A timely reminder that it has always been voters who hold the whiphand on polling day

Voters have the final say ranking candidates on the ballot paper

20 November 2007

Every elector can choose the order they rank the candidates on their 2007 election ballot papers, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) said today.

Electoral Commissioner, Ian Campbell reminded electors that it was entirely up to them to decide where their preferences go when voting in the House of Representatives election and Senate election. 

"Political parties or candidates may suggest to their supporters to vote in a particular manner but electors have the final say when filling in their ballot papers," he said.

"In completing the green House of Representatives ballot paper, electors can decide for themselves how to allocate their preferences or they can choose to follow a party or candidate's how-to-vote card."

Mr Campbell said electors had a choice of voting above or below the line on the white Senate ballot paper. By marking 1 in one box above the line for a party or group, the preferences will be distributed according to the group voting ticket that the party or group has registered with the AEC.

"Any elector that wants to inspect the registered group voting tickets can now find them online at www.aec.gov.au or by calling 13 23 26.   Booklets showing the group voting tickets will also be available in every polling place.

"If electors do not want to follow a ticket, they can vote below the line on the Senate ballot paper by numbering all the boxes below the line for each individual candidate in the order of their choice," Mr Campbell said.

"Polling officials are available to assist electors at all polling places on election day, Saturday 24 November.   If you do make a mistake on your ballot paper just ask a polling official for another one," he said.

"At this election we also have a new online 'How to vote practice tool' at www.aec.gov.au to show electors, especially those voting for the first time, how to complete the ballot paper correctly," he said.

For more information on voting in the 2007 election, visit www.aec.gov.au or call the AEC on 13 23 26.