42Counting votes

42 Counting votes

42 Counting votes

In an election to fill more than one position, the returning officer must follow the following procedure for counting votes, in the order specified:

(a) exclude all informal ballot papers or electronic votes,

(b) count the primary votes for each candidate on the formal ballot papers or electronic votes,

(c) enter the total number of primary votes for each candidate next to that candidate’s name on the tally sheet,

(d) exclude the candidate with the fewest primary votes,

(e) for each ballot paper or electronic vote where the excluded candidate received a number 1 vote, allocate the next active secondary vote to the remaining candidates,

(f) indicate on the tally sheet the excluded candidate and that the next active secondary vote has been allocated,

(g) add together the primary votes and the allocated secondary votes for each remaining candidate and exclude the candidate with the lowest number of total votes,

(h) if, after the exclusion of a candidate, the next active secondary vote indicates an excluded candidate, disregard that preference and allocate the next active secondary vote,

(i) repeat the process described in paragraphs (d) to (h) inclusive until only the number of candidates required to fill the vacancies remain,

(j) if on any count, 2 or more candidates have an equal number of votes and that number is the lowest on that count, the returning officer must:

(i) eliminate the candidate with the lowest number of primary votes, or

(ii) if the number of primary votes is equal, in the presence of any scrutineers present, draw lots with the candidate first drawn remaining in the ballot,

(k) in order to determine which candidate is next in order of preference:

(i) the votes counted for any excluded candidate must not be considered further, and

(ii) the order of voters’ preferences must be determined on the next available preference indicated on the ballot papers or electronic votes.

cl 42: Am 2009 (389), Sch 1 [25]–[28].