Change that counts :
Change that counts The Australian Electoral Commission overall provided a professional, open and transparent electoral process. There is room for improvements in the detail, quality and timeliness of information required for effective scrutiny of the ballot.
Change that counts :
Change that counts Information and data is the key to an effective scrutiny of an electronic count
Online access to detailed, up to date, polling place return data (No later then 24 hours after the close of the poll) and detailed vote statistics, as and when they become available, is essential.
Better use of the internet to provide public access to information in real time.
Change that counts :
Change that counts Better information should be provided online showing
Polling Place return statistics.
The number of postal votes, pre-poll votes issued and received back per-electorate (Prior to polling day).
The number of absentee and section votes issued per polling place for each electorate.
The number of voters recorded as having voted marked off the roll per polling place.
The AEC did provide some of this data, in part, but much more should be done to ensure that this information is up to date and correct. The number of ballot papers issued for each voter type should be fixed and reported on within 24hrs from the close of the poll as it is included in the polling place return – There should be no surprises with unreported bundles of votes arriving later in the count. Postal vote arrivals being an exception.
This information is essential for reconciling the vote and avoiding the mistakes of the Victorian State 2006 election.
Change that counts :
Change that counts Senate Preference data files
One of the biggest criticisms of the AEC’s 2007 election count is that it took them 3 months to make available and publish the detailed preference data files used in the Senate Counts.
The preference data file should have been available immediately after the close of the data-entry process and published on the AEC’s web site prior to the execution of the computerised count process with certified copies being required to be published as part of the declaration requirements.
Without access to this information it is virtually impossible to properly scrutinise the election.
One Vote One Value :
One Vote One Value Change that counts
Thanks to: Antony Green (for his detailed review and analysis of the hypothetical), Geoff Goode, Lee Naish (Proportional Representation Society of Australia) and various commentators who reviewed and contributed to this submission and proposal for change.