Comments on: Play it again, Fran

By: Nick Economou

Nick Economou — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:36:02 +0000

A transcript of the High Court’s deliberations over some preliminary procedural matters pertaining to the McEwen challenge in the Court of Disputed Returns can be found at the following:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/HCATrans/2008/93.html

A timeline for the case has also been outlined. It appears to be going to the Federal Court.

By: Senate Watch

Senate Watch — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:54:42 +0000

Learn from history and correct the mistakes made in the past. The Victorian election was a good example as how Not to conduct a public election. There were more problems with the 2006 Upper-house elections then the 2007 Federal election.

By: Bert

Bert — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:57:13 +0000

I wonder.
Does Senate Watch = Melb City?

You both trot out the same tired lines, harp on on past injustices etc

By: Senate Watch

Senate Watch — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 10:52:55 +0000

In the Nunawading case there was a lot more at stake. Balance and control of the upper-house. It was around that time that the ALP adopted a reform policy as opposed to just abolition. A policy that I had a lot of involvement in developing. Whilst all the focus was on Nunawading there were issues related to the conduct of the Monash Province election that never received any media coverage. Namely the “Save Price Henry’s” hospital ticket which was a Liberal front ticket giving the Liberal Candidate 1 and the ALP 2. This was the tactic that started the “Ticket war” yes it was legal as was the later Nunawading anti-nuclear ticket. Fun and games on the campaign trail and the ballot box

By: Senate Watch

Senate Watch — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 10:44:20 +0000

Sean.. If we do not take ito account the mistakes of the past history we will be doomed to repeat it.

By: Senate Watch

Senate Watch — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 10:42:36 +0000

Going by the example shown above in Williams post I would say that that ballot most certainly should have bee ruled informal as the voters intention to vote for the printed candidates was most certainly unclear.

Like it or not the FEC voting experience is very much relevant to the conduct of this ballot. It highlights may of the issues that arise when a recount produced a different outcome and votes go missing. I sat though the Nunawading case and I have some insight into the sought of question that are raised. I have also participated in the various discussions on should the election results be contested. Western Metropolitan was a close call, there were may question left unanswered. I the end it was a decision not based o the likelihood of a reversal but equally as much as the political fall out. The ALP has not challenge the McEwen result lightly. It is backed by solid evidence and valid issues of concern.

Again I am of the belief that the election, if disputed, should be counted until the same overall result is confirmed at least twice. Mistakes can happen in a count. They can occur not only in the first count but also the second count. We know this from the recent Victorian experience.

By: sean

sean — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:57:20 +0000

SenateWatch:
“…the count was much better conducted the the Western Meto Count in Victoria by the VEC”

Still harping on about that? In the words of a great teacher of mine: “Build a bridge, and get over it!”

By: Dyspnoeia

Dyspnoeia — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:18:55 +0000

And on one ballot paper in my booth in Fraser had a stunningly well-executed drawing of a donkey. It must have taken a few minutes to do.

By: Kevin Bonham

Kevin Bonham — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:52:33 +0000

I love a good artistic informal vote. The Supercars one is a classic, especially if it really was ruled formal as reported.

At one council election I scrutineered a voter put numbers in boxes down the wrong side of the page then did a fancy loop-the-loop thing with lines and arrows such that the numbers pointed to boxes. It was an absolute mess and would have taken several minutes at least to decipher; the returning officer decided not to bother.

In Tasmanian Legislative Council elections to vote formally the first three preferences have to be numbered (a rather strange requirement for a single-seat system, but there you go). One seat had eleven candidates. A voter numbered the squares in donkey order as follows: 1-2-3-10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80. It was ruled formal.

By: Greensborough Growler

Greensborough Growler — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:36:40 +0000

New Morgan Poll.

It seems that 60/40 is the new black.

http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2008/4267/