Why you can't waste your vote.

watto23 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Two pieces of recommended reading from Antony Green today:
On ACT Senate preferences and possible outcomes –
http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/08/senate-preferences-act.html#more

On general information about voting –
http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/08/answers-to-some-common-questions-on-senate-voting.html

Interesting article. Especially based on the fact that many labor voters have used their vote for a greens preference first. Honestly it probably would not be a chance, except for the Zed deposing of Humphries and the drama surrounding that.

I questioned just the statement that the Greens have never come close. My recollection of the last election was that the preference distribution was very close, and at one point ot looked like Darren Churchill’s (under the defunct banner of the Democrats) choice to preference Liberals over Greens may have cost the Greens the seat. But then the postal vote put Humphries just ahead without Dems votes. If it hadn’t been so close, I doubt it would be Zed standing this time…

Gungahlin Al said :

Two pieces of recommended reading from Antony Green today:
On ACT Senate preferences and possible outcomes –
http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/08/senate-preferences-act.html#more

On general information about voting –
http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/08/answers-to-some-common-questions-on-senate-voting.html

Interesting article. Especially based on the fact that many labor voters have used their vote for a greens preference first. Honestly it probably would not be a chance, except for the Zed deposing of Humphries and the drama surrounding that.

Darkfalz said :

Sadly, I haven’t voted in an election where my HOR vote made any difference. This isn’t west Sydney where 20% swings are possible. I’ll still have to walk past grubby little Andrew Leigh’s office every day on my way to work. Still, I’m almost certainly going to be a happy chappy on September 7th so I can’t complain too much. The only thing even mildly interesting will be the senate, hopefully we can Sheik-oil salesman proof the senate by ensuring this fraudulent, fainting Labor reject doesn’t get any more of a platform for his nonsense.

Well we’ll see, frankly most swinging voters are in the same situation as last time. Labor are not great, but have passed a few policies which i like. Liberal are relying on the fact they have been great at being an opposition, but haven’t exactly instilled any confidence in me either doing exactly the same thing they berated labor for ie not costing their NBN policy. Plus it all depends on your idea of wasteful spending. I consider their maternity leave a bit excessive and can we afford company tax cuts right now?

Neither party is going to have a great time the next 3 or so years IMO. Liberals will want a big enough buffer otherwise it may be a one term parliament, because i’m struggling to see how either party will fix anything right now.

switch said :

ps Don’t forget to use with http://senate.io/senate/2013/act to get your vote the way YOU want it for Below the Line voting.

That is an outstandingly good tool!

Two pieces of recommended reading from Antony Green today:
On ACT Senate preferences and possible outcomes –
http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/08/senate-preferences-act.html#more

On general information about voting –
http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/08/answers-to-some-common-questions-on-senate-voting.html

In the end,no matter how we vote in this country, the nation as a whole is pretty much divided between Labor and Liberal, with a few going Democrats/Greens etc. Once it’s all tallied up looking at historical figures, around 60% of primary votes are against whoever gets into power. So, in our democratic system we pretty much settle for 2/3 of the nation unhappy with the outcome. Is it because the promises and policies are so much the same that nothing really separates them from each other? Then in the Senate where true power is wielded, the winners are determined by the political parties, not the electorate.
Democracy – my A$$. I can vote as hard as I want for a minor party but in the end it’ll go to one of the major two.
I used to be blase about voting, but after looking into how it works [for the first time in my life seriously], I am even less excited about the power [or lack] of my vote.
I want Family First, but can’t vote for them. That’s not fair.

It is totally scandalous that in Federal Elections you are forced to vote preferentially in the lower house. For example if you clearly put a 1 next to Andrew Leigh but don’t tick the other boxes you vote is invalid despite the fact that you have clearly indicated who you want to vote for.

If I recall the last ACT legislative assembly, there was about a dozen votes in it.

Look at the policies of each party, and make an informed decision. But dont blindly just vote, or vote for someone who doesnt represent you (eg. rudd/abbott).

We had a hung federal parliament. First time in 70 years. If this doesnt say something about how our votes count, nothing does.

