Summary.
House of Representatives:
The Federal House of Representatives comprises 150 single member electorates. General elections are held at least once every three years.
Preferential voting has been used for the House of Representatives since 1919. Only one person can win each seat, so when three or more people are standing, the candidate with the least number of first-preference votes is eliminated.
Some argue that preferential voting better reflects the will of the people than first-past-the-post voting. Whereas first-past-the-post voting sees the most popular candidate winning an election, preferential voting results in the least disliked candidate winning.
Senate:
The Senate comprises 12 Senators from each of the six States and two Senators each from the two Territories - 76 Senators in total. For the Senate, each State and Territory is a multi-member electorate. Usually only half the Senate goes to the election every three years. The Senators from each state are elected for six year terms. The Senators from the territories are elected for three year terms, and face the polls at every election. Under the unusual circumstance known as a double dissolution of Parliament, all seats in the Senate face the polls.
With the exception of a double dissolution, there is no requirement that half-Senate elections occur at the same time as elections for the House of Representatives. Nonetheless, governments generally seek to ensure the election cycles are aligned so that both happen at the same time. A half-Senate election can occur anytime in the 12 months before the positions fall vacant.
First preference votes are counted in exactly the same manner as for the House of Representatives. Candidates who receive more than a quota of first preference votes are elected. The number of votes they receive in excess of the quota are called surplus votes. All surplus votes are transferred to other candidates based on the preferences indicated on the ballot paper. These votes are transferred before any eliminations occur. Because one cannot identify which votes actually elected a candidate, and which were the surplus votes, all votes are transferred to other candidates at a reduced rate. Surplus votes are transferred at a reduced rate. The formula for calculating the reduced rate is as follows:
Once preferences have been distributed, further candidates may have a quota, and thus be elected as Senators. If there are still unfilled Senate positions, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and his votes are distributed to the remaining candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot paper.
Compulsory voting:
Compulsory voting means that every Australian citizen (18 years or older) is required by law to enroll and vote. If a person does not vote and is unable to provide a "valid and sufficient" reason, a penalty is imposed. Compulsory voting is a distinctive feature of the Australian political culture.
The Federal House of Representatives comprises 150 single member electorates. General elections are held at least once every three years.
Preferential voting has been used for the House of Representatives since 1919. Only one person can win each seat, so when three or more people are standing, the candidate with the least number of first-preference votes is eliminated.
Some argue that preferential voting better reflects the will of the people than first-past-the-post voting. Whereas first-past-the-post voting sees the most popular candidate winning an election, preferential voting results in the least disliked candidate winning.
Senate:
The Senate comprises 12 Senators from each of the six States and two Senators each from the two Territories - 76 Senators in total. For the Senate, each State and Territory is a multi-member electorate. Usually only half the Senate goes to the election every three years. The Senators from each state are elected for six year terms. The Senators from the territories are elected for three year terms, and face the polls at every election. Under the unusual circumstance known as a double dissolution of Parliament, all seats in the Senate face the polls.
With the exception of a double dissolution, there is no requirement that half-Senate elections occur at the same time as elections for the House of Representatives. Nonetheless, governments generally seek to ensure the election cycles are aligned so that both happen at the same time. A half-Senate election can occur anytime in the 12 months before the positions fall vacant.
First preference votes are counted in exactly the same manner as for the House of Representatives. Candidates who receive more than a quota of first preference votes are elected. The number of votes they receive in excess of the quota are called surplus votes. All surplus votes are transferred to other candidates based on the preferences indicated on the ballot paper. These votes are transferred before any eliminations occur. Because one cannot identify which votes actually elected a candidate, and which were the surplus votes, all votes are transferred to other candidates at a reduced rate. Surplus votes are transferred at a reduced rate. The formula for calculating the reduced rate is as follows:
Once preferences have been distributed, further candidates may have a quota, and thus be elected as Senators. If there are still unfilled Senate positions, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and his votes are distributed to the remaining candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot paper.
Compulsory voting:
Compulsory voting means that every Australian citizen (18 years or older) is required by law to enroll and vote. If a person does not vote and is unable to provide a "valid and sufficient" reason, a penalty is imposed. Compulsory voting is a distinctive feature of the Australian political culture.
Task.
Complete the Glossary.
Task.
Using your textbook complete the 'Elections' worksheet and the 'Electoral systems in Australia' worksheet.
Complete 'The key features of elections' worksheet.
Complete 'The key features of elections' worksheet.
Task.
Complete the practice Source Analysis test.