Thought id just note that FF had the donkey vote 1 position. Also the donkey vote went from FF to lib (ALP recieve the donkey flow this time). thus i dont think either of those figures will be that high this time. Also the resdistribution took out paradise from the seat, the location of the AOG church.

This is basically to allow the voter to choose where their preferences go, rather than being dictated to by the party of their choice, but I always think the whole issue of “directing” preferences/split tickets etc (at least in a lower house election) is rather misleading, as there is absolutely no necessity to follow the party line anyway. Obviously many people do follow how-to-vote cards or it would otherwise not be an issue? As I recall reading somewhere (it may have been on this site), the whole issue of where the Greens will direct their preferences has become a traditional much publicised campaign non-event in every election in recent times. It will be interesting to see if the same becomes true of Family First.

Poll Bludger, thanks indeed for your excellent site – very entertaining and informative. I’m sure it must make a mess of the rest of your life to keep things up to date (especially with 2 state elections most inconveniently scheduled for the same day, not to mention a couple of by-elections in close proximity), but rest assured there are many of us who would struggle through the day without a regular psephological instalment.