Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 2004 The Alternative Vote : In Theory and Practice Vanessa Beckingham Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Election Law Commons Recommended Citation Beckingham, V. (2004). The Alternative Vote : In Theory and Practice. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/ 952 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/952 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. A court may impose penalties and award damages in relation to offences and infringements relating to copyright material. Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. THE ALTERNATIVE VOTE: IN THEORY AND PRACTICE BY VANESSA BECKINGHAM BA (ARTS) A thesis submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Government) with Honours Faculty of Community Services, Education and Social Sciences Edith Cowan University Date of Submission: II March 2004 USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. Abstract The idea of choosing political representatives through elections has its origins in ancient times. More recently, democratic values have been united with the concept of elected representative government. This then places a great deal of importance on the system used to elect these representatives, since this system must satisfy an impressive range of democratic values, as well as being effective and simple enough for the voter to understand. The electoral system chosen will reflect those values and outcomes which those who introduce the system wish to bring about. Sometimes this may be proportional representation, which means seats allocated in direct pr..;;JOrtion to votes obtained, which often comes at the risk of unstable coalition governments but that represents minority groups quite adequately. On the other hand, majority rule by one major party (or coalition) may be sought through a plurality voting system (or first-past-the­ post). The alternative vote (AV), often called preferential voting, is an electoral system which combines considerations of stable majority rule as well as the preferences of those who support minority party views in society. This is done through the listing of preferences on the ballot paper, which enables those whose first preferences arc eliminated from the count to still affect the final result. The AV has been refined and implemented largely in Australia, both at a federal level to elect members to the House of Representatives, and in most state lower houses. Outside of Australia the AV has been used very little. This study looks at the AV in Australia, both in theory and in practice. The origins of election and representative government are traced to provide a conceptual background to the study. Both the history and outcomes of the AV are coverW at a federal level, as well as considering Western Australia as an example of its use at a state level. /Jso considered is the optional variant of the AV, as is used in the state lower houses of New South Wales and Queensland. This study uses focus groups as the methodological tool with which to detennine: firstly, how well the AV is understood by West Australian voters; and secondly, what these voters think of this system as a method of electing their representatives to the Legislative Assembly in Western Australia. The outcomes of the AV, in both Western Australia and the Commonwealth, have sometimes been different than those who introduced the system anticipated. Most predictable, and indeed one of the main reasons behind it's introduction, has the been the prevention of vote-splitting between non-Labor groupings. This, however, has proved more effective on a federal level than in Western Australia. Other outcomes include the fonnation of a stable two-party system of politics, and the election of candidates and governments which have the support of an absolute majority of voters. The AV has also sustained the presence of some minor parties, particularly the National (formerly Country) Party. Interesting, and less predictable in earlier years, is the way in which the AV has facilitated a 'politics of the centre' in the Australian context. In recent times, preferences have become more important in determining election 2 outcomes, as the number of minor panics and independents contesting lower house seats in Australia increases, and also as the number ofvotes for major parties decreases. Finally, the focus group research uncovered a marked lack of understanding of the AV amongst voters in Western Australia. 1hus a primary recommendation arising from this study is that better civic educatior. is required to ensure that the AV is used to its full potential by voters, which will then achieve fully one of the original intentions behind it's introduction· to negate the effect of the 'wasted vote'. 3 Declaration I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: (I) lnoocpomte Mlhout •dmowlodgmom wty matorial proviously subntittod for a dogroe or dlplom• in any institution of higher education; (ii) contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text; or (iii) contain any defamatory material. Slgnature .... D"o.... J?::. T .. ,;J,qp I+... .. ...... 4 Acknowledgments I would like to express :ny sincere gratitude to Associate Professor Harry CJ. Phillips for his unflagging support at all times during the course of this study. His enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, electoral law made me believe this study was possible. To my family also, whose faith in my ability to see this through was invaluable. I am especially indebted to my parents, Noel and Frances Beckingham, who taught me from a young age that a thirst for knowledge was something to be nurtured. And finally, to Lance - who shared each frustration and triumph along the way. 5 Table of Contents Title Page Abstract 2 Declaration 4 Acknowledgments 5 Table of Contents 6 List of Tables 9 Chapter One: An Overview 10 Introduction 10 Preferential Voting Systems 10 1. The Alternative Vote (compulsory preferenceslfu!l preferential) II 2. The Alternative Vote (optional preferences/optional preferential) II 3. The Contingent Vote II 4. The Alternative Vote in Multi-member Districts 12 5. The Single Transferable Vote 12 The Concept of Representation 13 Representation and Elections in Theory 14 1. The Role of Election in Repre;;entational Theory 14 2. The History of the Literat.1re on Modem Electoral Systems \5 Representation and Elections in Practice: the AV in Australia 18 I. History 18 2. Outccmes 20 3. The AV and Voters 21 Chapter Two: The History of Representation and Election 22 Representation in Antiquity 22 1. The Greeks 22 2. The Romans 23 3. Other Examples of Representation in Antiquity 24 The Evolution ofModern Representative Government 25 I. The Middle Ages 25 2. The Emergence of the Idea ofPopu\ar Sovereignty 25 3. The Triumph of Election 27 4. The Establishment of Representative Government 29 Represer.tation in the 20th Century: Universal suffrage and the rise 30 of party politics 6 Chapter Three: The History and Effetts of the Alternative Vote at a 33 Federal Level History 33 Outcomes 37 The Alternative Vote and 'Two-Party-Preferred' Analysis 46 Chapter Four: The History and Effects of tile Alternative Vote in 49 Western Australia History 49 Outcomes 51 Chapter Five: The Methodology of Focus Groups 62 Introduction 62 The use of focus groups for qualitative research 62 Participants 65 The methodology of focus groups 65 Chapter Six: Voters and Their Preferences: Tbeir Understanding 70 and Perceptions of the Alternative Vote Introduction 70 Focus Groups: Profiles and Responses 70 Focus Group One 70 Focus Group Two 71 Focus Group Three 71 Focus Group Four 72 Focus Group Five 73 Focus Group Six 74 Common themes within the groups studied 75 l. How well do voters understand the AV? 75 2. Do voters think that the A V is a good system for electing 79 representatives? 3. The fear of the 'wasted vote': myth or reality? 81 Conclusion 82 Chapter Seven: An Alternative to Full Preferentin: Voting: An 83 Optional Preferential System for the Alternative Vote Chapter Eight: Retrospect and Prospect 92 RctrO!:opect: Representation and the Alternative Vote thus far 92 Prospect: Where are we heading with representation in Australia? 99 7 References to~ Articles (Journals, Books, Newspapers, Magazines) 103 Books !05 Conference Proceedings I Presentations 108 Government Publications 108 Internet References 108 Parliamentary Debates I Proceedings I Publications 109 Reports I Rc\~ews 109 Theses and Unpublished Papers 109 Appendices 110 Appendix 1 110 Appendix 2 Ill Appendix 3 112 Appendix 4 113 Appendix 5 115 8 List of Tables Table3.1 Three-cornered contest in Federal House ofRepresentatives 41 elections (1984-200/) Table 4.1 Uncontested Districts and 'Not Genuine' Contests (Westem 55 Australian Legislative Assembly 1908-1977) Table 4.2 Western Australian Legis/alive A.ssemhly Election 58 10 February, 2001 9 CHAPTER ONE: AN OVERVIEW Introduction Voting is a concept which nearly every person in today's world understands, and an activity in which many participate. The majority of nations in the world use voting as a means to elect political representatives.