Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00152:section:273a:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00152
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 273A (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 563530–566321

273A  Computerised scrutiny of votes in Senate election

Determination that computerised scrutiny applies
 (1) The scrutiny of votes in a Senate election for a particular State or Territory may be conducted by complying with the requirements set out in this section.

Processing of ballot papers received by Australian Electoral Officer
 (4) The Australian Electoral Officer must scrutinise all the ballot papers received by him or her under paragraph 273(3)(d), and must reject the informal ones.

Determining election result
 (5) The Australian Electoral Officer must then ascertain the successful candidates, and their order of election, by using a computer to apply the principles set out in subsections 273(8) to (13AA) and subsections 273(14) to (32). A tie at any step in the process is to be resolved in the same way as a tie in the corresponding step is resolved under section 273.

Rights of scrutineers
 (6) Subject to subsections (6AA) and (6AB), for proceedings under section 273 and subsections (4) and (5) of this section, the requirements of paragraph 265(1)(c) are met if the scrutineers have access to:
 (a) a record of the preferences on the ballot papers that have been received by the Australian Electoral Officer and whose details have been stored in the computer (including informal ballot papers, and formal ballot papers that are not sequentially numbered); and
 (b) a record of the ballot papers that are notionally transferred, or exhausted, at each count; and
 (c) a record of the progress of the count of the votes, at each count.
 (6AA) A scrutineer who is present at proceedings under section 273 and subsections (4) and (5) of this section may ask the officer conducting the scrutiny for access to an original ballot paper for the purposes of resolving a question about:
 (a) the formality of the original ballot paper; or
 (b) a preference vote being counted in the scrutiny.
 (6AB) If, under subsection (6AA), a scrutineer asks an officer for access to an original ballot paper for the purposes of resolving a question of a kind referred to in that subsection:
 (a) the officer must grant the request unless, in the opinion of the Australian Electoral Officer, granting the request would:
 (i) unreasonably delay the scrutiny; and
 (ii) put at risk the writ for the election being returned before the start of the term of service of the successful candidates; and
 (b) if the officer grants the request—the question is to be resolved by reference to the original ballot paper.
Note: The Australian Electoral Officer may form the opinion that granting a scrutineer's request under subsection (6AA) would unreasonably delay the scrutiny because, for example, the scrutineer has made multiple unreasonable, frivolous or vexatious requests under that subsection