Voters across the country have expressed alarm at potentially misleading advice from Australian Electoral Commission officials about how to vote under the new Senate rules.
The confusing, and at times incorrect, advice raises questions about the AEC’s preparedness to implement major changes to Australia’s voting laws.
The AEC was widely criticised for its handling of the last Senate election in Western Australia where more than 1,000 votes went missing, forcing an expensive re-run of the election.
On the day of the federal election people say they have been confused by official advice that has varied from poll booth to poll booth.
Under the Senate voting change, voters are now supposed to number at least six boxes above the line, or at least 12 boxes below the line.
However, some voters say they have been told they cannot number “more than” six boxes, and others have been told they can number “up to” six boxes.
Ben Oquist, executive director of the Australia Institute, said the misleading advice would be most likely to affect voters who wanted to allocate preferences to several minor parties ahead of major parties.
“It can’t get more serious than AEC officials giving people the wrong advice about how to vote,” he said. “It would be a shocking situation if people were being told that their vote beyond one to six didn’t count.
“The ballot paper clearly says at least one to six. If people are being told that their votes don’t count beyond six that is not only wrong but serious, because they will not be able to maximise their vote.”
Guardian Australia has seen the script given to AEC officials to repeat for voters when questioned about the new rules. It states:
“Tell the voter the following – For the Senate, complete the ballot paper by numbering one to six above the line OR by numbering one to twelve below the line, in order of your choice. You can continue numbering as many additional boxes as you choose.”
But voters say they have been given different advice.
Went to vote. AEC rep said put 6 above the line in Senate, or 12 below. Asked her 'didn't she mean that was the minimum?' Oh yes, she said.
— Gay Alcorn (@Gay_Alcorn) July 2, 2016
@Gay_Alcorn I was told I couldn't put more than 6 above the line
— Sarah Joseph (@profsarahj) July 2, 2016
@Gay_Alcorn they're reading a script word for word. Rep I had apologised for being a bit all over the place, admitted they were new to it.
— Adam Spence (@AdamSpenceAU) July 2, 2016
@mumbletwits @Gay_Alcorn I asked if I could put more - told no. Worried my vote wouldn't count so only did the 6 @AusElectoralCom
— Clare Marantelli (@claremmara) July 2, 2016
Same thing happened just then. I suggested they say "minimum". AEC worker replies, "I'm just doing what I'm told". https://t.co/a2uxjdPJiz
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) July 2, 2016
While many voters took to social media to criticise the advice, others said they were impressed by the AEC officials’ grasp of the details of the new system.
Phil Diak, an AEC spokesman, said it was “the voter’s ultimate responsibility” to read the instructions on the ballot paper before marking the ballot paper and recording their vote.
“Around 10 million Australians can be expected to have interacted with thousands of ballot paper issuing officers today,” he said.
“There will undoubtedly be some instances over the scale of today, where the issuing officers specific conversation with voters, or the interpretation of the latter, varies.”
He said the AEC had run an “extensive communication campaign” regarding the Senate voting changes, including national advertising since late April 2016, and it has continued through the federal election period.
