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System of government

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

 

System of government-References:

 

Total population

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

24,179,300

 

Total population-References:

 

Total area (in square kilo meters)

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

7,692,024 km²

 

Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:

 

Number of registered voters

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

15 696 874

 

Number of registered voters-References:

 

Number of registered political parties

Last Updated : 2016-11-28

**Eligible by number of seats won

- Liberal Party

- Labor Party

- Liberal National Party (QLD)

- The Nationals (National Party of Australia)

**Eligible by popular votes won

- The Greens

- Palmer United Party

- Katter’s Australian Party

 

Number of registered political parties-References:

 

Number of polling stations

Last Updated : 2016-09-21

7 000+Polling places operating from 8am to 6pm on election day, Saturday 2 July.

Number of polling stations-References:

 

Average number of voters per polling station

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Average number of voters per polling station-References:

 

Voting age

Last Updated : 2016-08-31

18

 

Voting age-References:

 

Elected Offices

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Election system

Last Updated : 2016-09-23

Alternative Vote(Chamber 1)

Members of the House of Representatives are directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority preferential vote to serve 3-year terms. 

 

Election system-References:

 

Terms of office

Last Updated : 2016-09-23

In the Senate, members are directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 6-year terms. In the Senate, there are 12 members from each of the 6 states and 2 members from each of the 2 mainland territories. One-half of state membership is renewed every 3 years, and territory membership is renewed every 3 years.

 

Terms of office-References:

 

Election

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

2016 Australian federal election

 

Election-References:

 

Date

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

2016-07-02

 

Date-References:

 

Political parties in the elections

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

57 parties are registered for the 2016 federal election.

 

Political parties in the elections-References:

 

Number of elected candidates

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

226

 

Number of elected candidates-References:

 

Voter turnout

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

95%

Voter turnout-References:

 

Number of ballots cast

Last Updated : 2016-09-22

+13,000,000

 

Number of ballots cast-References:

 

Legal framework for elections

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

Part of Constitution - Separate legislation - Regulations or administrative rules

 

Legal framework for elections-References:

 

Legal provisions

Last Updated : 2016-11-04

Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level

All proposed constitutional amendments must be submitted to a binding referendum. Australia requires a referendum for amendments to the constitution, and instruments of direct democracy are also used in several of the Australian states 

 

Legal provisions-References:

 

Referenda

Last Updated : 2016-11-23

Subject to sections 42 and 43, the voting at a referendum shall be taken throughout Australia on the day appointed by the writ for the referendum for taking the votes of the electors.

 

42 Adjournment of voting

             (1)  The presiding officer at a polling booth may adjourn the voting at a referendum at that polling booth from day to day if the voting is interrupted by:

                     (a)  riot or open violence; or

                     (b)  the threat of riot or open violence; or

                     (c)  storm, tempest, flood or an occurrence of a similar kind; or

                     (d)  a health hazard; or

                     (e)  a fire or the activation of fire safety equipment (such as sprinklers or alarms); or

                      (f)  anything else related to:

                              (i)  the safety of voters; or

                             (ii)  difficulties in the physical conduct of the voting.

             (2)  If from any cause any polling booth at a polling place is not opened on the voting day at a referendum the presiding officer at the polling booth may adjourn the voting for a period not exceeding 21 days, and shall forthwith give public notice of the adjournment.

43  Adjournment at both referendum and election

                   Where:

                     (a)  the voting day for a referendum is the same as that fixed for the polling at an election; and

                     (b)  the presiding officer at a polling booth adjourns the polling at the election to a particular day pursuant to section 241 or 242 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918;

the presiding officer shall adjourn the voting at the referendum to the same day.

 

Referenda-References:

 

People’s Initiatives

Last Updated : 2016-11-28

N/A

 

People’s Initiatives-References:

 

Recall Votes

Last Updated : 2016-12-12

N/A

 

Recall Votes-References:

 

Official name

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

Australian Electoral Commission

 

Official name -References:

 

Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

  to deliver the franchise: that is, an Australian citizen's right to vote, as established by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

 

Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions-References:

 

Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

Independent

 

Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:

 

EMB budget source

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

A national government department

 

EMB budget source-References:

 

EMB expenditure audit

Last Updated : 2016-09-27

A national government department

 

EMB expenditure audit-References:

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

1 - 10 members

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

For a specified number of years

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?

Last Updated : 2016-09-05

Executive - Judiciary

 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:

 

Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

Last Updated : 2016-12-12

N/A

 

Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:

 

Administrative divisions

Last Updated : 2016-11-23

is divided into six states and two territories.

Australian Capital Territory.

New South Wales.

Northern Territory.

Queensland.

South Australia.

Tasmania.

Victoria.

Western Australia.

