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In politics, the countback method is a way of filling casual vacancies in proportional voting systems. Casual vacancies are filled re-examining the ballot paper's data from the previous election. The candidate who held the seat is eliminated, and a new election result is obtained by transferring votes that were originally allocated to the elected candidate at the time of their election to unsuccessful candidates. This process maintains the proportionality of the representation according to the voters' choice without the need and associated costs of holding fresh elections.
Uses
Countbacks are used in Malta,[1] the Australian Capital Territory,[2] Tasmania,[3][4] Victoria,[5] and Western Australia,[6] and at some Councils in New South Wales.[7]
Problems
Countback methods are most often used together with the single transferable vote, which causes substantial problems.[citation needed] Countbacks vary by whether or not wasted and exhausted ballots are additionally used during the countback. The effect this has on the result of the countback depends on the differences in the next preferences of voters. Moreover, in STV systems that use exhausted ballots during countbacks, it becomes theoretically possible that the order of multiple resignations will affect who the ultimate replacements are - this is a consequence of the order of election as votes allocated to elected candidates are locked that value of which are no longer used in the determination of the election of further vacancies. Additionally, if ballots are allowed to be exhausted in the election, then by either method it remains possible that the chosen replacement will only meet a fraction of a quota of voters; when this fraction is particularly small, and therefore no similar candidates remain on the ballot, election rules may call for a different method of filling the vacancy to be used.
Insufficient candidates
Although the countback method is designed to select a replacement representing the same group of voters who elected the original candidate, it remains possible that no similar candidates remain on the ballot. In 1985 the Tasmanian Parliament amended the Electoral Act to allow true by-elections if no candidates of the same party as the outgoing representative remained on the ballot; in this circumstance the party may request that a by-election be held, however this has not yet happened as most political parties and community groups now nominate a surplus number of candidates in order to fill any casual vacancies.
References
- ^ Bonnici, Julian (23 March 2022). "How Malta's Voting System Works: A Guide To The General Election". Lovin Malta. 9. What is a casual election?. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Hare-Clark electoral system". Elections ACT. Filling casual vacancies. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
Only unsuccessful candidates who contested the original election and who choose to contest the casual vacancy can be elected in a 'casual vacancy countback'.
- ^ "Local government vacancies since the 2022 elections". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Recounts. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "House of Assembly elections". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Previous Elections. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Council countbacks and by-elections". Victorian Electoral Commission. Countback. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Bowe, William (31 January 2023). "The spoils of defeat". The Poll Bludger. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
On the other side of the aisle, Labor is negotiating a less consequential but electorally noteworthy difficulty arising from the retirement of high-profile former minister Alannah MacTiernan and the resulting vacancy for her South West region upper house seat. Such vacancies are filled through a countback of ballot papers from the previous election and not with the favoured nominee of the party, as in the Senate. The top three of Labor's six candidates on the South West ticket were elected in 2021, and in the normal course of events the countback would elect the next candidate along. However, The West Australian reports the candidate in question, John Mondy, is 'understood to be reluctant' to tear himself away from a successful Bunbury signwriting business to spend two years as a parliamentarian.
- ^ "Countback elections". NSW Electoral Commission. Councils using countback elections. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
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