EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ADVISORY COUNCIL ELECTION REGULATIONS

No. 10 of 1959

	These regulations amend the Advisory Council Election Regulations in the manner set out below.

(a)  Names of candidates on the ballot paper are to be grouped according to group affiliations, as is done in Senate elections.

(b)  The order of groups and ungrouped candidates on the ballot paper are to be decided by a ballot held by the Returning Officer.  This is not the same as in Senate elections where groups appear on the ballot paper before ungrouped candidates.

(c)  The deposit of a candidate is to be returned :-

(i)	if the total number of votes polled in his favour as first preferences is more than one-tenth of the average number of first preferences polled by the successful candidates; or

(ii)	where the name of a candidate is included in a group, if the average number of votes polled in favour of the candidates included in the group as first preferences is more than one-tenth of the average number of first preference votes polled by the successful candidates.

This provision is in line with Senate elections practice.

(d)  An elector’s vote is to be formal if it indicates the order of the voter’s preferences down to the number of candidates to be elected.  The voter may, however, indicate as many additional preferences as he wishes, and all that are clearly indicated will be counted.

(e)  To correct certain inconsistencies and cases of duplication, the opportunity has been taken to revise the exceptions and modifications of the Commonwealth Electoral Act insofar as the Act is applied to Advisory Council elections.  There are no changes in principle involved.