Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Electoral Act to be amended

The Electoral Commissioner had identified and requested a number of reforms to improve the administration of State elections in Victoria and improve the operational efficiency of the Electoral Commission.

The reforms will bring the Victorian Electoral Act into line with the Commonwealth Act.

The Bill amends the Act to eliminate the possibility of optional preferential voting through putting the same preference number against candidates other than the voter’s first preference. These amendments bring the act into line with recent amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral Act in this regard.

The Bill contains a number of other amendments:

• Removing subdivisions, which are no longer necessary now that rolls are computer generated.
• Increasing candidates’ deposits in Victorian elections from $250 to $350 for Legislative Assembly and from $250 to $700 for the Legislative Council, bringing them into line with Commonwealth requirements.
• Prohibiting the publication of exit poll results before the close of voting.
• Prohibiting a candidate at a State election standing for more than one District or Province.
• Permitting assistance outside the polling place for blind and disabled voters.
• Expansion of the categories of registered general postal voters to include carers, silent voters and persons who are unable to vote at a polling booth because of religious beliefs.
• Allowing overseas electors to retain elector status for six years instead of three years, in line with changes to the Commonwealth Act.

(News Release, Office of the Attorney-General, April 15, 1999)