Voted early - way to go.

You are both forgetting one thing, political parties are not mentioned in the constitution. When you vote for your house of reps rep you are voting for an individual. Yes the parliaments have introduced legislation to accommodate the reality of party affiliation, mentioning them on the paper and allocating party funds and resources, but the parties are not actually part of our democratic system.

Same deal with PM. You don't elect a PM, you don't elect a party. You elect members. A group of members "pledge" to work as a government and they appoint a head to petition the Governor.

So for example after the election any random group in the parliament could form a government regardless of party affiliations and there is absolutely nothing unconstitutional in that. It is the EXPECTATION of the electorate that the party with the most members will form government and that they will be lead by the person proclaimed as leader before the election.

Also the Governor does not have to accept the petition and can rescind their charter at any time. Witness '75.

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Originally Posted by damian

You are both forgetting one thing, political parties are not mentioned in the constitution. When you vote for your house of reps rep you are voting for an individual. Yes the parliaments have introduced legislation to accommodate the reality of party affiliation, mentioning them on the paper and allocating party funds and resources, but the parties are not actually part of our democratic system. ...

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Yes, that's a very good and concise explanation of the rules.

Rules and reality aren't always the same thing. If you don't believe me take a short drive on Melbourne's roads sticking rigidly to the rules and see how long you last.

As you say the Party system is not in the constitution but there is an expectation that governments will be formed and run along party lines.

The parties create an expectation of who will support potential PM's in the newly elected parliament. Where things go astray is situations like Malcolm Turnbull, who was originally an ALP member but could not get preselection for a seat so he quit and joined the Liberal Party, eventually becoming PM. How would anyone know what to expect form someone whose affiliations can change like that?

The two major parties both learnt a lesson from the public when they ousted the elected leaders mid term. Regardless of the rules the public’s mindset is that they voted for an individual to be leader

For the first time in my life, I am considering an informal vote. I have a choice of six candidates. 4 fringe/lunatic parties and the 2 mainstream. Ultimately, it will come down to one of the 2 mainstream parties, so the fringe/lunatic candidates are really out of the question. Not that I would vote for them anyway.
The sitting member belongs to the party that, in my mind is very marginally the lesser of two very bad choices. However, the member himself is nothing more than an antagonistic, loud mouthed twit that is full of hot air and vague promises that don't eventuate. I couldn't bring myself to vote for him, even if it was my single vote that decided the outcome of the entire election.
The other mainstream candidate is a first time runner, so I don't know a lot about him, and he doesn't have a track record. Also, he belongs to the party that I believe is least capable of running this country. Not that I really believe that any of the current bunch of nincompoops could do it anyway.
What's a bloke supposed to do?
I want to cast a vote and make it count, but have less than zero faith in any of the candidates.

Edit: I am going to vote early.

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Originally Posted by damian

When you vote for your house of reps rep you are voting for an individual.

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True, but the vast majority of people only vote for that person because of the party colour. If that wasn't the case then it would be impossible/pretty hard for a no name like Luke what'shisface to get elected. Furthermore, that is why the majors spend such unbelievable money on a campaign - brand awareness, followed by individual awareness (whomever that individual happens to be). Really what they are doing when they go out to electorates with previously unelected people standing for them is saying "if you want to vote for our party then you need to vote for this particular d!ckhead that we've chosen this time". The Party has absolutely no interest in the electorate whatsoever - they just want numbers to form Govt. Perhaps I'm stating the bleeding obvious there.

It will be interesting to see what the blowflies at the school gates do in the electorates where they have disendorsed someone or that person has resigned. It sounds like the Bigot of Lyons is still going to run as an Inde. Presumably the party machine has to either reprint their how to vote propaganda or just destroy it. Actually they can't really reprint it because they can't nominate someone else now. Do they even bother showing up? What can they do if they do show up? They can't champion (even verbally) the resigned person, but nor can they say to vote against them. OTOH if they don't show up they are giving free kicks all round to the other parties in that electorate race. Fascinating stuff!

double post

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Originally Posted by cjbfisher

For the first time in my life, I am considering an informal vote.

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I guess there are a few things for you to consider. There are local issues and federal issues.
Is the current guy doing anything about local issues? From what you have said, apparently not so that would suggest voting for some change.
OTOH, you have indicated your (very slight) preference for his side to run the country, so that would suggest voting for Andrew. (you're in Bowman right?)

You could vote informal, and that is a legitimate vote, IMO. It sends a msg to all, but you have to make sure it looks like a deliberately informal vote, such as numbering each square with 6 (or even 7) and/or writing some message (which may or may not penetrate).

