I went to Pre Poll today. I got told by the Guy at the desk marking my name off the roll that if I made a mistake, just cross it out and put another number beside it.

I thought, that can"t be right, because there was a sign in there that said, if you make a mistake, just ask for a new form.

I said to him "What" I hope you have got good scrutineers seeing nobody else does that after the polling ends.

I think he thought I was a dipstick.

COWBOY wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:08pm:

I went to Pre Poll today. I got told by the Guy at the desk marking my name off the roll that if I made a mistake, just cross it out and put another number beside it. I thought, that can"t be right, because there was a sign in there that said, if you make a mistake, just ask for a new form. I said to him "What" I hope you have got good scrutineers seeing nobody else does that after the polling ends. I think he thought I was a dipstick.

It's better to be a perfectionist than risk an informal vote. I am not afraid to ask for a fresh ballot.

Page 31:

https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/candidates/files/scrutineers-handbook.pdf

"Alterations to numbers will not make a ballot
paper informal, provided the voter’s intention is
clear, for example a number can be crossed out
and another number written beside it."

greggerypeccary wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:14pm:

Page 31: https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/candidates/files/scrutineers-handbook.pdf "Alterations to numbers will not make a ballot paper informal, provided the voter’s intention is clear, for example a number can be crossed out and another number written beside it."

well that sounds like open slather

guess Palmer will have to keep his eye on them again

PZ547 wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:18pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:14pm: Page 31: https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/candidates/files/scrutineers-handbook.pdf "Alterations to numbers will not make a ballot paper informal, provided the voter’s intention is clear, for example a number can be crossed out and another number written beside it." well that sounds like open slather guess Palmer will have to keep his eye on them again

I've been a scrutineer at several elections.

When counting the votes there are scrutineers from all political parties watching, as well as the AEC representatives.

It's not a case of just the AEC people doing the count.

Labor, Liberal, Green, One Nation, etc. representatives are standing at the table too, watching every move.

It's all above board.

Volunteer as a scrutineer, and see for yourself.

It's actually quite an educational experience.

greggerypeccary wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:23pm:

PZ547 wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:18pm: greggerypeccary wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:14pm: Page 31: https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/candidates/files/scrutineers-handbook.pdf "Alterations to numbers will not make a ballot paper informal, provided the voter’s intention is clear, for example a number can be crossed out and another number written beside it." well that sounds like open slather guess Palmer will have to keep his eye on them again I've been a scrutineer at several elections. When counting the votes there are scrutineers from all political parties watching, as well as the AEC representatives. It's not a case of just the AEC people doing the count. Labor, Liberal, Green, One Nation, etc. representatives are standing at the table too, watching every move. It's all above board. Volunteer as a scrutineer, and see for yourself. It's actually quite an educational experience.

Yeah, I believe you.  I was married to one, once.  It thought itself a suburban Antony Green

but if it's so above board, why did Palmer get stuck into them and found AEC lacking, if memory serves

So the number doesn't have to be within the square then?

Bias_2012 wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:35pm:

So the number doesn't have to be within the square then?

say what you like about Lotto but they don't put up with any of that

Thanks Greggery. I am a much smarter person then I was when I woke up this morning.

greggerypeccary wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:23pm:

PZ547 wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:18pm: greggerypeccary wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:14pm: Page 31: https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/candidates/files/scrutineers-handbook.pdf "Alterations to numbers will not make a ballot paper informal, provided the voter’s intention is clear, for example a number can be crossed out and another number written beside it." well that sounds like open slather guess Palmer will have to keep his eye on them again I've been a scrutineer at several elections. When counting the votes there are scrutineers from all political parties watching, as well as the AEC representatives. It's not a case of just the AEC people doing the count. Labor, Liberal, Green, One Nation, etc. representatives are standing at the table too, watching every move. It's all above board. Volunteer as a scrutineer, and see for yourself. It's actually quite an educational experience.

And ... the scrutineers try every trick in the book to challenge votes for the other side.

It just takes one weak-minded returning officer to succumb to the desperate challenges made for vote to be wasted.

Never take a chance ... if you make a mistake, insist on a new ballot paper.

Never leave out a number on the green paper, it's just not worth the risk of having your vote declared informal.

I've been a scrutineer (many years ago) and believe me, there are some real bastards as scrutineers trying to get every single vote they can for their party.

The worst thing about compulsory voting is when there's only three or four candidates on the ticket and you can't stand any of the parties they represent making you spew all over the paper while filling it out

I had 8 candidates on my HoR paper. The first 3 was easy, I deliberated for about 10 minutes trying to decide the last 5.

