Strategy and Commitments Charter - 2021 STATE GENERAL ELECTION - Western Australian ...
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2021 STATE GENERAL ELECTION Strategy and Commitments Charter
Strategy and Commitments Charter
Foreword
Western Australia’s next State general election
is scheduled for Saturday 13 March 2021.
The Western Australian Electoral Commission
is responsible for managing all aspects of the
election. We aim to do so independently,
impartially, transparently and in full compliance
with provisions of the Electoral Act 1907.
Every major electoral event presents fresh
challenges and opportunities. This Western
Australian State election will be the first
conducted since the outbreak of the
global COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently,
stakeholders may see or experience a number
of changes to past election practices.
Physical distancing and social hygiene practices
will impact electors, candidates, campaign
workers and scrutineers, as well as the delivery
of electoral services. Stakeholders are asked to
remain cognisant of these necessary restrictions
and accept that some things may take a little
longer than in the past.
This document sets out the standards and
deliverables for which the Commission
is accountable, in order to maintain our
reputation for impartiality and professionalism
in electoral administration.
We look forward to working productively and
collaboratively with all stakeholders and staff to
ensure public confidence in the conduct of this
important event in our State’s democracy.
Robert Kennedy
ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER
July 2020
2
Strategy and Commitments Charter
Introduction
This strategy document outlines the Further details relating to the conduct of
Western Australian Electoral Commission’s the 2021 State general election will be
broad aims and intentions in conducting the progressively published on the Commission’s
2021 State general election, as well as the website at www.elections.wa.gov.au as the
service commitments and performance election approaches.
measures key stakeholders can expect.
Enquiries can also be directed to the
The document is intended to serve as Commission at 13 63 06 or (08)9214 0400 or
an information and accountability tool, via email to waec@waec.wa.gov.au.
enhancing electoral transparency while also
assisting electors, candidates, registered Election Dates
political parties and the media to prepare for
the election and to interact openly with the The planned election timeline showing the
Commission. key milestone dates for the 13 March 2021
election is illustrated on the inside back cover
Since the 2017 general election, changes have of this document.
occurred to electoral boundaries and various
electoral procedures and service delivery
arrangements, and possible legislative
changes impacting candidates and parties are
presently before the State Parliament. These
are outlined on the following pages.
3
Strategy and Commitments Charter
Accountability
Commission Objectives • promote awareness of the
requirements for casting a formal vote
The Commission’s overall objective is to
conduct the 2021 State general election in • promote awareness of recent
such a way that our stakeholders consider it boundary changes
to be: • ensure all votes are counted promptly
• independent, impartial and lawful and accurately
• accurate, secure and verifiable • successfully recruit, train and employ
the thousands of staff required
• conducted efficiently and
professionally • ensure the health, safety and security
of electoral staff is considered and
• open, safe and accessible for all managed
eligible participants.
• fully comply with all statutory
requirements
More specifically the Commission aims to:
• conduct the election within available
• ensure that as many eligible Western financial and resource limitations
Australians as possible are enrolled
prior to roll close • maximise public trust and confidence
in the integrity of the electoral process.
• ensure that district electoral rolls are
accurate and available on time
• achieve a high level of electoral
awareness and voter turnout by all
elector cohorts
• facilitate ease of nomination by
candidates, registered political parties
and groups
• maximise convenient elector access to
their preferred voting option
• deliver respectful, courteous and
confidential voting services
• ensure all polling venues are managed
in a COVID-19 safe manner
4
Strategy and Commitments Charter
Changes Since the Last Election
The electoral district boundaries for the 2021 greater distancing of electors and polling
general election will be considerably different staff through tighter queue management
from those which applied in 2017. For and venue layout. At present there remains
example, only 10 of the State’s 59 Legislative uncertainty over the capacity to deliver
Assembly districts have remained unchanged. mobile polling services at hospitals, aged care
Many of the changes reflect the significant facilities and remote Aboriginal communities.
population growth in a number of outer The Commission will liaise with relevant
metropolitan districts since the last election authorities and stakeholders in coming months
and the resultant flow on effect to boundaries to ensure voters in those situations have the
of neighboring districts. Nevertheless, with the opportunity to cast their vote.
exception of the new district of Landsdale (in
place of Girrawheen) district names remain At the time of publishing this document, the
the same, and the number of districts in each Western Australian Parliament is considering
Legislative Council region is also unchanged. a number of changes to the Electoral Act 1907
relating to the political finance and disclosure
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all provisions. These will have a significant
aspects of social and economic life in Western impact on the record keeping and disclosure
Australia has been profound. The precise requirements of candidates, political parties
impact on the conduct of electoral events and other entities.
across Australia is still playing out and will
continue to evolve with each successive event. The Electoral Amendment Bill 2020
It is however clear that a range of physical was introduced into State Parliament on
distancing and social hygiene measures will 25 June 2020. The Bill proposes to:
need to be adopted at the 2021 State election.
