The AEC has released the Senate group preference tickets online.
For those who might not be aware of how this works, if you vote “above the line” (that is, if you put a 1 in one of the parties’ or grouped and ungrouped candidates’ box), then your preferences are allocated according to a ticket lodged with the Electoral Commission.
There is also the option of voting “below the line”, but that can be a bit of an ask where there are up to 84 Senate candidates to number sequentially (I think that’s the largest number this election – in NSW).
There’s a lot in them to digest, but commentary so far has focused on two aspects:
(a) The ALP has given its preferences straight to The Greens in Victoria, atoning for the 2004 debacle which saw Steve Fielding elected;
(b) The Democrats in the ACT have preferenced the Liberals ahead of The Greens. No doubt they’ll not poll well, but in a contest where The Greens have some chance of defeating the incumbent Liberal, every preference is potentially important.
Elsewhere: An Onymous Lefty.
Update: [by Kim] Lots of easily scannable detail from William Bowe at The Poll Bludger.
