High Court upholds roll closure
The Australian High Court has upheld the legal validity of the current law that closes off changes to the national electoral roll early in the election campaign. As in previous … Continue reading
High Court ponders second electoral challenge
Following last weeks’s challenge to the new voting procedures for electing senators, Australia’s High Court today heard a challenge to the statutory cut-off date for Australians to join the electoral roll … Continue reading
And they’re off…
The Australian federal election had been called. On the Prime Minister’s advice, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, Sir Peter Cosgrove, will dissolve both the House of Representatives and the Senate … Continue reading
Court to decide fate of Senate voting law
The legal challenge to the constitutional validity of recent changes to the method of electing Australia’s senators has been heard by the High Court. A decision is expected by the … Continue reading
Queensland parliament rules some votes invalid
Queensland’s Parliament has abruptly legislated to render invalid the vote of anyone who refuses to fully preference all candidates in state elections. The change – introduced as a surprise amendment … Continue reading
Indi uni student charges dropped
Public prosecutors have dropped charges against two Victorian residents alleging that they had illegally enrolled in the wrong electoral division at the 2013 federal election. The result is to be … Continue reading
New Senate voting rules go to court
After two years of consideration, in March 2016 the Australian Parliament altered the law relating to how Australian senators will in future be elected. The single transferable vote system, which allows … Continue reading
Australian Government hedges on optional preferencing
Long-awaited reforms to the voting system for electing Australia’s senators have finally emerged. The Government Bill released on Monday pulls back from the widely expected move to allow voters optional … Continue reading
Senate ballot rule changes get angry response
Australia’s national politics is about to go through the rare event of focusing on the specifics of voting rules. In the aftermath of the 2013 elections a number of dramatic … Continue reading
Agreement reported on Australian senate ballot paper changes
Lenore Taylor reports in the Guardian today that Parliament will soon consider legislation to change the ballot paper design and voting rules by which Australian senators are elected. Philip Coorey in … Continue reading
On Elections 