• Implement a disclosure system under
Measures adopted will be implemented in line
which political parties and their
with advice from public health authorities.
associated entities, will be required to
The Commission will be implementing various report gifts and receipts on a quarterly
strategies aimed at lessening peak elector basis, as opposed to annual reporting
numbers at polling places on election day and
• Lower the threshold for public disclosure
protecting the health and safety of electors,
of donations from $2,500 to $1,000
polling staff and campaign workers. These
measures will include an increase in the • Amend the disclosure period for
number and operating hours of early voting post-election disclosure returns from
centres; the establishment of additional 15 weeks after polling day to 12 weeks
polling places near previous venues that took after polling day
exceptionally large numbers of votes in 2017;
regular cleaning of polling venues and the • Introduce expenditure caps for elections
provision of relevant protective equipment;
limitations on the number of voters allowed • Ban all foreign donations.
into polling venues at any one time; and
5Strategy and Commitments Charter
In addition to the changes outlined above, The Commission will make greater use of
a number of service delivery and behind technology to better manage and monitor early
the scenes election management changes voting processes and will roll out additional
will be rolled-out at the 2021 election. For laptops for marking the roll electronically when
example, in lieu of a suitable internet voting issuing early and absent votes. Legislative
platform being available, eligible electors with Council ballot papers marked below the line
a disability or incapacity will be able to cast a will be scanned electronically for the first time,
vote independently over the telephone or in instead of being counted manually.
person at selected venues using the Vote Assist
system developed by the Commission for vision
impaired electors.
6Strategy and Commitments Charter
Performance Measurement
The following key performance indicators have been adopted to measure the efficiency and
effectiveness of election operations.
Election Preparations
Indicator Measure Target
Every Returning Officer completes online training and
attends face to face training
% of the total number 100%
Every Polling Place Manager completes online training % of the total number 100%
Polling places and early voting centres receive sufficient
ballot papers, election materials and health and safety % of the total number 100%
equipment to commence operations on time
Every electoral official views the training video relating
to maintaining health and safety at polling venues
% of the total number 100%
Every electoral district roll is produced and available % available
for distribution to Returning Officers within 10 days by specificied date
100%
of roll close
% available
All early voting centres are open and ready to operate
from Wednesday 24 February by specificied date
100%
Election Conduct
Indicator Measure Target
Percentage of Legislative Assembly first preference
count results received from ordinary polling places by % of the total number 70%
8.00 pm on polling day
All complaints received and election enquiries are
responded to or acknowledged within 24 hours or by % of the total number 100%
the next business day
All advertised polling places are open and ready for
polling at 8.00 am and remain open until 6.00 pm on % of the total number 100%
polling day
Return of the Writs
Returned by By date
date specified on the Writ
7Strategy and Commitments Charter
Election Outcomes
Indicator Measure Target
Average State-wide elector participation rate –
i.e. % of eligible electors on the roll
% of the total eligible 97%*
Elector participation rate for 18–25 year olds equals or
betters the national target of 80%
% of the total eligible 85%
Average State-wide voter turn-out –
i.e. % of those on the roll who vote
% of the total enrolled 90%
Informality rate – Legislative Assembly % of votes cast 4%
Informality rate – Legislative Council % of votes cast 2%
The number of invalidity complaints stemming
from WAEC processes that are upheld by a
Number of invalidity
complaints upheld
0
Court of Disputed Returns
Following the election, the Commission will seek extensive feedback through telephone and online
surveys of electors, candidates, political parties, returning officers and polling place officials.
*This figure is drawn from Australian Electoral Commission estimates based on Australian Bureau of
Statistics census data.
