Civics & Citizenship · Year 10 · The Legislative Process · Term 4

Electoral Systems: Preferential Voting

Exploring Australia's preferential voting system, its impact on election outcomes, and the importance of voter participation.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9C10K05

About This Topic

The media is often called the 'fourth estate' because of its role in holding the government to account and informing the public. In Year 10, students analyze how the media shapes political agendas and public opinion in Australia. This topic covers the transition from traditional media (TV, newspapers) to digital and social media, and the challenges this poses for democracy, such as the spread of misinformation and the creation of 'echo chambers.'

Students investigate the importance of a free press, the role of the ABC as a public broadcaster, and the impact of media ownership concentration in Australia. This study connects to ACARA's focus on the influence of the media in the electoral and legislative process. To develop critical literacy, students benefit from 'Media Deconstruction' activities where they compare how different outlets report on the same political event.

Key Questions

1. Explain the mechanics of Australia's preferential voting system.
2. Analyze how electoral systems influence political representation.
3. Evaluate the importance of compulsory voting in a democracy.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the step-by-step process of preferential voting in Australian federal elections.
• Analyze how different voting systems, including preferential voting, can affect the composition of parliament.
• Compare the outcomes of preferential voting with a 'first past the post' system using historical election data.
• Evaluate the impact of compulsory voting on voter turnout and election results in Australia.
• Critique the advantages and disadvantages of Australia's current electoral system.

Before You Start

Branches of Government

Why: Students need to understand the roles of the Parliament (legislative) and the Executive to contextualize how elections determine who sits in parliament.

Democracy and Citizenship

Why: A foundational understanding of democratic principles and the rights and responsibilities of citizens is necessary to discuss voting systems and participation.

Key Vocabulary

Preferential Voting	An electoral system where voters number candidates in order of preference. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win; if not, lower-polling candidates are eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to the voters' next preferences.
Absolute Majority	More than 50% of the total votes cast. In preferential voting, a candidate must achieve this to be elected without further redistribution of votes.
Informal Vote	A ballot paper that is not filled out correctly according to the electoral rules, meaning it cannot be counted. This can happen if a voter does not number all candidates or numbers them incorrectly.
Compulsory Voting	A legal requirement for eligible citizens to register to vote and attend a polling place on election day. Failure to do so can result in a fine.
Scrutiny	The process of counting votes after an election. In preferential voting, this includes the redistribution of votes from eliminated candidates.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

If it's on the news, it must be objective.

What to Teach Instead

All media involves choices about what to include and what to leave out. Even 'factual' reporting can have a bias based on the 'framing' of the story. Comparing 'opinion' pieces with 'news' pieces helps students see these distinctions.

Common Misconception

Social media has replaced traditional media.

What to Teach Instead

While social media is a major source of news, much of the content shared on social platforms still originates from traditional news organizations. Understanding the 'media ecosystem' helps students see how these sources interact.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Media Bias Hunt

Groups are given the same news event (e.g., a new tax policy) and three different sources: a tabloid newspaper, a broadsheet, and a social media thread. They must identify differences in headlines, tone, and the 'experts' quoted.

50 min·Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Press Gallery

During a mock parliamentary session, a group of students acts as 'journalists.' They must write a 280-character 'live tweet' and a short news headline for each major speech, then present their 'news cycle' to the class.

40 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The Algorithm

Students discuss how social media algorithms might affect what political news they see. They reflect on whether this makes them more or less informed as future voters.

20 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Electoral Commission staff in each state and territory are responsible for administering federal and state elections, including the complex counting processes involved in preferential voting.
• Political analysts and journalists at news organizations like the ABC or The Sydney Morning Herald use preferential voting data to explain election results, predict trends, and analyze the performance of minor parties.
• Citizens attending a federal election polling booth on election day participate directly in the preferential voting system, deciding how to number their ballot paper.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with a simplified ballot paper for a hypothetical election with five candidates. Ask them to number the candidates according to their preferences and then explain, in writing, how their vote would be counted if their first preference did not win an absolute majority.

Discussion Prompt

Facilitate a class debate on the proposition: 'Compulsory voting is essential for a healthy Australian democracy.' Encourage students to use evidence related to voter turnout and representation to support their arguments.

Exit Ticket

Ask students to write down one key difference between Australia's preferential voting system and a 'first past the post' system, and one reason why understanding how to fill out a ballot paper correctly is important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is media ownership a big deal in Australia?

Australia has one of the highest concentrations of media ownership in the world. When a few companies own most of the newspapers and TV stations, there is a risk that only a narrow range of political views will be heard, which can limit democratic debate.

What is the role of the ABC?

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is a publicly funded broadcaster. Its charter requires it to be independent, impartial, and to provide services that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform the public.

How does the media influence elections?

The media influences elections by deciding which issues get the most 'airtime,' how candidates are portrayed, and by publishing opinion polls that can create a sense of 'momentum' for certain parties.

How can active learning help students understand the role of the media?

Active learning strategies like 'Mock Press Conferences' force students to think like both politicians and journalists. When a student has to ask a 'tough question' or 'spin' an answer, they gain a practical understanding of how the media-government relationship works, making them much more critical consumers of news.