Okay, explain the Liberal Party wanting their second preferences going to Labor before the Greens? Does this mean everyone voting for the Libs is advised to change their second preference from Greens to Labor, or does that preference get changed by the party somehow? After checking the net for information, it looks as though the party makes this decision in Senate elections, so taking that choice away from voters [unless they want to number all the boxes below the line]. Stacked cards in my book and doing so in the area where all the power is too. With 13 different “parties” in Fraser for instance, how do you find out where each of the party’s preferences go? That’s a lot of research to do for every Joe under the sun, or a lot of work in filling out all those numbers when all you want is for one person to win, who cares about the rest. I have just read that QLD has different preferences by Labor because of a deal. Apart from reading the news about these first preferences, I cannot find out where the third, fourth and so on are directed. Even the party websites don’t help. Anyone else curious?

Sadly, I haven’t voted in an election where my HOR vote made any difference. This isn’t west Sydney where 20% swings are possible. I’ll still have to walk past grubby little Andrew Leigh’s office every day on my way to work. Still, I’m almost certainly going to be a happy chappy on September 7th so I can’t complain too much. The only thing even mildly interesting will be the senate, hopefully we can Sheik-oil salesman proof the senate by ensuring this fraudulent, fainting Labor reject doesn’t get any more of a platform for his nonsense.

I despair when I hear people say a vote for x is a vote for y, and they’ll get in on preferences, as though preferences are some wild thing out of their control.

Preferences in the House mean those crappy how to vote cards! Who uses those? Do people not understand what they are doing when they have to number all the boxes?

as for the Senate, well that’s a different kettle of fish. and it’s because of preferences that I vote below the line. It’s a bugger, especially in NSW, but I do it. It’s my vote.

I want to help my first preferences in both houses get a bit of cash, I want to send a message to the parties via the scrutineers, and the numbers too.

I have to decide, at some point, when all the desirable candidates have got a number, who goes before whom: lib before lab, or vice versa? As my vote will most likely exhaust at that point. One day, I dream that it’ll exhaust before it reaches the LibLab stooge.

I took some satisfaction in informing the most useless local member ever, Kelly, that it really irked me to put him before Hendy, but by god it’ll be a tattered battered vote by the time it reaches him. and in the Senate, I’m confident that my vote will exhaust possibly at a Green (it will have a path to travel before it gets there too), in the senate.

intaba said :

People don’t already know this stuff?

Correct.

People are stupid.

How else do you think idiots like Pyne & Abbott bank on getting votes?

People don’t already know this stuff?

watto23 said :

Although to be fair in the states they often have to vote 6 senators in and there are more nut bag parties and independents.

Indeed, just across the border in NSW more than 100 Senate candidates: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-16/senate-ballot-paper-stretches-beyond-a-metre-in-nsw/4892934

IP

watto23 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

switch said :

Now explain voting “Above the Line” in the Senate.

Which I never do, nor should anyone who can reliably count past 20…

My explanation would be “Lazy”.

Although to be fair in the states they often have to vote 6 senators in and there are more nut bag parties and independents.

Yes, I’m trying to imagine how long the lines outside NSW polling stations would be if everyone chose to number 1 to 110 below the line.

ps Don’t forget to use with http://senate.io/senate/2013/act to get your vote the way YOU want it for Below the Line voting.

Gungahlin Al said :

switch said :

Now explain voting “Above the Line” in the Senate.

Which I never do, nor should anyone who can reliably count past 20…

My explanation would be “Lazy”.

Although to be fair in the states they often have to vote 6 senators in and there are more nut bag parties and independents.

switch said :

Now explain voting “Above the Line” in the Senate.

Which I never do, nor should anyone who can reliably count past 20…

My explanation would be “Lazy”.

Now explain voting “Above the Line” in the Senate.

Which I never do, nor should anyone who can reliably count past 20…

Brilliant stuff!

Robertson said :

I don’t think Tony and Kev want you to know this stuff.

Of course they don’t, because if you know about this stuff them some of their scare campaigns goes right out the window.

Of course Canberra been a safe seat you could vote for whom ever you like and we’ll still end up with a labor representative,

I don’t think Tony and Kev want you to know this stuff.