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Section Four: Election Day - Part Two

Narration:

From eight in the morning till six at night, Australians go to the polls.

Two ballot papers, one for the House of Representatives and one for the Senate, are given to each voter once they are identified on, and marked off, the certified list of voters. Voters not in their home electorate on election day are able to cast an absent vote at any polling place in their state or territory.

Scrutineers appointed by the candidates, observe voting in most polling places. Officials of the AEC similarly monitor the behaviour of candidates and their representatives, to make sure that no undue pressure is placed on or misinformation given to voters.

After the polls close, the sealed ballot boxes are opened and emptied, and votes counted, using a series of checks and double checks to ensure accuracy and integrity.

Questions:

On arriving to vote, voters are asked three questions. What are they?

What is your full name? Where do you live? Have you voted before in this election?

Why is the voter's name marked off the roll? To make sure that the person does not vote twice AND to make sure the person does vote once, because voting is compulsory.

Rules govern what scrutineers can and cannot do in or near a polling place. Why? This prevents undue pressure or intimidation.

At the end of the polling day the number of unused, discarded and spoilt ballot papers are recorded along with those in the ballot box. Why? Every ballot paper issued to the polling place must be accounted for.

All of the processes are designed to prevent the introduction of false, or the removal of valid, ballot papers. What means might be employed to do either of these things – and why should anyone bother?

Activities

• Ask students to imagine, or even role-play, the sorts of things that might occur without such rules.

Glossary

Scrutineers - People appointed by the candidates to observe the voting, sorting and counting of the votes. They may check for any possible irregularities but they must not touch any ballot paper.