Administrative divisions -References:

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)

Last Updated : 2016-11-23

The Augmented Electoral Commission consists of the three person electoral commission, appointed under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, as well as the following officers: the Australian electoral officer for the state, who is a statutory officer appointed under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, and who heads the Australian Electoral Commission's administrative structures in the state; the surveyor-general from the state government of the state (or, where the state has no surveyor-general, a person nominated by the relevant state minister as holding an office equivalent to that of surveyor-general); and the auditor-general from the government of the state

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

"Equality" of population - Respecting natural barriers - Communities of interest/cultural concerns ? Etc.

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:

 

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

Boundary Commission - Electoral Management Body (EMB)

 

Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:

 

Requirements on the right to vote

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Reasons for having the right to vote revoked

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Electoral Eligibility

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Reasons for having the eligibility revoked

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Requirements for party registration

Last Updated : 2016-08-31

Signature requirement - Other

 

Requirements for party registration-References:

 

Candidate nomination

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Nomination by political parties

- Self nomination (independents)

Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Requirement

- Period

- Method

- Application form

- Acceptance and notice

- Restriction/Prohibition on candidate registration

Candidate registration deposit

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Amount of fee

- Return of fee

Uncontested Election

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Preparation of the voters list

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Who is responsible for the voters list

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voters list preparation procedure

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Inspection and objection procedure

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Definition

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Period

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Methods

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Prohibited forms of campaigning

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Who is not permitted to campaign

Campaign Finance

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Campaign expense limit

- Income and expenditure of campaign expense

- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure

- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions

- Reimbursement of campaign expense

Presiding officers

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① How many of officers in a polling station

② Roles of each officer

③ How we nominate the officers

Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Polling station location criteria

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voting hours

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voting

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① Is compulsory or voluntary?

② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?

Ballot Paper

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots

② What has to be included in the ballot paper?

③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper

④ Valid and invalid ballot paper

Voting Procedures

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Start ofvoting

- Process of voting

- End of voting

Marking method

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① Who are subjected to do

② Voting procedures

Counting Location

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

The polling stations

 

Counting Location-References:

 

Counting period

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Vote counting method

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Counting Procedures

Last Updated : 2016-08-23

Separate ballots for different elections - Preliminary count of all ballots in ballot box - Number of ballots reconciled against ballots initially received (minus spoilt and unused) - Each ballot paper held up for public scrutiny, with name of party/candidate called out loud - Sorted into piles according to individual party/candidate - Counted by hand - Sorted by party list - Transfer ballots from party/candidate with least support to second preference - Data fed into computer for calculation - Observers and party agents are permitted to take their own copies of the results

Counting Procedures-References:

 

When are ballots recounted?

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

Always recounted by request

When are ballots recounted?-References:

 

Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?

Last Updated : 2016-09-06

 an Australian citizen aged 18 years or older,

 intending to return to Australia within six years.

Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:

 

Overseas voters list preparation

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Where to vote

Last Updated : 2016-09-06

overseas voting centre. 

Where to vote-References:

 

Voting procedure for early voting

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Methods used to transport ballot papers

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Counting procedure

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Apportioning of National Assembly seats

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Results Announcement

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Is the announcement of preliminary result required?

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Deadline for announcement of final results

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Reason for holding a by- or re-election

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

By-election dates

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Electoral process

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

Based on mixture of principles

 

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:

 

Television debates

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

no

 

Television debates-References:

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

2-3 days

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution body

Last Updated : 2016-11-03

Court of general jurisdiction (including Supreme Court)  

Electoral dispute resolution body-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-11-15

Maximum complaint time since occurrence or discovery : 40 days

ElectoralAct 1918 (2007), Part 22 Court of Disputed Returns, p 394

 

355Requisites of petition

(e) be filed in the Registry of the High Court within 40 days after:

(i) if the polling day for the election in dispute is not the polling day for any other election?the return of the writ

for theelection; or

(ii) if the polling day for the election in dispute is also the polling day for another election or other elections?the

return of whichever of the writs for the election in dispute and that other election or those other elections is

returned last;or

(iii) if the choice or the appointment of a person to hold the place of a Senator under section 15 of the Constitution

is indispute?the notification of that choice or appointment. 

Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:

 

Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:

 

Direct public funding

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

in relation to campaigns

 

Direct public funding-References:

 

Private funding of political parties

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- If so, is there limit on the amount a donor can contribute to candidate or political party

Regulation, monitoring and investigation

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

Sanctions include Fines, and Prison

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

EMB 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:

 

Which electoral processes are using ICTs?

Last Updated : 2016-11-03

- E-voting : Direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines with and without voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT), Internet voting systems

Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:

 

When it was introduced

Last Updated : 2016-12-12

N/A

 

When it was introduced-References:

 

Gender equality

Last Updated : 2016-11-15

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 11,343,812 (July 2015 est.)

