Media Release 1998: Results Advice to Media

3 October 1998

Counting the vote – more than a night's work

The election does not finish on polling day for the AEC. While voting is the end of the matter for electors, the AEC's next task is to count some 24 million ballot papers to provide results.

While the majority of Australians cast an ordinary vote at a polling place which will be counted on election night, there will still be a significant number of ballot papers which have to be counted in the week following polling day.

The ordinary votes will be counted on election night and first preference and two-candidate preferred figures will be available.

There will be no further results available on the Sunday following polling day.

On the Sunday after polling day, ballot materials are returned from rural polling places to the AEC Divisional Offices. In both country and city areas, all these offices are also set up as counting centres for Monday. In addition, election night figures are downloaded into the AEC's computerised post election system and important back-up procedures are carried out on Sunday.

The fact that this year's election occurs at holiday time for many Australians means an increase in postal, pre-poll and absent votes. These votes cannot be counted on election night and the Electoral Act allows 13 days for the receipt of postal votes and these votes may be critical in determining the result in close seats.

At this election the AEC has changed its procedures to ensure that pre-poll, postal and absent votes can be included into the count earlier in the next week than in past elections.

Previously, a check of all ballot papers counted at the polling places took place on the Monday following polling day. However, at this election, the AEC will postpone this check so that fresh figures from postal, pre-poll and absent votes can be included in the count.

It should be remembered that before these postal, pre-poll and absent ballot papers can actually be counted, the details of the electors must be checked first.

This preliminary scrutiny will commence on Monday 5 October and fresh figures are expected to be available form Tuesday 6 October. Progressive figures will then be provided each day until all counting is completed.

Further information:

Brien Hallett
Director Information
Ph. (02) 6271 4415

Silvana Puizina
Assistant Director Information
Ph. (02) 6271 4431

Bernadette O'Meara
Assistant Director Information
Ph. (02) 6271 4548