'Stupid' or misled? Voters demand AEC explain booth's 45pc informal vote
www.abc.net.au
Residents of a small NSW town say incorrect how-to-vote information from Australian Electoral Commission staff meant almost half their federal election ballots were invalid.

In short:

Almost half of those who voted in the federal election in a small northern NSW town had their votes declared invalid.

Residents who voted at the Missabotti voting centre say AEC staff provided them incorrect how-to-vote information.

What’s next?

The AEC is investigating the allegations of voting misinformation.

  • ZagorathEnglish
    31·
    5 days ago

    Do people really not read the instructions on the ballot?

    I never have. I already know how to vote, from over a decade of voting, and even longer of discussing elections and having an amateur interest in psephology.

    I don’t listen to what the AEC workers say either.

    • zero_gravitasEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      I already know how to vote, from over a decade of voting, and even longer of discussing elections and having an amateur interest in psephology.

      Haha, well, yes, same. But imagining I’m the average disengaged voter who hasn’t planned their vote ahead of time and I’m arriving at the polling place not totally clear on what I’m doing? I think I’d probably read the instructions. Maybe I’m kidding myself though.

      • Hanrahan@slrpnk.netEnglish
        3·
        4 days ago

        Haha, well, yes, same. But imagining I’m the average disengaged voter who hasn’t planned their vote ahead of time

        If you’ve put that much thought into our democracy, does your vote matter anyway ?

        But I do think AEC staff giving wrong info is terrible.