Australian electoral system: Difference between revisions

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Australia has a system of parliamentary democracy, largely based on the Westminster system. Since 1920 Australia has used a preferential system of voting (PV), this system is also known as Instant Run-off voting (IRV) and the Single Transferable vote (STV).

Australia has a system of parliamentary democracy, largely based on the Westminster system. Since 1920 Australia has used a preferential system of voting (PV), this system is also known as Instant Run-off voting (IRV) and the Single Transferable vote (STV). In Australia voting is compulsory for everyone over 18, it is also compulsory to be on the electoral roll.

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In conclusion Condorcet voting is far superior to PV or IRV, but PV is often unfairly sidelined as being 'little better than Plurality', when in fact it is a pretty good and solid half way house to complete democracy.

== Compulsory voting in Australia ==

Although in theory it is compulsory to vote in Australia and 95% of Australians do, it is not a strictly enforceable law. All that is really required by law is that the voter show up to a polling place between 7am and 6pm on polling day (always a saturday) and have their name ticked of the electoral roll. Once in the polling booth, due to the secret ballot, what you do is up to you, that is whether you choose to register a formal or an informal (spoilt) ballot paper. A fine for failing do so will set you back $50, unless you have a 'valid and reasonable excuse' as defined by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), what actually constitutes a valid excuse is of course a safely guarded secret.

But even if you fail to turn up on polling day and receive a letter afterwards for a fine unless you can provide a reasonable excuse, even then all you have to say is that 'I did vote'. They cannot prove that you didn't, maybe your name wasn't crossed off the electoral roll properly.

== Advantages of compulsory voting in Australia ==

Political parties don't need to spend their time and money convincing their own supporters to be bothered on the day, instead they can concentrate on winning voters who aren't traditional supporters, thus no party can afford to alienate a sizeable number of people, this also helps to break down the extremes of the two major parties.

It encourages responsible citizens, voting is no longer just a right in a democracy but a fundamental responsibility, on par with tax.

== Disadvantages of compulsory voting ==

This space is reserved for a brave man

== Thoughts about Condorcet voting in Australia ==

People in Australia are too ignorant to even know of the existance of Condorcet voting in Australia.

== External Links ==

Notable sites critising PV include http://www.electionmethods.org/ note they have a lot of material on the disadvatages and un-democraticyness of IRV, but absolutely no Australian case study.

Notable Australian sites are:

http://www.southsearepublic.org/ constitutional blog

http://www.aec.gov.au electoral commission

http://www.aph.gov.au parliament house

http://www.johnquiggin.com political and economics blog

http://www.travelentrav.com humorous blog

http://www.mumble.com.au/ election and leadership analaysis and commentary

http://www.crikey.com.au/ major Australian news source

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au e-opinion site which covers the Australian constitution and voting systems

http://www.abc.com.au/elections/ The most comphrensive Australian election site run with the expertise of Antony Green

http://www.pollbludger.com/ elections website

http://psephos.adam-carr.net/ elections website

http://www.ozpolitics.info/ elections website

http://democratic.audit.anu.edu.au/ Democratic Audit