In short:

A high number of informal votes in a rural NSW electorate with a record number of candidates has been labelled "shameful" by the region's MP.

By May 6 more than 11,000 informal votes had been recorded in the Riverina electorate, accounting for more than 10 per cent of the voter turnout.

What's next?

Riverina MP Michael McCormack and political scientist Dominic O'Sullivan say the voting system should be reformed.

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[–] No1@aussie.zone 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (7 children)

My understanding is that an informal vote IS a valid way of voting. It may not be what I do, or what you do, or what he does. But people have the right to vote as they wish, and if that results in an invalid vote, then so be it. They are entitled to vote that way.

Is he really whinging that they didn't vote for him?

One other possibility that wasn't covered in the article is that perhaps there were so many informal votes in that electorate because the voters in that electorate are, on average, more stupid than elsewhere in Australia and simply were unable to cast a valid vote. I really would like to see have seen some hard data on that. If that is actually the case, then this guy's complaint that stupid people can't vote properly may be seen by some people as, well, er, stupid.

So, that sends us into the twilight zone, as it begs question: Could Michael McCormack have voted informally?

brain asplodes

[–] techno_analyst@aussie.zone 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The Riverina electorate had 13 lower house candidates – the equal-highest nationally – and he said such a "large number" was known to confuse voters.

Old mate thinks the locals can’t handle double digit numbers.

[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 1 points 3 weeks ago

There are two reasons why people place Informal Votes;

Ignorance (they don’t know how our great Australian Preferential Ballot works)
No confidence (they do not feel that any candidate can represent their interests.

Given the fact that voters had 13 different candidates to choose from, and still voted informally, I think that it may be the first reason. I think that Old Mate now has a mandate to invest in education for his constituents so they now how our Australian Preferential Ballot works for next time.

https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-31496-250.htm

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