Electoral reform
You may not have noticed it, but a fortnight ago Royal Assent was given to the Electoral and Referendum Legislation Amendment Act 2007. After the substantial and sometimes controversial changes from the 2006 amendments to the electoral laws, this Act makes only a few minor and uncontroversial changes in respect of:
- electronic voting trials for the visually impaired and the Australia Defence Force; various changes to postal voting;
- electoral enrolment by Australians who are overseas (including Defence Force personnel);
- pre-poll voting arrangements; and
- defamation of candidates.
The Poll Bludger should be pleased as this Act repealed section 350 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The old section 350 provided criminal penalties for defamation against electoral candidates. A candidate dissatisfied with the Poll Bludger’s (most excellent) electorate guide initiated a private prosecution against its author, William Bowe, for an alleged breach of section 350.