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There are some problems with preferential voting in the Senate though as Antony Green raises (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-29/green-senate-ballot-system-t
by vaughan 13y ago
There are some problems with preferential voting in the Senate though as Antony Green raises (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-29/green-senate-ballot-system-threatens-more-than-our-eyesight/4921966 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-29/green-senate-ballot-sy...).
95% of Australians will defer to their parties' chosen preferences, rather than stating their preferences explicitly. This is mostly because you have to number hundreds of boxes if you chose to vote "below the line".
Some argue that parties' preferences will not always reflect the intention of the voter - but they get away with it because its too difficult to vote preferentially.
- Wingman4l7 13y agoA good demonstration of where theory fails in reality. I also hear that in practice, the third parties are basically bribed with minor legislative concessions if they form a coalition with a major party and cast the deciding vote in favor of their legislation. Still better than the third party not existing & having a say at all, though.