Description
Book SynopsisProvides a comprehensive study of the design of Australian electoral systems. This book focuses on the two electoral systems, both 'preferential', that are most closely associated with Australia: namely the alternative vote and the single transferable vote. It examines voter reaction to these systems, both in Australia and also cross-nationally.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments; Abbreviations; 1 Australian electoral system design; Australian electoral systems: origins and variation; Studying the operation of Australia's electoral systems; Locating preferential electoral systems in Australia; Assessing Australia's electoral systems; 2 Australia's national electoral systems, 1902-83; Early debates over electoral system design; The 1902 Commonwealth Electoral Act; The adoption of AV for House of Representatives; Reform of the Senate electoral system, 1918-83; Conclusion: accident and intent in electoral system design; 3 Australia's contemporary electoral systems; Australia's evolving electoral systems; The alternative vote and its variants; The single transferable vote and its variants; Australia's experiments with alternatives to AV and STV; Conclusion; 4 Preferential systems and their consequences; AV as a non-proportional system; STV as a proportional system; Preferential systems and the fate of individual candidates; Conclusion; 5 The voter versus the party; Party service among election candidates; Candidates views of their representative roles; Campaign activity by Australian parliamentary candidates; Conclusion; 6 Compulsory voting, party control and the voter; Compulsory voting in Australia; Preferential voting and the strategic voter; Ticket voting and the 'preferential voter'; Compulsion, complexity and voter engagement; Conclusion; 7 Preferential systems and voter satisfaction; Ballot structures and democracy; Preferential Systems and voter satisfaction with democracy; Electoral systems and political attitudes; Conclusion; 8 Preferential voting and electoral system design; The politics of electoral system design; Variations in electoral system families; Electoral and behavioural consequences; From innovation to stagnation: electoral system design; Where to now?; Appendix; Notes; Bibliography; Index.
