Election2016_OfficialGuide2_SimpleHTML

Updated 6 Oct 2016

Elections2106_Brochure2_FA

Your official election
guide from the
ACT Electoral Commission

Election Guide

The ACT election at a glance

When is the election?

The election for 25 Members of the ACT Legislative Assembly will be held on Saturday 15 October. Polling places will be open from 8 am until 6 pm on polling day.

Do you have to vote?

Voting in this election is compulsory if you’re on the electoral roll for an ACT address and you are 18 or over. If you don’t vote you may be fined.

Why is voting important?

The Legislative Assembly has the power to make laws and form a government for the ACT. By voting in this election you have an opportunity to choose who will represent you in the Assembly. When you vote, it is your chance to have your voice heard.

Voting on election day

You can vote at any polling place in the ACT between 8 am and 6 pm.

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Voting before election day

If you can’t get to a polling place on election day, you can vote at a pre–poll centre in Belconnen, Civic, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong or Woden. If you can’t get to a pre–poll centre, you can apply for a postal vote. You can also vote interstate.

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About your ballot paper

In the ACT, we have a system of rotating candidates’ positions on the ballot paper, called Robson rotation. A sample ballot paper is shown on pages 12-13.

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How to fill in your ballot paper

To record a valid vote, write the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on, in the squares on your ballot paper in order of your choice. No ticks or crosses, and don’t use the same number twice.

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Electronic voting

Electronic voting will be available at pre-poll centres and some polling places.

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How the votes are counted

The votes are counted using the Hare–Clark proportional representation system which was chosen by ACT voters at a referendum in 1992.

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No how-to-vote cards at polling places

Political canvassing, including handing out how-to-vote cards, is banned within 100 metres of a polling place at ACT elections.

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Where to go to vote

Your local polling place may have changed. There is a complete list of polling places and addresses on pages 14-23. Pre-poll and interstate voting centres are listed on pages 24-25.

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Which electorate are you in?

There are 5 electorates — Brindabella, Ginninderra, Kurrajong, Murrumbidgee and Yerrabi each electing 5 members.

Electorate boundaries have changed. There are maps showing the electorate boundaries on pages 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 of this booklet.

Voting on election day

Election day is Saturday 15 October. The easiest way to vote is to go to your nearest polling place (see the lists on pages 14-23 of this booklet). All polling places are open from 8 am to 6 pm. You don’t have to go to a polling place in your own electorate.

Assistance with voting

Polling officials are there to help you. If you have any difficulty with voting, or if you need help to fill in your ballot paper, just ask. If you prefer, you can ask a friend, relative or a candidate’s scrutineer to help you. If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, just take it back to the polling official who gave it to you and ask for another.

If you need help with electronic voting, just ask a polling official.

Polling places with suitable access for people with a disability are marked with the symbol ( ) in the lists on pages 14-22 of this booklet. Polling place staff will be happy to provide any assistance you need.

Mobile Polling

If you are a patient in a hospital, a resident of a nursing home or a detainee at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, you may be visited by a mobile polling team. Contact your institution for details or phone Elections ACT on 6205 0033 .

Voting before election day

If you can’t get to a polling place on election day, there are several other ways of casting your vote.

Pre-poll voting

You can cast a pre–poll vote any weekday between now and the election (except the public holiday on Monday 3 October), and also on Saturday 8 October. See page 24 for locations.

Postal voting

If you can’t get to a polling place or pre-poll voting centre, you can apply for
a postal vote:

on-line at the Elections ACT website www.elections.act.gov.au

• by calling Elections ACT on (02) 6205 0033

by completing an application form available at any ACT post office or electoral office

If you are overseas, your application must reach Elections ACT by 5 pm on 7 October. If you are in Australia, your application must be in by 5 pm on
13 October. Make sure you get your application in as soon as you can.

When your application is received, your ballot pack will be mailed to you. When you receive it, fill it out, and mail it back to Elections ACT. Postal ballot papers must be posted on or before polling day and they must reach Elections ACT by 21 October.

About your ballot paper

A feature of the ACT electoral system is the Robson rotation method of rotating the positions of candidates within each column on the ballot paper.

Candidates’ names are printed in different positions within a column on each ballot paper. The order of the names on your ballot paper may be different from the order on the ballot paper given to the voter next to you. This means that no candidate has the advantage of appearing in the top position on every ballot paper.

By combining Robson rotation with the ban on canvassing within 100 metres of a polling place, the ACT electoral system places in your hands the opportunity to consider each candidate and vote for candidates by name in the order of your choice.

This illustration demonstrates the Robson rotation method of printing candidate names in different orders.

