Voting "below the line" in the Senate
A way you can support individual Indigenous candidates and other candidates whom we know support justice for Indigenous people is to vote “below the line” on the Senate Ballot paper.
Enormous Senate ballot papers in the past have intimidated electors into
voting above the line by a simple number 1 in the box along side one Party
or Group. This ties that vote to all the candidates in that Party or Group
in the order they appear on the ballot paper and also to the preferences
that that Party or Group has registered with the Australian Electoral
Commission before the election.
Vote "below the line". To vote below the line, the elector has
simply to number all the candidates in any order that they wish. It does
take more time in the polling booth and enough care to ensure that no
number is repeated and that no candidate is left without a number against
their name.
To vote below the line effectively, you should carry out research before the election to check the credentials of individual candidates and parties. It would be important to go into the polling booth with a clear idea about which candidates will receive the first six votes as this is the number to be elected in each State.
Parties have not completed the endorsement of candidates for the Senate. Nominations close on Thursday 16th September. Now is the time to contact State party offices or current Senators and ask if they intend to include Indigenous candidates on their Senate teams
Below we list currently available information on Indigenous Senate candidates. This information will be updated regularly. We suggest that you also check out other Senate candidates in your State to see which have strong support for Indigenous justice.
ANTaR has produced a report card on the position of the major parties on Indigenous affairs issues, which will assist your choice.
A good way to encourage voting ‘below the line’ is to letterbox
your local area with a leaflet explaining the advantages of voting ‘below
the line’ and including information on Indigenous or other preferred
candidates.
ANTaR has produced flyer templates which can be used by ANTaR and other community groups. (Note: NSW has been used as an example on the ANTaR flyer. You will need to edit for other states and territories using the information on candidates listed below).
If you are an ANTaR group, the version with the ANTaR logo can be used. Other groups please use the generic version and add your organisation’s logo and comments as indicated. Make sure details of the persons authorising and printing the flyer are included at the bottom as shown, as this is required for election advertising under the Commonwealth Electoral Act.
Aden Ridgeway is currently the only Indigenous person in the Federal Parliament (NSW Senator). He is standing for re-election on the Democrats NSW Senate ticket. Aden is also a member of ANTaR’s Indigenous Reference Group. See also Aden's website.
Ray Jackson is standing for the Socialist Alliance.
Richard Franklin is standing for the new “Your Voice” Party.
John Harding is standing as an independent.
Sam Watson is standing for the Socialist Alliance.
Darrell Morris is standing for the Australian Progressive Alliance.
Nicole Clevens is standing for the Socialist Alliance.
Janeen Bulsey is standing for the Democrats.
Wayne Connop is standing for the ALP.
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