Electoral (Voter's Choice) Amendment Bill 2019
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill sought to reintroduce optional preferential voting for Queensland state elections, meaning voters would only need to mark their first choice candidate rather than numbering every box on the ballot paper. It was a private member's bill introduced by Mr David Janetzki and linked to the voting system originally recommended by the post-Fitzgerald Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. The bill lapsed at the end of the 56th Parliament and did not become law.
Who it affects
All Queensland voters would have gained more flexibility in how they fill out their ballot papers. Political parties would have seen reduced influence from preference deals, since voters would no longer be compelled to number every candidate.
Key changes
- Voters would only need to mark one candidate with a '1', tick, or cross — numbering all candidates would no longer be required
- Additional preferences (2, 3, etc.) could be numbered optionally for as many or as few other candidates as the voter wished
- Ballot papers would carry new instructions explaining the optional preferential system
- Numbering mistakes such as repeated numbers or gaps would no longer automatically make the entire vote informal — preferences would count up to the point of error
- Votes would 'exhaust' and drop out of the count if all numbered preferences were eliminated before a winner was determined
Bill Journey
▸Committee18 Sept 2019View Hansard
Referred to Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee
The Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee examined the bill over five months, receiving nine submissions and holding a public briefing and hearing. The committee recommended the bill not be passed, despite acknowledging arguments on both sides of the optional preferential voting debate. LNP members dissented, filing a Statement of Reservation supporting the bill's intent to restore optional preferential voting as recommended by the post-Fitzgerald Electoral and Administrative Review Commission.
Key findings (5)
- The bill sought to reintroduce optional preferential voting (OPV) for Queensland state elections, replacing the compulsory preferential voting (CPV) system restored in 2016.
- Supporters argued OPV gives voters greater choice and reduces informal voting rates, noting informality more than doubled from 2.11% to 4.34% after CPV was reintroduced at the 2017 election.
- Opponents raised concerns that OPV can devolve into a de facto first-past-the-post system, particularly when parties run 'Just vote 1' campaigns, potentially allowing candidates to win with less than half the vote.
- Stakeholders were divided on whether exhausted votes under OPV represent a valid expression of voter preference or an undemocratic loss of representation.
- Several submitters argued the bill's scope was too narrow and that broader electoral reform, including proportional representation, was needed to address the disconnect between vote share and parliamentary seats.
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends that the Electoral (Voter's Choice) Amendment Bill 2019 not be passed.
Committee report tabled