Has anyone heard of the Donkey Vote?
If you are Australian, then I expect that the answer will be ‘Yes’ as it is a peculiar event that occurs because of their voting system (it occurs in a few places elsewhere too); let me explain.
Donkey votes occur most where preference voting is combined with compulsory voting, and all candidates must be ranked on the ballot paper – Looking at you Australia.
What is preference voting and how is this different to ‘first past the post’?
It is when voters are required to number all candidates on the ballot paper in order of the voter’s preference; for example, if there were 7 candidates, then the voter will number the candidates from 1 to 7 in their order of preference.
“The Australian Electoral Commission explains the counting system thus: The preferential voting system … provides for multiple counts of ballot papers to occur to determine which candidates have achieved the required quota of formal votes to be elected. During the counting process, votes are transferred between candidates according to the preferences marked by voters” Got it? Good – then I don’t have to explain it again.
What is Compulsory voting – you mean I have to vote?
In Australia, compulsory, or mandatory, voting, is required by all eligible citizens; penalties can be imposed on those who fail to do so without a valid excuse. Whilst you must obtain your ballot papers (at the voting centre or by post) you do not have to mark the ballot paper if you object to the voting system or do not believe that any of the candidates represent your political views. Thus, it is compulsory only up to a point – if we are splitting hairs.
So, what exactly is a Donkey Vote?
This type of vote is when the voter numbers the boxes on the ballot paper from top to bottom in numerical order – i.e. the first listed candidate attracts the number 1, the second listed candidate attracts the number 2 and so on (alternatively the numbers may be in reverse from bottom to top). This type of voter is known as a donkey voter.
A donkey vote is a formal vote meaning that it is a valid vote and should not be mistaken for an informal vote which is not included in the final count.
How then would we know that it is a donkey vote?
By looking at the political party alliances of the listed candidates. For example, if the Labor candidate is first on the ballot paper, followed by the Liberal candidate, then National Party candidate and then the Greens candidate, it is probably a donkey vote because it’s not very logical for a Labor voter (Left Wing) to give their second preference to the Liberal and National Party (Right Wing) candidates ahead of the Greens (Left Wing).
Why is it called a donkey vote?
Because it is an irrational choice and the donkey has the reputation of being the most irrational beast in the animal kingdom. The thirteenth-century theologian and encyclopaedist, Thomas of Cantimpré declared the beast to be ‘more irrational than all the living creatures’.
What are the consequences of, and why do people cast, a donkey vote?
As Australia has compulsory voting, the more donkey votes there are the more chance someone wins their seat due to uninformed, uninterested, ‘asinine’ voting practices.
Donkey votes may occur for several reasons, including voter apathy, protest voting, simplicity on how-to-vote cards, the complexity of the voting system, or voter ignorance of the voting system rules. Alternatively, what appears as a donkey vote may in fact be a genuine representation of a voter’s preferences.
Images, References and Further Reading
Ballot paper: By Rcsprinter123 – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45007232
https://www.aec.gov.au/learn/preferential-voting.htm
https://australianpolitics.com/2013/09/04/what-happens-to-donkey-votes.html
https://australianpolitics.com/voting/donkey-votes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_vote