It's your choice

Now the cloud of dust has settled from the state election, I thought I would add my two cents worth on our means of voting.

This year was the first I was legally allowed to vote. Having had an interest in politics since middle school, I was very keen to have my say. Which I did....despite this my seat of Yerongpilly is still undecided....fantastic.

One thing that interested me about the state election was the means by which voters could express their support for candidates. Voters could choose one of to options; either place the number "1" in the box adjacent to the preferred candidate, or place their numbered preferences in all the boxes.

I believe voting is a private matter, however I am happy to disclose that I used the preferential system, placing my preferred candidates in my preferred order. The thing that upsets me is that this method is not compulsory for state elections.
I know it is compulsory in federal and local elections so why not state?

There are suggestions that the Full Preferential Voting (FPV) system was to blame for Australia's hung parliament during the 2010 election, however I believe this is best for the integrity and democracy of a nation. At the risk of sounding like a radical lefty, everyone should have a fair go.

There are some who say that, like Britain, we should adopt the system where by first past the post is the winner (FPTP). The ABC's election analyst Antony Green expresses this in his blog, http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2011/04/index.html. 


He writes; 
"The simplest re-interpretation of the Australian result using FPTP rules suggests the election would have produced a majority for the current opposition, the Liberal and National Party Coalition...yet despite evidence the Australian Coalition could have won under FPTP, both parties in the Coalition remain committed to retaining full preferential voting, the National Party even re-confirming its opposition to FPTP and the optional preferential AV system as recently as two weeks ago."

I agree with Green to an extent, some Australians would have much rather seen a clean victory then have to have put up with all the fuss over the Independents. However, I still believe that when voting for a leader who has more influence over your life then any other (i.e. the Premier of your state) the requirement should be given to show what you want from your leader, by showing all your preferences.