elections

why am i still doing politics i hate this subject so much 🥀

Criteria for fair elections

• All citizens have the right to vote

• Electors are free from intimidation

• One vote, one value

• Broad, transparent and inclusive candidate eligibility

• Opportunities for the electorate to receive objective information from a free press

• Impartial/balanced system of conducting elections and verifying results

• Secret ballot

• Legal prohibitions against electoral fraud

• Recount and contestation procedures

Outcomes of a fair electoral system

• Robust and stable government that mirrors the majority’s will

• Representatives which are accountable and maintain a strong connection with their electorate

• All electors, candidates and parties are treated equitably

• Representation spans society’s diverse spectrum

Electoral procedures vs electoral systems

Electoral procedures are the formal actions needed before and during an election (eg drawing electoral boundaries, counting results). They are administrative tasks which should be carried out by independent officials. Electoral systems refer to the chosen methods of counting votes and determining the election result (eg preferential voting).

Mandate

The authority provided by voters to a successful political party to pursue its policies in parliament at an election. For example, the current labour government received a mandate to govern from the people at the 2025 federal election, as the won a majority (94) of HoR seats.

Compulsory voting

Refers to the compulsory enrolment of eligible voters. In place in Australia as per the 1924 amendment to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

Advantages of compulsory voters

• Majority rule is better established as parliament and government can claim to enact the democratic will of the people if all eligible electors vote - government decisions are more legitimate

• Voting educates citizens on their political system, increasing political participation

• Political parties don’t need to spend resources encouraging electors to vote

Disadvantages of compulsory voting

• Not consistent with the freedoms associated with a liberal democracy

• May discourage political education due to a perceived sense of oppression

• Increases informal votes and random votes (numbering boxes randomly)

Majoritarian system

Based on individual voting districts which each elect one member of parliament, called single member electorates.

Advantages of a majoritarian system

• More direct relationship between constituents and MPs

  • MP is more likely to be accessible to constituents

  • Provides communities a voice in political decision making

• Clear and stable majority government as larger parties are dominant

Disadvantages of a majoritarian system

• Minority groups are under-represented

  • Supporters must be geographically concentrated to reach 50%+1

• Vote wastage can distort election results

  • Parties may win by very large margins, surplus vote would be more beneficial spread out - may receive a majority of the national vote but lose the election

Minor parties influence in a majoritarian system

Minor parties can negotiate with major parties to influence their policies in exchange for giving the major party their second preference, as they are unlikely to reach the 50%+1 mark. However, bargaining power is growing as modern voters are less likely to vote for major parties.

Preferential voting

• Absolute majority is required to win (50%+1)

• Voters rank candidates by preference

• Preferences are redistributed until an absolute majority is achieved

• Used for the house of reps, electorates each have around 117,000 voters

Safe seats vs marginal seats

Safe seats refer to electorates which are typically always won by the same party with a large percentage of the vote, meaning that parties don’t need to spend resources campaigning. Marginal seats are seats where the results are always close and can change between elections, attracting money and attention from major parties.

Gerrymandering

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Malapportionment

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Accountability through HoR elections

Advantages of preferential voting

Disadvantages of preferential voting

Proportional voting

Advantages of proportional voting

Disadvantages of proportional voting

Truth in political advertising