Advantages and Disadvantages
We expect our electoral system to be both FAIR and EFFICIENT.
FAIRNESS:
1.To maximise participation by all citizens.
2.Provide for equal voting power that is one vote, one person, one value….
3.Guarantee electoral rights of citizens – that is not leaving decisions up to the whims of parliament
EFFICIENCY:
1.Voting support translates into seats won.
2.Allows for wide representation of community views and interests.
3.Produce stable government over time.
4.Ensure that parliamentarians have a real relationship with their constituents.
To maximise participation by all citizens:
•Compulsory voting
•Mobile polling booths / Diplomatic embassy voting / Airports
•Interpretation services for ESL people
•Franchise includes all citizens above the age of 18, of sound mind.
•Can not be serving a prison sentence of more than 5 years.
•Election campaigns educate the electorate on the key issues.
•It is the role of political parties to present the key issues in a simplified manner – Usually through slogans
•“Send back the boats”, “Axe the tax”, “Ditch the witch”, “Ease the Squeeze on middle Australia”, “Moving forward”…
Provide for equal voting power that is one vote, one person, one value….
In the House of Representatives – this is the ideal. The AEC attempts to have approx. 85,000 voters per federal electorate. There is a 10% margin allowed. As a result, it is inevitable that some votes may carry a slightly heavier weighting than other votes. The Constitution guarantees Tasmania 5 lower house seats. This is despite not having the population to qualify under AEC regulations. The Founding Fathers intentionally created MALAPPORTIONMENT in the Senate. This was to appease the smaller states who wanted equal representation in the State’s house.
Guarantee electoral rights of citizens – that is not leaving decisions up to the whims of parliament.
The AEC has been created by statute law – Commonwealth Electoral Act. The AEC is an independent statutory authority – that means that it is free from influence from the government of the day. The Constitution guarantees certain rights – Section 41 (right to vote if you have the right to vote in a state election), Sections 7 and 24 – “ directly chosen by the people”. There are Common law protections – Roach (2007) and Rowe (2010)
Voting support translates into seats won.
Voting outputs are a factor of the voting inputs. Preferential Voting system ensures the most preferred candidate wins. This is not always the most popular candidate. Winning an absolute majority comes with a ‘winners bonus’ – that is you win 50% plus 1 vote but you win 100% support for governing that electorate. It is possible for a government to win government with less than 50% of the two party preferred vote. This happened recently with the Gillard hung Parliament. Optional Preferential Voting in the Senate allows minor parties a better chance at winning some representation through the quota system (gaining a certain % of votes). Winning the balance of power in the Senate can give a small number of individuals extraordinary amounts of political power whenever the 2 major parties fail to agree on the passage of a bill.
Allows for wide representation of community views and interests.
The Lower house is dominated by the 2 major parties. Minor and micro parties can only exert influence through preferences in lower house. Minor and micro parties can try and draw attention to their issues without having a realistic chance of winning a seat. The Senate does allow a more realistic chance for minor parties to win a quota.
Produce stable government over time.
The Lower house result does create stable government. The Government is either ALP or LNP. The Senate result can see a hostile Senate put in place which can frustrate a democratically elected government.
We have one of the most stable democracies in the Western World – whilst not perfect, it has served us well!!!
FAIRNESS:
1.To maximise participation by all citizens.
2.Provide for equal voting power that is one vote, one person, one value….
3.Guarantee electoral rights of citizens – that is not leaving decisions up to the whims of parliament
EFFICIENCY:
1.Voting support translates into seats won.
2.Allows for wide representation of community views and interests.
3.Produce stable government over time.
4.Ensure that parliamentarians have a real relationship with their constituents.
To maximise participation by all citizens:
•Compulsory voting
•Mobile polling booths / Diplomatic embassy voting / Airports
•Interpretation services for ESL people
•Franchise includes all citizens above the age of 18, of sound mind.
•Can not be serving a prison sentence of more than 5 years.
•Election campaigns educate the electorate on the key issues.
•It is the role of political parties to present the key issues in a simplified manner – Usually through slogans
•“Send back the boats”, “Axe the tax”, “Ditch the witch”, “Ease the Squeeze on middle Australia”, “Moving forward”…
Provide for equal voting power that is one vote, one person, one value….
In the House of Representatives – this is the ideal. The AEC attempts to have approx. 85,000 voters per federal electorate. There is a 10% margin allowed. As a result, it is inevitable that some votes may carry a slightly heavier weighting than other votes. The Constitution guarantees Tasmania 5 lower house seats. This is despite not having the population to qualify under AEC regulations. The Founding Fathers intentionally created MALAPPORTIONMENT in the Senate. This was to appease the smaller states who wanted equal representation in the State’s house.
Guarantee electoral rights of citizens – that is not leaving decisions up to the whims of parliament.
The AEC has been created by statute law – Commonwealth Electoral Act. The AEC is an independent statutory authority – that means that it is free from influence from the government of the day. The Constitution guarantees certain rights – Section 41 (right to vote if you have the right to vote in a state election), Sections 7 and 24 – “ directly chosen by the people”. There are Common law protections – Roach (2007) and Rowe (2010)
Voting support translates into seats won.
Voting outputs are a factor of the voting inputs. Preferential Voting system ensures the most preferred candidate wins. This is not always the most popular candidate. Winning an absolute majority comes with a ‘winners bonus’ – that is you win 50% plus 1 vote but you win 100% support for governing that electorate. It is possible for a government to win government with less than 50% of the two party preferred vote. This happened recently with the Gillard hung Parliament. Optional Preferential Voting in the Senate allows minor parties a better chance at winning some representation through the quota system (gaining a certain % of votes). Winning the balance of power in the Senate can give a small number of individuals extraordinary amounts of political power whenever the 2 major parties fail to agree on the passage of a bill.
Allows for wide representation of community views and interests.
The Lower house is dominated by the 2 major parties. Minor and micro parties can only exert influence through preferences in lower house. Minor and micro parties can try and draw attention to their issues without having a realistic chance of winning a seat. The Senate does allow a more realistic chance for minor parties to win a quota.
Produce stable government over time.
The Lower house result does create stable government. The Government is either ALP or LNP. The Senate result can see a hostile Senate put in place which can frustrate a democratically elected government.
We have one of the most stable democracies in the Western World – whilst not perfect, it has served us well!!!
Task.
Read 'The advantages and disadvantages of the electoral and voting systems used in Australia with reference to at least one recent (the last ten years) election'.