How to Vote, the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) began mailing out ballot packs to all enrolled voters.
While casting a vote is an important decision to make, understanding how voting works is equally as crucial, as informal ballot papers (incorrect votes) will not be counted towards the election.
In Victoria, the preferential voting system is used. In this system, voters choose candidates based on the order of their preference, with the number ‘1’ to indicate a voter’s most preferred candidate, number ‘2’ to indicate a voter’s second most preferred candidate, and so on.
It is important to ensure all candidates are voted for. If a candidate is not given a vote, if a tick or cross is used instead of a number, if numbers are repeated in a ballot paper, or the number ‘0’ is used, the entire ballot paper is scrapped and no votes on that ballot paper will be considered.
When counting the votes for multi-councillor wards, such as the Mitchell Shire Council, the proportional counting system is used.
To be elected, candidates must receive a proportion of votes known as a ‘quota’.
The quota is calculated by dividing the total number of formal ballot papers by one more than the number of candidates to be elected, and then adding one to the result.
For example, if there were 16 formal votes cast and three candidates to be elected, the quota would be calculated by the following equation: (16 ÷(3+1))+1=5 votes.
In this scenario, candidates must receive five votes to be elected. Any vote above this threshold is then passed on to other candidates according to voters’ preferences. This means that if Candidate A received seven votes, there would be two votes spare. Ballot papers which voted for Candidate A as their first preference are then viewed for their second preference, and the remaining two votes are allocated to remaining candidates, usually based on the percentage of second preference votes.
If no candidate achieves the quota, or if there are still vacancies after all the votes over the quota have been passed on, the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded.
Ballot papers which indicated the excluded candidate was the voter’s first choice then have their second preference votes allocated as first preferences.
The process is repeated until all vacancies are filled.
When counting the votes for single-councillor wards, such as the City of Whittlesea, the preferential counting system is used.
To be elected, candidates must receive more than 50 per cent of all first preference votes.
If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the votes, a preference distribution is conducted.
The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes are passed on to other candidates according to voters’ preferences.
This process is repeated until one candidate has an absolute majority.
Ballot papers must be posted or dropped off at the election office before 6pm on Friday, October 25.
