Optional Preferential Voting
Encyclopedia
Optional Preferential Voting (OPV) is a system of vote-casting used in the states of Queensland
and New South Wales
in the Commonwealth of Australia. Most Australian elections are run under full-preference preferential voting
, where all candidates must be numbered in order of the preference of the voter, or the vote will not be counted. Although complete numbering is not required under the OPV system, a single-preference vote must still use a '1' and not a tick or cross in order for the cast vote to be considered valid.
In other countries, such as Malta, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, full preferences are not required.
Official explanation
Queensland's voting system - optional preferential voting
Queensland State elections have used Optional Preferential Voting since the 1992 State election. OPV is also used in Queensland local government elections (in those councils divided into single member wards or divisions) and in the New South Wales
Lower House.
OPV provides 3 options for voters’ so that a valid vote may be cast by:
1. expressing a single primary preference for one candidate only, leaving all other squares blank (this is called ‘plumping’ for one candidate)
2. expressing a partial distribution of preferences by voting for some, but not all candidates on the ballot paper (for example, voting 1, 2, 3 on a ballot with five candidates)
3. expressing a full distribution of preferences (that is, marking every square in order of preference).
This has been the cause of some concern due to the use of the 'Just vote 1' system by Queenslanders in federal elections, where there is no optional preferential voting, and led to many votes (likely to be ALP votes due to their limited affiliation with minor parties) not being counted.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in the Commonwealth of Australia. Most Australian elections are run under full-preference preferential voting
Preferential voting
Preferential voting is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference. For example, the voter may select their first choice as '1', their second preference a '2', and so on...
, where all candidates must be numbered in order of the preference of the voter, or the vote will not be counted. Although complete numbering is not required under the OPV system, a single-preference vote must still use a '1' and not a tick or cross in order for the cast vote to be considered valid.
In other countries, such as Malta, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, full preferences are not required.
Official description
As described by Electoral Commission Queensland:Official explanation
Queensland's voting system - optional preferential voting
Queensland State elections have used Optional Preferential Voting since the 1992 State election. OPV is also used in Queensland local government elections (in those councils divided into single member wards or divisions) and in the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Lower House.
OPV provides 3 options for voters’ so that a valid vote may be cast by:
1. expressing a single primary preference for one candidate only, leaving all other squares blank (this is called ‘plumping’ for one candidate)
2. expressing a partial distribution of preferences by voting for some, but not all candidates on the ballot paper (for example, voting 1, 2, 3 on a ballot with five candidates)
3. expressing a full distribution of preferences (that is, marking every square in order of preference).
Practical usage
This form of voting allows for one single candidate or candidates of similar ideology to be endorsed by a voter rather than directing preferences to all candidates.This has been the cause of some concern due to the use of the 'Just vote 1' system by Queenslanders in federal elections, where there is no optional preferential voting, and led to many votes (likely to be ALP votes due to their limited affiliation with minor parties) not being counted.