8Strategy and Commitments Charter
Service Commitments
Electors Candidates and Political Parties
Eligible electors can expect the following: Candidates and registered political
parties contesting the election can
• Timely updating of enrolment expect the following:
details in accordance with the
provisions of the Electoral Act • Clearly presented information about
nomination requirements
• Accurate and complete electoral
rolls for each district and region • Clearly presented information about
arrangements for the lodgement of
• A range of voting options to make it Legislative Council voting tickets
as easy as possible for every elector
to cast their vote • Accurate electoral roll data for the
district or region they are contesting
• Expanded services for electors with is available within 8 days of the
particular requirements due to close of rolls
their location, cultural or linguistic
background, or disability • Clear guidelines relating to the
display of how to vote material at
• Accurate, user friendly and timely early voting venues
information about when, how and
where to vote • Timely provision of polling place and
early vote centre locations
• Accessible and safely managed
polling venues • Clear points of contact for enquiries
and complaints
• Helpful and responsive call centre
and enquiry service • Accurate, timely and easily accessible
election results
• Courteous, friendly and helpful
polling staff • A clear Commission policy on
recounts
• Ballot papers, advertising, a website
and other election materials that • The opportunity to provide post-
are accurate and easy to understand election feedback, both online and
in-person
• Accurate and timely reporting of
election results via a user-friendly • Prompt refund of nomination
results website. deposits and payment of election
funding claims, where applicable.
9Strategy and Commitments Charter
Media Electoral Staff
Media organisations and their At a State general election the
representatives can expect the following: Commission employs over 8,000 casual
and contract staff, many for one day
• Comprehensive election only and others for a period of weeks or
information and timetables months.
• A regularly monitored and media
specific email enquiry service with Staff engaged by the Commission can
due regard to stated deadlines expect the following:
• A live-feed of results data on • Efficient and timely recruitment
election night, if required processes including prompt advice
on the outcome of their application
• An up-to-date website containing
useful background information with • Accurate information about
election results updated regularly as conditions of employment
they become available • Appropriate and sufficient training
• The opportunity to provide post- for their role and responsibilities
election feedback. including new health and safety
requirements arising from COVID-19
• Timely payment (within 4 weeks of
election day).
10Strategy and Commitments Charter
Support from Stakeholders
In making the commitments outlined in this Electors
document, the Commission acknowledges
that its priorities and obligations may not • To ensure their enrolment details are
always coincide with those of stakeholders. accurate and up to date
The Commission seeks the support of all • To take care when completing their ballot
stakeholders in recognising that there are papers to ensure their vote will count
steps and procedures that must be followed
in accordance with statutory requirements or • To get out there and have their say!
community safety obligations.
Electoral Staff
The Commission asks:
• To ensure they fully complete their
Candidates and Political Parties application and provide all mandatory
information
• To respect each other’s right to participate
in the election campaign • Undertake all necessary reading and
training in advance of attendance
• To ensure that volunteers act in an orderly
manner observing polling place rules • Be punctual in their attendance and advise
their supervisor immediately if unable
• To ensure that where involved, scrutineers to attend
are correctly registered in a timely fashion
and wear the ID provided • To be courteous to all electors and
fellow staff.
• To be vigilant in ensuring compliance with
authorisation requirements for campaign
literature and advertising
• Not to impact the safety and rights of
electors attending polling venues.
The Media
• To check the online media guide first before
lodging enquiries with the Commission
• To direct all enquiries/requests for
interviews to the Commission’s media
email box
• To request reasonable deadlines
recognising that the Commission also works
under tight timeframes
• To acknowledge the Commission’s policy
(given our impartial role) not to comment
on individual candidates.
11Strategy and Commitments Charter
Counting and Scrutiny Arrangements
No votes are able to be counted until after Importantly, the returning officer for each
polling closes at 6.00 pm on election Saturday. district and region will undertake the formal
count or full distribution of preferences from
After 6.00 pm, some 800 polling place about a week after polling day. The final
managers and their casual staff from across outcome of very close seats may not be known
Western Australia will open ballot boxes and until this full distribution of preferences count
commence counting. Each polling place will has been completed. Returning officers will
send through indicative first preference figures also undertake a fresh scrutiny of ballot papers
for each candidate contesting that Legislative within the three day period after polling day
Assembly seat, a two candidate preferred to resolve any discrepancies in preparation for
figure, and the ticket vote figures for the the full distribution count.
relevant Legislative Council region.
