Optional preferencing law upheld by Court
Australians will elect their senators on July 2 by the optional preferencing method, after a legal challenge to recent legislative changes was unanimously rejected by the High Court today. “None of … Continue reading
Philippines elects president who might shut down parliament
Rodrigo Duterte, the controversial Mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, has easily won election as the next President of the Philippines. The leading candidate in recent months, Duterte, … Continue reading
Irish minority minority government takes office
Finally, after 70 days of negotiations, the Irish have a government. But only just. The Irish parliament – Dáil Éireann – is elected by the very representative single transferable vote … Continue reading
Scottish teenagers choose between leading women
The Scottish Parliament is being elected today, and voters aged 16 and 17 are taking part. Scotland’s independent parliament is part of the regionalised United Kingdom political system, which in addition … 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
Irish not sure who should govern
The lower house of the Irish parliament – the Dáil Éireann– has yet to endorse a government for the country 40 days after voters elected the most politically diverse Dáil … 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
On Elections 