Electoral (Voter’s Choice) Amendment Bill 2019* (Qld)

An Act to amend the Electoral Act 1992 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Electoral (Voter's Choice) Amendment Act 2019.

2 Act amended This Act amends the Electoral Act 1992.

3 Amendment of s 2 (Definitions) (1) Section 2, definition continuing candidate— omit. (2) Section 2, definition first preference vote, after 'number 1'— insert— , or a tick or a cross,

4 Amendment of s 102 (Supply of ballot papers and electoral rolls) Section 102(3)— omit, insert— (3) The ballot papers to which subsection (2) applies must contain the following sentences— • Place the number 1, or a tick or a cross, in the square opposite the candidate of your choice. • You may, if you wish, indicate your preference for additional candidates by numbering the other squares in your preferred order.

5 Amendment of s 122 (How electors must vote) Section 122(2)— omit, insert— (2) An elector may vote by writing on a ballot paper— (a) to indicate the elector's preference for only 1 candidate—the number 1, or a tick or a cross, in the square opposite the name of the candidate; or (b) to indicate the elector's preferences for more than 1, but not necessarily all, of the candidates— (i) the number 1, or a tick or a cross, in the square opposite the name of the candidate who is the elector's first preference; and (ii) the numbers 2, 3 and so on in the squares opposite the names of any of the other candidates to indicate the order of the elector's preferences for them.

6 Amendment of s 123 (Formal and informal ballot papers) (1) Section 123(1)(a), after 'voter's intended'— insert— preference or (2) Section 123(2) and (2A)— omit, insert— (2) Despite section 122(3), a ballot paper is taken to contain writing or markings that indicate the voter's intended order of preferences, even though— (a) the ballot paper contains 2 or more squares in which the same number is written or marked; or (b) there is a break in the order of the preferences indicated in writing or marks in the squares on the ballot paper. (2A) For the purpose of counting the votes indicated on a ballot paper mentioned in subsection (2), each of the following numbers written or marked in a square on the ballot paper is to be disregarded— (a) a number that is repeated in 2 or more squares and any higher number; (b) a number that indicates a preference after a break in the order of preferences indicated on the ballot paper.