·         Is Australia a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Australia ratified CEDAW: Yes (28 July 1983)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election:

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 68 (30.01%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 2

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Gender equality-References:

 

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters

Last Updated : 2016-12-12

What if I need assistance to vote?

Assistance is provided if the polling official in charge of the polling place is satisfied that you are unable to vote without help. The following electors may seek help:

• the elderly;
• people with a disability (including visual impairment);
• non-literate people;
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Polling staff are trained on how to assist you.

You can nominate any person (except a candidate) to assist. This person could be a friend or relative, a Scrutineer or a party worker. If you do not nominate someone, then the polling official in charge will provide assistance.

If the polling official in charge is the one providing assistance, Scrutineers have the right to be present while the ballot papers are filled in.

If assistance is being provided by a person nominated by you, you and the nominated assistant enter an unoccupied polling booth. The assistant helps to complete, fold and deposit the ballot paper in the ballot box. In this situation Scrutineers ARE NOT allowed to enter the polling booth while the ballot paper is being completed.

My relative or friend requires assistance to vote. Am I allowed to assist them?

If an elector requires assistance, they are able to choose the person who assists them, whether they vote at a polling place or are a postal vote.

If the elector cannot sign, they must make a mark and it must be appropriately witnessed. The witness must identity the fact that the elector made the mark by adding the words 'his mark' or 'her mark' above the elector's mark; and printing the elector's given name(s) to the left of the mark, and the elector's surname to the right of the mark. The person acting as witness must then sign as the witness.

Can I tell an official that someone I know will not be able to vote?

You may advise a polling official of the illness, death or other circumstances of another person. These details will be recorded in an elector information report. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to vote for another person. Although the polling official will record all the information you have given them, they are unable to tell you whether that person will be fined for not voting. This decision can only be made by the returning officer for that division.

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:

 

Voter education

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

Continuously

 

Voter education-References:

 

National civic education

Last Updated : 2016-08-18

conducted by the National Electoral Management Body - conducted by the Government

 

National civic education-References:

 

EMB Staff education

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

EMB Staff education-References:

 

Domestic observation

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

International observation

Last Updated : 2016-11-23

The Australian Electoral Commission's International services objectives include enhancing the consolidation of democracy and good governance by developing and implementing programs for the provision of high quality electoral assistance, and to enable AEC staff to participate in the implementation of electoral procedures in a quite different context from that of Australia. 

International observation-References:

 

Partnerships/MoUs

Last Updated : 2016-11-23

The Australian Electoral Commission's International services objectives include enhancing the consolidation of democracy and good governance by developing and implementing programs for the provision of high quality electoral assistance, and to enable AEC staff to participate in the implementation of electoral procedures in a quite different context from that of Australia.

 

The AEC undertakes international electoral work in accordance with paragraph  7(1)(fa) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 ("Functions and Powers of Commission") in close cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and, in relation to peacekeeping, the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Federal Police.

 

The majority of the funding for the AEC's international work comes from outside the AEC, from bodies such as AusAID, the Commonwealth  Secretariat, the United Nations, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). The AEC has developed strong working relationships with all these bodies and actively pursues networking with its counterparts in the Asian, Pacific and Southern African regions, particularly  through the PIANZEA Network.

 

AEC officers have provided expert electoral assistance in a range of countries including Bangladesh, Botswana, Cambodia, East Timor, Ethiopia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), South Africa, Tanzania and Zanzibar, Uganda, Western Sahara, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. AEC officers assist as advisers, observers, and polling officials. AEC officers have also been made available to serve in a private capacity in Croatia, Montenegro, Liberia, Kosovo and Albania.

 

The AEC also hosts electoral study tours for visiting overseas delegations, Study tour programmes include information sessions presented by AEC officers in areas such as electoral legislation, election operations, information technology, information and education, funding and disclosure. Delegations from Bangladesh, Fiji, Malaysia, Namibia, Samoa, South Africa,Thailand and Uganda and have undertaken AEC study tours.

Partnerships/MoUs-References:

 

International Activities

Last Updated : 2016-11-23

undertaking technical assistance and electoral capacity building projects with the electoral authorities of other countries to ensure that sufficient skills and resources are available within a community to carry out the requirements for future elections;

participation in election observation missions, in countries such as South Africa;

survey missions for the planning of peacekeeping operations in countries such as Cambodia; and

high level and middle level management and policy work in peacekeeping operations involving elections.

 

International Activities-References:

 

Major challenges to elections

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Major challenges to elections-References:

 

Measures taken to deal with those Challenges

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Measures taken to deal with those Challenges-References: