| Impace of the 1999 "Tablecloth" electoral ballot paper |
||
| As a result of this enormous amount of candidates, parties and thus, ballot paper there was an amendment to the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act. (An Act to amend the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 with respect to voting in Legislative Council elections and the registration of political parties.) The Bill amended the Act in two main respects: |
||
| 1.
The system of group voting was abolished If electors vote for a party they can now choose to either: |
||
| (a) |
vote for an individual candidate in that party in an order that is already shown on the ballot paper, or | |
| (b)
|
vote for that party and then decide whether or not to give preferences to any other parties, instead of the preferences being predetermined by the Electoral Office. If electors do not want to vote for a party but for an individual, they can choose whatever order of preferences they wish. |
|
| 2. The registration of parties | ||
| (a) |
A party must have at least 1,000 members (previously 200) to be registered | |
| (b)
|
A party can no longer rely on a sitting member of Parliament to gain registration. | |
| (c) |
An application to register a new party must be accompanied by a declaration signed by 1,000 members and a cheque for $3,500 for fees. There is a requirement that annual returns be lodged once registration is accepted. | |
| (d)
|
There is a 12 month waiting period for a newly registered party to be named on a ballot paper or be considered a party for election formalities. | |
| (e) |
Existing registered parties (except those registered for local government elections) must reapply for registration as if they were a new party. For further details on this matter click here. | |