Katter, ON, Palmer or Anning.

The last was easy, the liberals.

COWBOY wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 8:51am:

I had 8 candidates on my HoR paper. The first 3 was easy, I deliberated for about 10 minutes trying to decide the last 5. Katter, ON, Palmer or Anning. The last was easy, the liberals.

I feel your pain .... each one worse than the other. How does one choose?

I NEVER MAKE A MISTAKE 


cowboy...


NEVER! ;) ;)


always labor last.

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 9:03am:

I NEVER MAKE A MISTAKE  cowboy... NEVER! ;) ;) always labor last.

we know that cods, thats how we know you lie when you claim you didn't vote for the libs  :D :D

I am sitting back now, while my family have to go and due their duty. I have a big day today and tonight.

The families team the Titans at 3.00

My team the NQ Cowboys at 5.30

The  Saturday Treble with the Doomben Cup as one of the legs.

and the Main Event

Shorten  vs  Morrison

The first three are doubtful winners so I am looking to Shorten to bring home the bacon for me.

I also have a Relative David Smith who is a Candidate for the ACT seat of Bean. He is at $1.04 odds to take the seat.

I might have to be carried to bed as I have the fridge full.

sounds like a well thought out day. Enjoy!

Downe at Ye Olde Vote Counting Statione:-

"This vote looks like a number squiggle! Did this voter bring the grand-kids in and let them loose with pencils?"

"Nah - it's the working of a Fibernaci Figure, all you need to do is solve it before dinner and it'll be as clear as day... get cracking... still got a few million like it to settle ...."

Bias_2012 wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:35pm:

So the number doesn't have to be within the square then?

No.

If you make a mistake in the square, you can cross it out and put the new number next to the square.

I have just voted, and the queue was a lot shorter than usual. Instead of the usual 45-minute wait just to get to the front of the queue, I had finished everything in 25 minutes, including numbering and checking all 82 boxes below the line on the Victorian Senate ballot paper.

Who got #82? The Nats, as a protest against their corruption with water management.

greggerypeccary wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 11:34am:

Bias_2012 wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:35pm: So the number doesn't have to be within the square then? No. If you make a mistake in the square, you can cross it out and put the new number next to the square.

Or you can request a fresh ballot paper.

I prefer not to give hostile scrutineers the slightest excuse.

PZ547 wrote on May 17^th, 2019 at 4:18pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:14pm: Page 31: https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/candidates/files/scrutineers-handbook.pdf "Alterations to numbers will not make a ballot paper informal, provided the voter’s intention is clear, for example a number can be crossed out and another number written beside it." well that sounds like open slather guess Palmer will have to keep his eye on them again

will palmer have enough left in the kitty to pay his workers ?

at my polling station the sign said..


if you make a mistake

ask for a new form...

it said nothing about crossing out..... and I would hope it never will........

Is a donkey vote anyone that votes libtard ?

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 12:02pm:

at my polling station the sign said.. if you make a mistake ask for a new form... it said nothing about crossing out..... and I would hope it never will........

Let me guess you voted for Morrison who back stabbed poor poor tones  :'( :'(

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 12:02pm:

at my polling station the sign said.. if you make a mistake ask for a new form... it said nothing about crossing out..... and I would hope it never will........

Yes, the best thing to do is ask for a new form.

However, it's still a perfectly valid vote if you cross a number out and replace it with another one.

Bam wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 11:53am:

greggerypeccary wrote on May 18th, 2019 at 11:34am: Bias_2012 wrote on May 17th, 2019 at 4:35pm: So the number doesn't have to be within the square then? No. If you make a mistake in the square, you can cross it out and put the new number next to the square. Or you can request a fresh ballot paper. I prefer not to give hostile scrutineers the slightest excuse.

In all the years I've been scrutineering, I've never seen any hostility.

Quite the opposite, in fact - people from all parties seem to get on quite well during the count.

Its time wrote on May 18^th, 2019 at 12:20pm:

cods wrote on May 18th, 2019 at 12:02pm: at my polling station the sign said.. if you make a mistake ask for a new form... it said nothing about crossing out..... and I would hope it never will........ Let me guess you voted for Morrison who back stabbed poor poor tones  :'( :'(

I'm guessing cods voted for Mina Zaki, the Liberal Party candidate.

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Zaki migrated to Australia in 1991 as a seven year-old. She has lived in Canberra since 2016 and is a freelance journalist. Zaki appeared in the SBS documentary 'Muslims Like Us' in 2018.