Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A04142:body:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A04142
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 2632–5417

4—REFERENDUM TO CHOOSE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Definitions

  "30. In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears:

'declaration vote' means any of the following:

  (a)     a postal vote;

  (b)     a pre-poll vote;

  (c)     an absent vote;

  (d)     a provisional vote;

'election ballot paper' means a ballot paper for the election;

'referendum' means the referendum referred to in section 31;

'referendum ballot paper' means a ballot paper for the referendum;

the election' means the election whose polling day is the same day as voting day for the referendum;

'voting day' means the day when the votes are to be taken for the purposes of the referendum.

Referendum to choose electoral system

"31. (1) A referendum is to be held to enable the electors of the Territory to choose which of 2 voting systems is to be used at future elections.

"(2) The 2 systems are the single member electorates system and the proportional representation (Hare-Clark) system, more fully described in the Referendum Options Description Sheet set out in Schedule 3.

"(3) Votes for the purposes of the referendum are to be taken on the same day as polling day for the next general election to be held after the commencement of this Part.

Administration

  "32. (1) The Electoral Commission is to conduct the referendum.

"(2) A person who holds an office or appointment under this Act for the purposes of the election is taken to hold that office or appointment also for the purposes of the referendum.

"(3) The Electoral Commission may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, engage such temporary staff as it thinks necessary for the purposes of the referendum. A person so engaged is taken to be an officer for the purposes of this Part.

"(4) The Australian Capital Territory Electoral Officer may give directions to officers about the conduct of the referendum on matters not provided for by or under this Part.

Distribution to electors of Referendum Options Description Sheet and arguments for and against different options

"33. (1) The Electoral Commissioner must, not later than 14 days before voting day, cause to be printed and to be posted to each elector, as nearly as practicable, a copy of the Referendum Options Description Sheet set out in Schedule 3.

  "(2) The Electoral Commissioner must:

    (a)     print the Referendum Options Description Sheet so that the descriptions of the 2 systems appear side by side in 2 vertical columns; and

    (b)     determine by lot which option is to occupy the left-hand vertical column in the Sheet and print the Sheet accordingly.

"(3) If, within 2 weeks after the commencement of this Part, there is forwarded to the Electoral Commissioner:

     (a)     an argument in support of the single member electorates system option, consisting