But how is it so slow? We’d have far more results than that in Australia, despite a much more complicated process where we have to do the first count just like this, and then additionally distribute preferences. And then also count the Senate results.
Does your electoral commission just not hire enough people?
I’m from Australia, and here I know that it’s a fairly common misconception that the AEC vote counting staff are volunteers. But they’re not. They’re hired to work on the day, and only on the day, with a little online training beforehand. They’re paid minimum wage at casual loading rates. Usually they work the whole day issuing votes and then switch to counting once polls have closed. There are also “scrutineers”, who are volunteers (IIRC they legally must be volunteers, not paid) representing the candidates/parties, who watch the counting process and may challenge how a ballot has been counted, but may not ever touch.
But how is it so slow? We’d have far more results than that in Australia, despite a much more complicated process where we have to do the first count just like this, and then additionally distribute preferences. And then also count the Senate results.
Does your electoral commission just not hire enough people?
Possibly, I think it might actually involve a lot of volunteers.
Hmm, how confident are you in that?
I’m from Australia, and here I know that it’s a fairly common misconception that the AEC vote counting staff are volunteers. But they’re not. They’re hired to work on the day, and only on the day, with a little online training beforehand. They’re paid minimum wage at casual loading rates. Usually they work the whole day issuing votes and then switch to counting once polls have closed. There are also “scrutineers”, who are volunteers (IIRC they legally must be volunteers, not paid) representing the candidates/parties, who watch the counting process and may challenge how a ballot has been counted, but may not ever touch.
Does it need to be any quicker? It’s not really important to get the results in by 4am instead of 7am, surely?