Ballot papers
In ACT Legislative Assembly elections, you vote by writing numbers next to candidate names on a ballot paper.
Those numbers are then used to work out which candidates have been successful in the election.
Read how to complete your ballot paper.
Hare-Clark electoral system
ACT Legislative Assembly elections use the Hare-Clark electoral system.
Each elector has a single vote, which can be transferred from candidate to candidate in the order the elector writes on their ballot paper.
Read more about the Hare-Clark voting system.
Ballot paper format
The ballot paper groups and lists candidates in columns with their party name written at the top.
Independent candidates are included in one or more ‘ungrouped’ columns. These 'ungrouped' columns are always on the right-hand side of the ballot paper.
Where a registered party nominates only one candidate in an election, that candidate is also included in the ungrouped column.
Because each electorate is electing 5 members, parties can only nominate up to 5 candidates.
Ungrouped columns also list a maximum of 5 candidates. If more than 5 ungrouped candidates nominate for the election there will be more than one ungrouped column.
The image is a sample ballot paper for the Electorate of Yerrabi with circled text and lines pointing to explainer text. The sample ballot paper reads along the top 'Ballot Paper', 'Election of 5 Members', '2016', 'Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory'.
The next line is the title 'Electorate of Yerrabi'. The line under that reads 'Number five boxes from 1 to 5 in the order of your choice'. There is a circle around the word 'five' with a line pointing to explainer text that reads, 'This tells you the minimum number of candidates you should vote for'.
The next line of text reads 'You may then show as many further preferences as you wish by writing numbers from 6 onwards in other boxes'.
Under this are seven columns. Each column has a heading, then vertically underneath there are boxes with labels to the right of them.
The first six column headings in order are 'A PARTY 1, B PARTY 2, C PARTY 3, D PARTY 4, E PARTY 5, F PARTY 6'. The labels next to the boxes in each column reads 'Candidate ONE' then 'Candidate TWO' then 'Candidate THREE' and so on up to a maximum of 5 in some columns.
The first 6 column headings are all circled with lines pointing to explainer text that reads, 'These are “party” columns, listing candidates nominated by registered political parties, with two or more candidates.'
The seventh column heading is 'UNGROUPED'. This is circled with a line pointing to explainer text that reads, 'This is the “ungrouped” column, listing independents, non-registered party candidates and candidates nominated by registered political parties that have only one candidate (if any).'
There are 4 boxes in this column, the label next to the first reads 'Candidate ONE INDEPENDENT', the second 'Candidate TWO', the third 'Candidate THREE INDEPENDENT', the fourth 'Candidate FOUR PARTY 7'.
At the bottom of the sample ballot paper is a line of text reading 'Remember, number at least five boxes from 1 to 5 in the order of your choice'.
Order of the columns
A random draw determines the order of the party columns on the ballot paper. The random draw for positions on the ballot paper is a public event.
The 'ungrouped' columns always appear on the right-hand side of the ballot paper.
Order of the candidates
The names in each column are listed using the 'Robson rotation' method.
Robson rotation method
Robson rotation means candidate names are 'rotated' into a different order in the column across consecutive ballot papers.
Applying the Robson rotation method means that no candidate has the advantage of appearing in the same position on every ballot paper.
This means:
- political parties can't influence the voting outcome by asking for candidates to be listed in a particular order
- a candidate's success can't be attributed to their being lucky enough to have their name at the top of the column.
Ballot papers are printed in many different versions, with candidates listed in different orders in columns.
For the ACT's 5-member electorates, 60 different versions of each electorate ballot paper are printed.
The Robson rotation method works like this:
- if there are 5 candidates in a column, that column will be printed in many ways, with one-fifth of all ballot papers having candidate 'A' in the top position
- another fifth of all ballot papers will have candidate 'B' in the top position
- another fifth will have candidate 'C' in the top position and so on for each candidate in the column.
The formulas that determine these versions are in Schedule 2 of the Electoral Act 1992.
Look for the candidate's name
The Robson rotation method means that when you vote, you can't rely on the order of candidates you may have seen in either:
- sample ballot papers
- political advertising
- 'how to vote' guides produced by political parties.
You should always look for the name of the candidates you wish to vote for and mark your preferences accordingly.
Read how to complete your ballot paper.
Formal votes and informal votes
After voting closes, before counting can begin, ballot papers are sorted into 'formal' and 'informal' votes.
Formal votes
Formal votes are included in the count to elect candidates.
For ACT Legislative Assembly elections, a formal ballot paper is one that:
- is an authentic ballot paper cast by a person entitled to vote
- doesn't in any way identify the voter's identity
- is clearly marked to show at least one first preference, using a number. Ticks and crosses are not accepted.
Informal votes
An informal vote can't be included in the count to elect candidates.
A ballot paper is informal if:
- the voter can be identified
- there is no first preference marked, or more than one candidate is marked as a first preference
- ticks, crosses or other marks are used to mark a first preference
- a declaration vote ballot paper is not in a declaration vote envelope
- the ballot paper is not authentic.
Ballot papers are printed using a specific colour screen and a security device.
If the officer in charge of the count isn't satisfied the ballot paper is authentic, they'll set it aside as an informal vote.
Declaration votes without envelopes
Declaration votes are cast when:
- the voter's name can't be found on the electoral roll
- the voter's name is marked as already having voted
- the voter casts a postal vote.
These ballot papers have the word 'Declaration' printed on them. The completed ballot paper is inserted into an envelope with the voter's enrolment details written on it, called a declaration vote envelope.
Any declaration votes not sealed in a declaration vote envelope are classed as informal.
Before a declaration vote can be included in the election count, an electoral officer must review the declaration envelope to check the elector is eligible to vote or has already voted in the election.
Identifiable voter
Ballot papers must be anonymous.
A ballot paper is classed as informal if it has writing on it which, in the opinion of the officer in charge of counting, identifies the voter. This is intended to prevent people selling their votes to candidates.
Electronic and phone voting
You can also vote in ACT Legislative Assembly elections by electronic voting and telephone voting.
Read about: