The Hon K Purick MLA Speaker Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Parliament House Darwin NT 0800 Madam Speaker In accordance with Section 313 of the Electoral Act, I am pleased to provide a report on the conduct of the 2012 Northern Territory Legislative Assembly General Elections. The Electoral Act requires this report to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly within three sittings days after its receipt. Additional copies have been provided for this purpose. Bill Shepheard Electoral Commissioner 24 April 2014 ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER’S FOREWORD The 2012 Legislative Assembly General Elections (LAGE) were the third general elections to be conducted under the NT Electoral Act 2004 (NTEA). The 2012 LAGE was also conducted under the substantially revised NTEA which had a significant impact on operational processes and planning arrangements. Set term elections were provided for in 2009, along with a one-day extension to the election timeframe. Further amendments with operational implications received assent in December 2011 and were in place for the August 2012 elections. A number of these changes were prescribed for both the local government and parliamentary electoral framework and, to some extent, brought the legislation into a more contemporary operating context and also aligned its features with those of other jurisdictions. The NTEC workload before the 2012 LAGE was particularly challenging. It was the second major electoral event conducted by the NTEC within the space of a few months. Local government general elections for five municipalities and ten shire councils were conducted on 24 March 2012, the first time their elections had all been held on the same day. During the previous year, the NTEC also provided resources for the 2011 redistribution of LA electoral boundaries, councils’ reviews of their structure, at the same time as contributing to LA and LG discussions on legislative matters and, also, to a delegates’ election for a constitutional convention, which eventually did not proceed. It also conducted a major enrolment stimulation project (Quality Roll 2012) over twelve months in the lead up to the LAGE. Outcomes from the LAGE were generally pleasing. The election itself produced a tight result with recounts being initiated by the NTEC in respect to two seats. Earlier results were confirmed and there were no disputed returns. Raw voter turnout (no. of voters/no. of enrolled electors) increased at the 2012 elections, the likely outcome not only of the separately funded Quality Roll 2012 project to improve roll integrity, but also from raised public awareness through a reinvigorated and penetrating election advertising campaign. In closing, my gratitude is extended to all those that helped the agency successfully conduct the elections. Productive relationships and partnerships are essential in the delivery of a logistical exercise as large and complicated as a general election. Stakeholders and suppliers across government and private sectors were critical to meeting election timeframes and service delivery standards. The large casual workforce that needs to be marshalled to perform the front-line duties is also integral to success and I therefore thank them one and all for their contribution. Finally, in particular, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Commission’s permanent workforce. Their numbers are small but their commitment and contribution were great in delivering these elections. Further, as this was my last general election as Electoral Commissioner, I would also like to thank not only the current permanent staff members but also their predecessors. They have all gone well and truly beyond the call of duty in the performance of their roles during the course of my tenure and the life of the Commission. I both congratulate them on their efforts and wish them the best in the future. ……………………………………. Bill Shepheard Electoral Commissioner 24 April 2014 CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................ 1 1.1 Perspectives on the Elections ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 Key Result Area – Enrolment and Roll Services ................................................................ 3 1.3 Key Result Area – Election Management ........................................................................... 3 1.4 Key Result Area – Public Awareness ................................................................................. 5 1.5 Key Result Area – Corporate Support ................................................................................ 6 1.6 Looking to the Future .......................................................................................................... 7 2 PERSPECTIVES ON THE ELECTIONS ................................................. 11 2.1 Operational Environment Leading up to the 2012 LA Elections ....................................... 11 2.2 NTEC Role ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.3 The Legislature after the 2008 Elections .......................................................................... 14 2.4 NT Electoral Act and Regulations - Changes 2009 and 2011 .......................................... 14 2.5 Registered Political Parties ............................................................................................... 15 2.6 Canvassing at Static and Mobile Polling Places .............................................................. 17 2.7 The Legislative Assembly Election Timetable .................................................................. 18 3 KEY RESULT AREA – ENROLMENT AND ROLL SERVICES ............. 25 3.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Redistribution of Legislative Assembly Boundaries .......................................................... 25 3.3 Encoding Redistribution Changes .................................................................................... 26 3.4 Redistribution Advice to Electors ...................................................................................... 26 3.5 Enrolment Program and Quality Roll 2012 Project ........................................................... 26 3.6 Enrolment Transactions During and After the Election Period ......................................... 29 4 KEY RESULT AREA – ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT ........................... 35 4.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 35 4.2 Candidate and Party Liaison ............................................................................................ 35 4.3 Candidate Packs............................................................................................................... 35 4.4 Nominations and Draw for Ballot Paper Positions ............................................................ 36 4.5 Nomination Outcomes ...................................................................................................... 36 4.6 Ballot Paper Printing ......................................................................................................... 39 4.7 Voting Services - (Postal, Early, Mobile, Static, Absent, Unenrolled) .............................. 39 4.8 Electors with Special Needs ............................................................................................. 57 4.9 Elector Turnout and Participation ..................................................................................... 58 4.10 Informal Voting.................................................................................................................. 60 4.11 Two Candidate Preferred (TCP) Count ............................................................................ 63 4.12 Distribution of Preferences ............................................................................................... 63 4.13 Declaration of the Polls and Return of Writ ...................................................................... 64 4.14 Election Outcomes............................................................................................................ 64 4.15 Disclosure ......................................................................................................................... 65 4.16 Campaign Material Issues Arising During the Election Campaign ................................... 66 4.17 Processing of Apparent Non-voters.................................................................................. 67 5 KEY RESULT AREA – PUBLIC AWARENESS ..................................... 69 5.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 69 5.2 Information Strategy ......................................................................................................... 69 5.3 Advertising ........................................................................................................................ 70 5.4 Information and Publicity .................................................................................................. 72 5.5 Media Communication ...................................................................................................... 73 5.6 Call Centre .......................................................................................................................