“It’s your vote; make it count”: How the Wannon frontrunners are preferencing this election

There has been a lot of talk about the power of preferences this election, so we wanted to explain how the system works and how to get the most out of your vote.

What’s the deal with preferences?

When you approach the ballot box this election with your House of Representatives voting card, the process is relatively simple – just number each candidate in the order of who you want to be your local federal MP for the next three years, from most preferred to least preferred.

When polling closes, the first vote count is on first preferences. If one candidate receives more than 50 percent of first preference votes, they are elected. However, with votes split between major parties, minor parties and Independents, it is only in very safe seats where this occurs.

If no candidate receives a majority of first preference votes, the next round of counting begins. The candidate who receives the least number of first preference votes is excluded, and their second preference votes are distributed to the remaining candidates.

If no candidate reaches more than 50 percent with these added preference votes, the next round of counting begins, on the excluded candidate’s third preferences. This process is repeated until a candidate receives an absolute majority.

Preferences may play a key role on May 3. Both Labor and the Coalition have seen their share of votes gradually decline over decades as minor parties and independent candidates grow in popularity.

What is a preference deal?

A preference deal essentially involves a political party making an agreement to have a message on their how to vote cards, suggesting how voters number the other candidates on their ballot.

How-to-vote cards are, importantly, merely a suggestion – and you don’t have to do what any candidate or MP asks. Think of it as a basic way for a politician to say “if you want to do 100% what I would like, then vote exactly like this.”

How the preferences stack up in West Vic

But where do our Wannon frontrunners, Liberal MP Dan Tehan and Independent Alex Dyson, position themselves in this conversation?

A quick scan of Tehan’s Instagram page will lead you to his how-to-vote card, which shows us the Liberal Party has placed the Family First Party at #2 in Wannon in both the upper and lower houses. This is fairly consistent with Coalition how-to-vote cards in other electorates, with either Family First or One Nation taking the #2 spot.

The Brolga has contacted Tehan for comment on the thinking behind his how-to-vote cards.

What is the Family First Party?

The Family First Party, according to the party website, “exists to restore Australia by restoring the primacy of family in public policy”. 

Family First is a minor party with strong Christian and pro-life attitudes, aiming to “encourage and incentivise monogamous, heterosexual marriage”. Lyle Shelton, a former Australian Christian Lobby boss, is the party’s National Director. Shelton was also a prominent leader for the “No” campaign during the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite.

Family First’s lower house candidate for Wannon, Lee-Ann Elmes, graduated from Edith Cowan University in 2017, developing a career in education, working as a youth leader, mentoring teens in leadership positions and community engagement. Elmes’ main focuses as a candidate are “youth empowerment”, “mental health advocacy”, and “community strengthening. 

Who has Alex Dyson preferenced?

Contrary to the rest of the candidates in the election race, Independent candidate for Wannon Alex Dyson has listed no preferences on his how-to-vote card. 

Explaining the rationale behind his decision to the Brolga, Dyson said he preferred to leave the voting up to the voters. 

“I don’t do preference deals or tell you how to order your ballot,” he said.

“Basically when you rock up to vote, the major parties will probably hand you a how-to-vote card with all the boxes already filled in for you to copy. Handy? Maybe. Designed to help them more than you? Absolutely.”

Dyson added that although parties can make these preference deals, they don’t have to dictate how voters make their decision.

“Here’s the thing the major parties don’t like saying - you get to choose where your vote goes, not them. In Australia’s preferential voting system, your vote keeps counting until someone is elected,” he said.

“It’s your vote; make it count.”