How to fill in your ballot paper

To record a valid vote, write the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on, in the candidate squares in the order of your choice. Don’t use the same number twice.

Remember, use numbers only! One of the most common mistakes is for people to use ticks and crosses on their ballot papers. This means that their vote cannot be counted.

You should fill in at least 5 squares as there are
5 vacancies in each electorate

If you don’t fill in this many squares, your vote will still be counted even if you vote for only one candidate. However, to make the most of your vote, you can continue to fill in the squares until all your preferences are recorded. You may fill in every square if you wish.

If you don’t vote for any candidates, your vote will be informal.

If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, just return it to a polling official and ask for another.

Electronic voting

Electors at certain polling places will
have the option of voting electronically. Electronic voting will be available on polling day at the following 6 polling places:

Belconnen

Belconnen Community Centre,
Swanson Court

Canberra City

Pilgrim House, 69 Northbourne Avenue
Eclipse House, 197 London Circuit

Gungahlin

Gungahlin Library, Hibberson St

Tuggeranong

Salvation Army Hall,
Corner Anketell St and Reed St North

Woden/Phillip

Callam Offices, 58 Easty St

These polling places will also be open from Tuesday
27 September as pre-poll centres (see page 24).
At polling places where electronic voting is available
it will also be possible to vote using a traditional paper ballot if you prefer. Just ask for a paper ballot.

Votes cast electronically will be stored securely and combined with the results from paper ballots.

Key steps in the electronic voting process

If you vote electronically you will be issued with a barcode instead of a ballot paper. This barcode will give you secure access to an easy-to-use voting screen.

When you scan your barcode you will see a ballot paper for your electorate on the screen.

By using direction keys on a key pad you can move to any candidate.

As you SELECT the candidates you wish to vote for, preference numbers will be automatically listed for you, starting with your first preference.

When you have completed your selection and pressed the FINISH key, you will be able to see a list of the candidates you have chosen in the order you have ranked them.

If you wish to change your selection you can simply go back and correct it.

If you are happy with your selection, scan your barcode a second time and your vote will be securely recorded.

The barcode must be deposited in the ballot box as you leave the polling place. Each barcode can be used only once.

Special audio facilities will be available to enable electors who are blind or vision impaired to vote electronically in secret and in private. Electronic voting instructions will also be available in a number of community languages.

Further information about electronic voting is available at www.elections.act.gov.au

How the votes are counted

Your vote is counted according to the preferences you indicate on your ballot paper. First preference (number 1) votes are counted first then your later preferences (numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on) are counted as described below.

To be certain of election under the Hare–Clark system, a candidate must obtain a set proportion (or quota) of the votes for his or her electorate. Any candidate whose votes equal or exceed a quota is elected.

A quota is calculated using the following formula:

quota =

total number of valid votes

+1

number of vacancies +1

The quota in each 5 Member electorate is one sixth plus one, or roughly 16.67% of the valid votes.

A candidate may reach the quota simply by receiving first preference (number 1) votes, or by receiving a combination of first preference votes and votes transferred from other candidates who have been elected or excluded.

If a candidate has more votes than the quota and not all vacancies have been filled, the surplus votes of that candidate are distributed to other candidates according to the preferences indicated on those ballot papers.

If, after all the surplus votes have been distributed, vacancies remain to be filled, the candidate with the fewest total votes is “excluded” and his or her ballot papers are distributed to continuing candidates according to the preferences shown by voters.

After ballot papers are distributed from an excluded candidate, the total votes for each continuing candidate are recalculated to determine whether any candidate has now received votes equal to or greater than the quota. The process of distributing surplus votes from elected candidates and excluding the candidate with the fewest votes continues until all vacancies are filled.

No how-to-vote cards at polling places

Remember that political canvassing, including distributing how–to–vote cards, is banned within 100 metres of a polling place.

This means that you need to plan in advance how you want to vote.

What your ballot paper will look like

These ballot papers show the general format to be used in the 15 October election. While the party columns won’t change, remember, under Robson rotation candidates’ names can appear in different positions within each column.

Please read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Write numbers in the squares – no ticks or crosses – and don’t repeat any number.

Copies of ballot papers showing the candidates and parties standing for each electorate are available at www.elections.act.gov.au.

Sample Hare-Clark ballot paper - Yerrabi 2016

Which electorate are you in?

The electoral boundaries have changed. For the first time, the ACT will be divided into 5 electorates each returning 5 Members to the Legislative Assembly. Check the maps to find out which electorate you are in.

Brindabella polling day polling places

Open 8am to 6pm

Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.

