2019-2021

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time

 

 

 

 

Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Ensuring Voter Choice Through Optional Preferential Voting and the Robson Rotation) Bill 2021

 

No.      , 2021

 

(Senator McGrath)

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to elections in respect of ballot papers and to provide for optional preferential voting and ensure voter choice

   

   

Contents

1............ Short title............................................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 2

3............ Schedules............................................................................................ 2

Schedule 1—Amendments                                                                                                 3

Part 1—Amendments relating to optional preferential voting                  3

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918                                                                           3

Part 2—Amendments relating to ballot papers                                                 6

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918                                                                           6

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to elections in respect of ballot papers and to provide for optional preferential voting and ensure voter choice

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1   Short title

                   This Act is the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Ensuring Voter Choice Through Optional Preferential Voting and the Robson Rotation) Act 2021 .

2   Commencement

             (1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provisions	Commencement	Date/Details
1.  The whole of this Act	A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if the provisions do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the day after the end of that period.

Note:          This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

             (2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3   Schedules

                   Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

12  After Schedule 2

Insert:

Schedule 2A—Printing order

(section 212)                       

   

              1.  For the purposes of subsection 212(10), the printing order for subsequent batches of ballot papers must be as follows:

                     (a)  if there are the names of 2 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch

B

A

 

                     (b)  if there are the names of 3 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch
B	C
C	A
A	B

 

                     (c)  if there are the names of 4 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch
D	B	C
C	A	D
A	D	B
B	C	A

 

                     (d)  if there are the names of 5 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch
C	E	D	B
A	C	E	D
E	D	B	A
B	A	C	E
D	B	A	C

 

                     (e)  if there are the names of 6 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch	6th batch
B	E	D	F	C
E	D	F	C	A
A	B	E	D	F
F	C	A	B	E
D	F	C	A	B
C	A	B	E	D

 

                      (f)  if there are the names of 7 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch	6th batch	7th batch
B	F	E	G	C	D
F	E	G	C	D	A
D	A	B	F	E	G
A	B	F	E	G	C
G	C	D	A	B	F
E	G	C	D	A	B
C	D	A	B	F	E

 

                     (g)  if there are the names of 8 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch	6th batch	7th batch	8th batch
B	G	D	H	C	E	F
G	D	H	C	E	F	A
A	B	E	F	H	D	G
E	F	G	B	A	C	H
F	A	B	D	G	H	C
H	C	A	G	D	B	E
D	H	C	E	F	A	B
C	E	F	A	B	G	D

 

                     (h)  if there are the names of 9 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch	6th batch	7th batch	8th batch	9th batch
B	H	G	I	C	D	E	F
H	G	I	C	D	E	F	A
D	E	F	A	B	H	G	I
E	F	A	B	H	G	I	C
F	A	B	H	G	I	C	D
A	B	H	G	I	C	D	E
I	C	D	E	F	A	B	H
G	I	C	D	E	F	A	B
C	D	E	F	A	B	H	G

 

                      (i)  if there are the names of 10 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch	6th batch	7th batch	8th batch	9th batch	10th batch
B	H	C	E	I	G	F	D	J
H	C	E	I	G	F	D	J	A
E	I	G	F	D	J	A	B	H
J	A	F	B	C	E	I	G	I
I	G	A	D	J	H	B	H	C
D	J	B	A	H	C	E	I	G
F	D	J	H	B	A	C	E	F
C	E	I	G	F	D	J	A	B
G	F	D	J	A	B	H	C	E
A	B	H	C	E	I	G	F	D

 

                      (j)  if there are the names of 11 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch	6th batch	7th batch	8th batch	9th batch	10th batch	11th batch
B	I	C	D	J	G	F	E	K	H
I	C	D	J	G	F	E	K	H	A
D	J	G	F	E	K	H	A	B	I
J	B	K	C	A	H	I	F	E	G
A	G	F	H	K	I	C	B	D	J
K	H	A	E	B	C	G	D	J	K
F	E	H	A	I	B	D	J	I	C
E	K	I	B	D	J	A	C	G	F
C	D	J	G	F	E	K	H	A	B
G	F	E	K	H	A	B	I	C	D
H	A	B	I	C	D	J	G	F	E

 

                     (k)  if there are the names of 12 candidates on the ballot paper:

2nd batch	3rd batch	4th batch	5th batch	6th batch	7th batch	8th batch	9th batch	10th batch	11th batch	12th batch
B	J	C	E	K	G	H	D	L	F	I
J	C	E	K	G	H	D	L	F	I	A
E	K	G	H	D	L	F	I	A	B	J
A	B	H	F	L	J	I	G	E	K	C
D	F	I	A	C	K	J	H	B	L	G
H	A	B	D	I	E	C	J	C	G	K
I	D	L	J	A	F	B	E	K	J	H
K	L	J	I	B	A	G	C	D	E	F
L	G	F	C	E	B	K	A	H	D	L
C	E	K	G	H	D	L	F	I	A	B
G	H	D	L	F	I	A	B	J	C	E
F	I	A	B	J	C	E	K	G	H	D

 

                      (l)  if there are the names of more than 12 candidates on the ballot paper, positions, other than favoured positions, must be determined by the Divisional Returning Officer in accordance with section 213.