However, if I was in your position, and felt as you do, I'd be tempted to vote 1 Red, and 2 Blue, and then whatever else. The vote in 2016 was 50% Blue, 32% Red, so apparently pretty safe. I think that sends a fairly strong msg to the incumbent, actually. "I voted against you, but only up to the point where the loonies might get my vote". I think it would be interpreted as "I think you are crap, but not as crap as the other crap". Certainly I think it would say more than voting 1 Blue, and then whatever. So you'd have voted for his oppostion, but they probably won't get up, and his majority will be reduced - they don't like that much. It's probably quite humbling to lose a safe margin, and certainly means they know they have to work harder locally.

Preferential voting can be a powerful tool if used properly.

Here's a couple of links that may provide some more info for you.
Link 1
Link 2

I usually did the pre-poll thing and now get a postal vote. I don't listen to the rubbish they spout and have made up my mind and once the poll is declared I wait for my envelope, mark it as I wish, get it witnessed and sent off. Pity the ads don't stop then also.

There was a story on abc radio a yesterday on early voting. The bloke they interviewed from the EC was cagey about those who vote early without a "valid reason" but said every vote cast before election day took significant pressure of EC staff during the big day.

I prefer to vote on the day at the local school, get my democracy sausage and a cake to support the P&C.

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Originally Posted by AlexS

I prefer to vote on the day at the local school, get my democracy sausage and a cake to support the P&C.

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At the rate people are pre-polling by the time the actual election day comes along, Alex, you can have all the sausages and all the cakes. :oo:

I voted on Friday and had to queue for 45 minutes. There was nowhere to sit while in line and by the time I got there my back was aching something fierce. It undid all my Chiropractor's good work and I had to lie down for a couple of hours when I got home.

There are two pre-poll venues near me and they are both open two days per week - yes you guessed it - the same two days. If you can't get to the pre-poll on a Monday or a Friday you miss out. You would think they could be clever enough to stagger them to make it more available at more times.

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Originally Posted by AlexS

I prefer to vote on the day at the local school, get my democracy sausage and a cake to support the P&C.

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As it's on the way to the hardware I might drop by the local booth on the day and get a sausage or two,
Same as the Bunnings sausages, I don't actually eat them but the dogs like them and the buns as well.
The dogs salivate and drool if I pull up too close to the BBQ tents.

I must live in a totally safe seat as I have never even smelt a sausage in all of my years having to choose which offering is the least representative of my desires.

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Originally Posted by Bohdan

I must live in a totally safe seat as I have never even smelt a sausage in all of my years having to choose which offering is the least representative of my desires.

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At the 2013 election instead of the local primary school polling booth I went to one at a local child care centre. Now they had the right idea with a full on foodie thing happeneing; Gourmet sausages, wholemeal as well as the usual white sponge rubber buns, pies, other savouries, heaps of cakes, biscuits, preserves, pickles etc, All for a price of course, I think I spent about $40 all up. Not quite as good at the 2016 election - must drop by again this time

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Originally Posted by doug3030

Yes, that's a very good and concise explanation of the rules.

Rules and reality aren't always the same thing. If you don't believe me take a short drive on Melbourne's roads sticking rigidly to the rules and see how long you last.

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It's terrifying when I'm accused of doing something right. You are clearly not my wife...

I wasn't commenting on reality, just addressing the previous few posts that seemed to imply there was something illegal/immoral/unconstitutional about disendorsed candidates continuing on the ballot.

BobL has the right idea. I think I might pop down for a sausage on the day as unlike Bob I quite like them. I have the very great pleasure of living in an area where everyone half knows each other and I have the best neighbours imaginable. I am very happy to support local community groups.

For what little it's worth:

My political opinions have not changed an ounce since I was young. I have alway believed with great certainty that whichever party forms government we get mightily shafted. Since we can't stop the flow of sewage our way our only hope is to slow it, and our only method is the hung parliament. The more time they spend doing deals and knifing each other the less they have to interfere in our lives. Cynical ? Yes. Tell me I'm wrong...

So since I was 18 I've always voted independent or minor party. Doesn't really matter who you pick as none will ever get any real power, except the greens who are genuinely dangerous. Because I've alway lived in safe seats I have sometimes had no one but lib/lab/grn in thee reps and then with a tear in my eye and clenched teeth I have wasted my vote. It hurts because I want to believe in our democracy, but I can not bring myself to put a number above 0 in any of those boxes. I love optional preferential voting and wish we could number fewer squares than we do. I do love the new senate voting options. I spent a few hours prior choosing which raisins I'd pick out of the fruit cake. Quite amusing reading the policies and mission statements of some of them.

Remember while life is not perfect ours is pretty good. Most people in the world would love to have our problems as would most of the humans who have lived throughout our species existence. That we eat every day, have some small say in who governs us and are unlikely to get blown up or shot today make us very lucky indeed.

That was too much optimism. I need a nap...