Making decisions on formality
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Key provisions in the
Referendum Act
Section 24 of the
Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act
1984 (Referendum Act) sets out the manner of voting:
The voting at a referendum shall be by ballot and each
elector shall indicate his or her vote:
(a) if the elector approves the proposed law—by writing
the word “
Yes” in the space provided on the bal ot paper;
(b) if the elector does not approve the proposed law—by
writing the word “
No” in the space so provided.
Key provisions in the
Referendum Act
Section 93 of the Referendum Act sets out the formality requirements:
(1) A ballot paper is informal if:
(a) …[no official mark]
(b) it has no vote marked on it or the voter’s intention is not clear;
(c) it has more than one vote marked on it;
(d) it has upon it any mark or writing (not authorized by this Act or
by the regulations to be put upon it) by which, in the opinion of a
Divisional Returning Officer, the voter can be identified.
Key provisions in the
Referendum Act
Section 93 also provides:
(8) Effect shall be given to a ballot paper of a voter according to
the voter’s intention, so far as that
intention is clear.
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www.aec.gov.au/Elections/candidates/formality
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Foreign languages
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