Ballot Paper Formality
Ballot Paper Formality
On 2 July 2008, the Court of Disputed Returns handed down a decision about disputed ballot papers in the 2007 federal election for the Division of McEwen. The decision provided the AEC with guidance on a range of issues relating to how we interpret the Electoral Act in making decisions about the formality of ballot papers. In August 2008 the AEC commissioned an independent review to examine the implications of the court's decision, which was completed in late 2008.
Together, the court decision and the review report provide the AEC with clear guidance on how decisions should be made about the formality of ballot papers, and how to apply the formality rules in the Electoral Act. The principles of formality provide guidance on the identification of formal and informal House of Representatives and Senate ballot papers.
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