A ‘donkey vote’ occurs when a voter ranks candidates on a ballot in the order they appear, either from top to bottom or in reverse. This practice can be intentional when a voter does not have a preference or believes their choices align with the order. However, it may also happen unintentionally due to a misunderstanding of the voting process.
In Australia, donkey votes are considered valid and are counted as formal votes by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). The AEC does not keep track of how many donkey votes are cast in each election since they are included with general formal vote counts. Importantly, there is no legal penalty for casting a donkey vote, whether done intentionally or otherwise.
The distinction between donkey votes and informal votes is significant. Unlike donkey votes, informal votes do not count towards election outcomes. An informal vote might occur if a voter fails to follow the instructions on the ballot, such as leaving it blank or misnumbering the candidates. According to AEC, about 5% of votes in federal elections are classified as informal.
During a federal election in Australia, voters receive two ballots—one for the House of Representatives and another for the Senate—and must fill them out correctly for their votes to be counted. Common errors include skipping numbers, repeating them, or not adhering to instructions provided on the ballot. The AEC ensures that ballots reflecting a clear voter intention are admitted for counting.
In the House of Representatives, voters are required to number candidates in order of preference starting from 1. In the Senate, they can choose whether to vote above-the-line by ranking their preferred parties or groups, or below-the-line by numbering individual candidates. For above-the-line voting, at least six preferences must be indicated, while below-the-line voting requires numbering at least twelve candidates.
Overall, understanding donkey votes and their implications is crucial for Australian voters, particularly as elections approach and ballots must be correctly filled out to ensure every vote counts.