BONYTHON

Bonython Primary School, Hurtle Ave

CALWELL

Calwell High School, Casey Cres

CHISHOLM

Caroline Chisholm School (primary campus), Hambidge Cres

CONDER

Charles Conder Primary School, Tom Roberts Ave

FADDEN

Fadden Primary School, Hanlon Cres

GILMORE

Gilmore Primary School, Heagney Cres

GORDON

Gordon Primary School, Knoke Ave

GOWRIE

Gowrie Primary School, Jeffries St

ISABELLA PLAINS

Isabella Plains Early Childhood School, Ellerston Ave

MONASH

Monash Primary School, Corlette Cres

RICHARDSON

Richardson Primary School,
May Gibbs Cl

THARWA

Tharwa Public Hall, North St

THEODORE

Theodore Primary School, Lawrence Wackett Cres

TUGGERANONG

Salvation Army Hall, Cnr Anketell St & Reed St North, Greenway

WANNIASSA

Wanniassa School (senior campus), Wheeler Cres

WANNIASSA

Wanniassa Hills Primary School, Langdon Ave

Brindabella Map (5 members)

Icon_electronicvoting electronic voting

full wheelchair access

assisted wheelchair access

. polling place

Brindabella Electorate Map

Ginninderra polling day polling places

Open 8am to 6pm.

Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.

ARANDA

Aranda Primary School, Banambila St

BELCONNEN

Belconnen Community Centre,
Swanson Court

BRUCE

Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Cres

BRUCE

Calvary Hospital, Haydon Drive

CHARNWOOD

Charnwood-Dunlop School, Bettington Cct

CHARNWOOD

St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Lhotsky St

FLOREY

St Francis Xavier College, Barnard Cct

FRASER

Fraser Primary School, Tillyard Dr

HOLT

Kingsford Smith School, Starke St

LATHAM

Latham Primary School, O’Loghlen St

MACGREGOR

Macgregor Primary School, Hirschfeld Cres

MACQUARIE

Macquarie Primary School, Bennelong Cres

MELBA

Mount Rogers Primary School, Alfred Hill Dr

PAGE

St Matthew’s School, Stutchbury St

SCULLIN

Southern Cross Early Childhood School, Wirraway Cres

Weetangera

Weetangera Primary School, Southwell St

Ginninderra MAP (5 members)

Icon_electronicvoting electronic voting

full wheelchair access

assisted wheelchair access

. polling place

2016  Ginninderra Electorate Map

Kurrajong polling day polling places

Open 8am to 6pm.

Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.

AINSLIE

North Ainslie Primary School, Majura Ave

BARTON

Telopea Park School, New South Wales Cres

BRADDON

Ainslie School, Donaldson St

CAMPBELL

Campbell Primary School, Chauvel St

CANBERRA CITY

Pilgrim House, 69 Northbourne Ave

CANBERRA CITY

Eclipse House, 197 London Circuit

DEAKIN

Canberra Girls Grammar School (junior school), Grey St

DICKSON

Northside Community Centre,
2 Rosevear Place

DOWNER

Downer Community Centre, Frencham Place

GRIFFITH

St Edmund’s College, Canberra Ave

LYNEHAM

Lyneham Primary School,
Brigalow St

NARRABUNDAH

Narrabundah Early Childhood School, Kootara Cres

OAKS ESTATE

Oaks Estate Community Hall,
2 William St

RED HILL

Red Hill Primary School, Astrolabe St

TURNER

Turner School, Condamine St

WATSON

Majura Primary School, Knox St

YARRALUMLA

Yarralumla Primary School, 24 Loftus St

Kurrajong MAP (5 members)

Icon_electronicvoting electronic voting

full wheelchair access

assisted wheelchair access

. polling place

2016 Kurrajong Electorate Map

Murrumbidgee polling day polling places

Open 8am to 6pm.

Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.

CHAPMAN

Chapman Primary School, Perry Dr

COOMBS

Charles Weston School, 80 Woodberry Ave

CURTIN

Curtin Primary School, Theodore St

DUFFY

Duffy Primary School, Burrinjuck Cres

FARRER

Farrer Primary School, Lambrigg St

GARRAN

Garran Primary School, Gilmore Cres

HOLDER

St Judes Primary School, Mulley St

HUGHES

Hughes Primary School, Groom St

KAMBAH

Namadgi School, O’Halloran Crct

KAMBAH

St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, Boddington Cres

KAMBAH

Taylor Primary School, Marconi Cres

LYONS

Lyons Early Childhood School,
Tarraleah Cres

MAWSON

Mawson Primary School, Ainsworth St

PEARCE

Melrose High School, Marr St

WARAMANGA

Arawang Primary School, Nemarang Cres

WESTON

Weston Creek Community Centre, Parkinson St

WODEN

Callam Offices, 58 Easty St

Murrumbidgee MAP (5 members)

Icon_electronicvoting electronic voting

full wheelchair access

assisted wheelchair access

. polling place

2016 Murrumbidgee Electorate Map

Yerrabi polling day polling places

Open 8am to 6pm.

Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.

AMAROO

Amaroo School, Katherine Ave

BONNER

Neville Bonner Primary School,
7 Mabo Boulevard

EVATT

Evatt Primary School, Heydon Cres

EVATT

Miles Franklin Primary School, Alderman St

FORDE

Burgmann Anglican School, Cnr Francis Forde Blvd & Hurrell St

FRANKLIN

Franklin Early Childhood School,
Oodgeroo Ave

GIRALANG

Giralang Primary School, Atalumba Cl

GUNGAHLIN

Gungahlin Library, Hibberson St

HALL

Hall Primary School Museum, Victoria St

HARRISON

Harrison School, Wimmera St

KALEEN

Kaleen Primary School, Ashburton St

KALEEN

Maribyrnong Primary School, Alberga St

NGUNNAWAL

Ngunnawal Primary School, Unaipon Ave

NICHOLLS

Gold Creek School (primary campus), Kelleway Ave

PALMERSTON

Palmerston District Primary School, Kosciusko Ave

Yerrabi MAP (5 members)

Icon_electronicvoting electronic voting

full wheelchair access

assisted wheelchair access

. polling place

2016 Yerrabi Electorate Map

Pre-poll voting centres

These centres are open:

  • from 9 am to 5 pm each weekday
    (except the public holiday on Monday 3 October);
  • from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday 8 October; and
  • from 9 am to 8 pm on Friday 14 October.

They will also open on polling day as ordinary polling places.

Belconnen

Belconnen Community Centre,
Swanson Court

Canberra City

Pilgrim House, 69 Northbourne Avenue
Eclipse House, 197 London Circuit

Gungahlin

Gungahlin Library, Hibberson St

Tuggeranong

Salvation Army Hall,
Corner Anketell St and Reed St North

Woden/Phillip

Callam Offices, 58 Easty St

Electronic voting is available at these polling places. See page 8.

Interstate voting centres

Voting will be available at the following state and territory electoral authorities during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, from 27 September 2016.

New South Wales

Electoral Commission New South Wales
Level 25 Maritime Trade Towers
201 Kent St Sydney
Ph: (02) 9290 5999

Northern Territory

Northern Territory Electoral Commission
Level 3 TCG Centre
80 Mitchell St Darwin
Ph: (08) 8999 5000

Queensland

Electoral Commission Queensland
Level 6 Forestry House
160 Mary St Brisbane
Ph: 1300 881 665

South Australia

Electoral Commission SA
Level 6 60 Light Sq Adelaide
Ph: 1300 655 232

Tasmania

Tasmanian Electoral Commission, Level 3 TasWater Building
169 Main Road Moonah

Ph: (03) 6233 2000

Victoria

Victorian Electoral Commission
Level 11 530 Collins St Melbourne
Ph: (03) 8620 1100

Western Australia

Western Australian Electoral Commission
Level 2 111 St George’s Tce Perth
Ph: (08) 9214 0400

Elections ACT is committed to making its information, services, events and venues accessible to as many people as possible.

Translating and interpreting service

Alternative format

If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format – such as large print or audio – please phone (02) 6205 0033.

National Relay Service

If you are deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, you can contact Elections ACT through the National Relay Service (NRS) -
call
13 36 77 and then ask for (02) 6205 0033 .
For more information,
visit www.relayservice.gov.au

ACT Deafness Resource Centre for the deaf and hearing impaired please phone (02) 6287 4391,
(02)
6287 4393 ,TTY (02) 6287 4394.

Don’t use the same number twice!

Write numbers to make your vote count

Number at least five boxes from 1 to 5.

Then show as many preferences as you wish using numbers in other boxes.

Make_your_vote_count

If you live in or near one of these suburbs, your local polling place may have changed since you last voted.

  • Bonner
  • Bruce
  • Charnwood
  • Coombs
  • Dickson
  • Downer
  • Evatt
  • Franklin
  • Hall
  • Kambah
  • Ngunnawal
  • O’Connor
  • Reid
  • Scullin
  • Stirling
  • Woden
  • Yarralumla

To find your nearest polling place, see pages 14-23.

Electorate boundaries have also changed!

Electorate boundaries have changed since the 2012 election. See the electorate boundaries maps on pages 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23.

Need more information?

Visit the Elections ACT website at www.elections.act.gov.au or call (02) 6205 0033or email elections@act.gov.au

Authorised by Phillip Green
ACT Electoral Commission
197 London Circuit
CANBERRA CITY ACT

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Your polling place may have changed!