Northern Ireland returns to the polls
Voters in Northern Ireland will drag themselves to the polls today, less than a year on from their previous election. Since 1998 the Northern Irish have elected a legislative Assembly … Continue reading
The likely make-up of the new Australian Senate
The shape of Australia’s new Senate is coming into view, and it does not look to be an easy chamber for the Turnbull coalition government. The overall position seems to … Continue reading
New senators will have unequal voter support
Some of the newly elected Australian Senators will need to brace themselves for a new form of abuse: being denounced as “unrepresentative ‘below-quota’ swill”, to paraphrase Paul Keating’s famous quote. … 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
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
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
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 