Depending on the status of the COVID-19
Early in person and postal votes received pandemic and any associated social distancing
before polling day will also be counted after restrictions, candidates and political party
6.00 pm on election night at the Commission’s agents should be able to appoint limited
central processing centre. Given the numbers of scrutineers to monitor vote
complexity of a proportional representation counting and scrutiny activity. Traditionally
count, only the above the line ticket votes will candidates have been restricted to one
be counted on election night. scrutineer per relevant count table in order
to limit congestion, provide a safe work
While typically very reflective of the final environment and ensure counting efficiency.
results, votes counted on election night do This number may not be possible in 2021.
not include absent votes cast at polling places No scrutineer may physically handle a ballot
across the State nor all postal votes, which can paper.
be accepted for the final count up to
9.00 am on the Thursday following election If, after the full distribution of preferences for a
Saturday. The Commission will progressively Legislative Assembly seat, the margin between
update figures on the election results website the two highest scoring candidates is 100
in the days following polling day as various votes or less, the returning officer will offer
declaration votes become available for candidates another full distribution of
counting. preferences count before declaring the result.
12Strategy and Commitments Charter
Voting Systems Legislative Council Members are elected
using a voting system known as Proportional
Legislative Assembly Members are elected Representation. Under this system parties,
using a full preferential voting system, which groups and independent candidates are elected
requires electors to record a preference for to the Council in proportion to the number of
every candidate (using the numbers 1, 2, 3 and votes they receive. To be elected, a candidate
so on). To be elected a candidate must receive must receive a certain proportion (known as a
an absolute majority (i.e. 50% + 1) of the formal quota) of the formal vote.
votes cast in their district.
If no candidate has obtained an absolute
majority after all first preference votes have
been counted, the candidate with the fewest
number of first preference votes is excluded and
their second preference votes are distributed
among the remaining candidates. This process
of allocating preferences continues until one
candidate achieves an absolute majority of all
formal votes.
13Strategy and Commitments Charter
2021 State General Elections Facts
• Elections will be held for both the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and the
Legislative Council (Upper House). These elections are held on the second Saturday
in March every four years.
• The Legislative Assembly has 59 electoral districts each returning a single Member.
The Legislative Council is divided into six different electoral regions with a total of
36 Members to be elected (six from each).
• The boundaries of the districts and regions are set by independent Electoral
Distribution Commissioners.
• As was the case at the 2017 State general election, at the 2021 election there will
be 43 Legislative Assembly districts in the Perth metropolitan area and 16 country
districts. North West Central will be the largest electoral district by area.
• The Commission will employ over 8,000 casual and contract staff at polling places
and early voting centres, in mobile polling teams and at the central processing
centre.
• Electors will be able to vote at about 800 venues on election day and numerous
early voting centres in Western Australia, interstate and overseas for a 2.5 week
period prior to polling day.
• It is estimated that more than 1.7 million electors will be enrolled at the close of
rolls for 2021 State general election.
• A record total 717 candidates and sixteen political parties contested the 2017
election. The final numbers for the 2021 election will not be known until
nominations close on 12 February 2021.
14Strategy and Commitments Charter
2021 State General Election Timetable
ISSUE OF WRITS FEB 3 Wed
First Wednesday in February
Candidate Nominations & FEB 4 Thurs
Applications for Postal Vote Open
CLOSE OF ROLLS
8 days after Issue of Writs at 6 pm
Party Nominations Close (12 noon) FEB 11 Thurs
CLOSE OF NOMINATIONS FEB 12 Fri
At 12 noon & Draw for Ballot Paper
Legislative Council Voting Tickets
Positions
to be Lodged by 12 noon FEB 15 Mon
Dispatch of Postal Votes FEB 22 Mon
Commences
Early and Technology Assisted
Voting Commences
FEB 24 Wed
Mobile Polling (for special
institutions, hospitals and declared FEB 27 Sat
remote areas) may Commence
Public Holiday – Labour Day MAR 1 Mon
Most Early Vote Centres will
be Open MAR 6 Sat
Processing of Early Votes may
Commence at 8 am
MAR 10 Wed
Close of Written Applications for
Postal Votes at 6 pm
POLLING DAY – (8 am to 6 pm)
Second Saturday in March MAR 13 Sat
Close for Receipt of Postal Votes MAR 18 Thurs
at 9 am
Last day possible for the
RETURN OF WRITS by MAY 4 Tues
90 days after Issue of Writs
* Anticipated timetable
15Western Australian Electoral Commission Level 2, 111 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 GPO Box F316 Perth WA 6841 PHONE (08) 9214 0400 or 13 63 06 EMAIL waec@waec.wa.gov.au WEBSITE www.elections.wa.gov.au FAX (08) 9226 0577 Translating & Interpreting Service (TIS) 13 14 50 and then ask for (08) 9214 0400 National Relay Service (NRS) Speak & Listen number 1300 555 727 SMS Relay number 0423 677 767
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