton7346 Understand, but when an "independent" preferences a major second, you have to wonder. Senate candidates don't have to preference the majors at all if they don't want to. My first-time-voter son, had decided on greens and certain preferences but when he got the how to vote card it preferenced an independant 2nd that he didn't want. Learnt his lesson that you shouldn't always follow the leaflets. Cheers,

[@SaulKopfenjager]

The 'How to vote' preference cards do help people who are not interested in politics vote 'effectively' for their kind of candidate & ilk in preference before the bad guys, also there is actually some argy-bargy negotiations by parties & candidates as to how their preference suggestions will flow, meaning that the horse trading with the majors potentially could include issues minor parties & independents are pressing for may be promoted in government (at least in theory) but most of the time it's just a suggestion list, nothing more. I think they also help the AEC quickly predict likely results from the 1st count too, not that that is important really. Anyway, just saying there is a more nuanced importance of 'How to vote cards"'.

[@waynec3563]

The US system is very similar to the UK's, except for the presidential race. But a preferntial voting system would not work there (or not be necessary), as the majority of districts only have 2 candidates,

[@nekolalia3389]

The lack of a preferential system may well be why there are only two candidates. Why bother running a third platform in conditions like that?

[@suemontague3151]

Didn't vote for either

[@DeepThought9999]

That’s the strength of our preferential voting: your choice is valid and it counts. Optional preferential is even better, though, like we have in NSW (State) elections. If you actively dislike the possibility of one of the candidates in particular being elected, you can fail to give them any preference at all, so there is no chance that *your* vote will help to get them in.

[@michaelstanton4059]

@@DeepThought9999 I strongly disagree. Compulsory preferencing is far better than optional.

[@geraldselvey7687]

Today we went to vote. My wife. My daughter and myself all voted differently yet we still love each other and can live together in peace

[@RobReacts1]

Sadly thats not always the case as political stance can be very decisive!

[@ianveal4690]

In Australia you have to vote by law. Otherwise you get fined. It is an obligation because you are a citizen.

[@monicaking2140]

There will either be tears or cheers tonight :-) . Fingers crossed for cheers hehe

[@sallymay24]

I didn’t take any of the papers outside the polling both I basically just walked past everyone ignoring everyone

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

Video pops up minutes after I got back from voting.

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

Same, lol

[@Dr_KAP]

I went up and there were 100 people lined up so I came home lol

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

@@Dr_KAP mine didn't have too many, line went quick. I also live two minutes from a school

[@Dr_KAP]

@@dylanshadowstar9779 we have a few schools doing it but I go to a church kind of place which is quieter - still over 100 there this morning! Will go back at 5.30 😂

[@shenysys]

For Rob's next trick, he will fully explain the Hare-Clark system as used in Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania ! ;)

[@PiersDJackson]

Shhh... that's a left over from the old rotten burroughs of England, where Liverpool got 3 seats, Manchester got 5 and Earlestown got 7.

[@RobReacts1]

erm what! haha

[@cgeorge8598]

Preferential is very simple if it is done correctly and the main thing is to teach people how to do it.

[@anEyePhil]

Rob, the BEST system is “Optional Preferential” where there is no compulsion to put numbers in every single square. This means if you want to leave the “Liberals” out of your vote, you can. Otherwise you are forced to vote for them, even in last place. Amazing that Albo, our new Prime Minister, was the son of a disabled single mother, and grew up in a Government -funded “social” housing complex. She was a legend, and Albo was almost in tears remembering her in his “victory” speech. “Albo” is Anthony Albinese, current leader of our misspelt “Labor” Party.

[@philipandrew1626]

Which box do I tick to vote for a hung parliament?

[@TheBrierose]

Any, a tick won't be counted.

[@philipandrew1626]

@@TheBrierose and i've been doing it wrong all these years.