The report on the conduct of the ACT Legislative Assembly election held on 20 October 2012 was tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly yesterday.

“The report examines the conduct of the 2012 election and the operation of the Electoral Act, and recommends areas for improvement,” acting ACT Electoral Commissioner, Mr Andrew Moyes said.

In addition to reporting on the conduct of the 2012 election, the report makes recommendations for relatively minor changes to the electoral legislation with a view to preparations for and the conduct of the 2016 ACT Legislative Assembly election.

The report notes the success of the innovations introduced for the 2012 election, such as the comprehensive electronic polling place management system, incorporating the networked marking of names of voters on electronic electoral rolls across all polling places, electronic transmission of results on polling night, on-line interactive training of polling officials and the provision of electronic voting to around 1 in 4 of all ACT voters.

The report also notes that those innovations combined to provide electoral services to the highest ever number of ACT electors, with the result provided in the shortest possible time, beating the 2008 record by a few hours. The final result of the election was announced mid-afternoon on Saturday, 27 October 2012, 7 days after polling day.

The report can be read in conjunction with Election Statistics: ACT Legislative Assembly election 2012, released by the Commission in December 2012.

Copies of the report, and the published Election Statistics, are available from the ACT Electoral Commission (phone 6205 0033) or can be viewed on the Elections ACT website at www.elections.act.gov.au