Thread by @BenOquist

💥 The lack of debate about the Senate in this election is a travesty. People have two votes. The voting system is poorly understood and a lot hangs on key senate races. 💥

A thread….

New @TheAusInstitute research released this week shows a significant proportion of Australians remain uncertain about important aspects of Senate preferential voting:. australiainstitute.org.au/post/significa…

▪One in two respondents (50%) thought that you should put a 6 beside the box of the party you dislike more than any other. *WRONG*
▪When given an example, only 29% were correct about how to vote in the Senate to make it hardest for a party they did not like to get elected.

▪ Only 31% Australians correctly answered that their Senate representatives are elected by the people living in their own state or territory.

New Senate @TheAusInstitute polling shows where the contests that matter are (NB senate polling is hard to get right and can be unreliable). The research is compliant with the Australian Polling Council Quality Mark standards.
australiainstitute.org.au/report/polling…

Between 5 April and 13 May 2022, The Australia Institute conducted four surveys, surveying a total of 4,009 adults living in Australia, with nationally representative samples by gender, age group and state & territory.

4 states likely key re balance of power:
▪ SA, where the Greens Barbara Pocock is strong chance & Xenophon, Rex Patrick, 3rd Labor & One Nation are chances
▪ Tas, where the final seat likely between Eric Abetz & the Jacqui Lambie Network.
▪ 🔥WA & Vic re possible Labor 3rd🔥

Other points of interest:
▪ UAP or One Nation could be in the running for final seat in Victoria
▪ Amanda Stoker seems likely to lose the 3rd spot for LNP in QLD
▪ Greens chance for a potential record 12 in the new Senate
▪ David Pocock could win in the ACT
▪ Something else!

We need a better public discussion about the Senate, and we need a bigger public education campaign from the AEC.

The End.