This video was produced by the New South Wales Electoral Commission and translated by the Deaf Society of NSW to provide information in Australian Sign Language, or AUSLAN, about the three different types of elections in Australia: federal, state and local elections.
(A woman is using Australian Sign Language, or AUSLAN. There are English subtitles).
Narrator: There are 3 different elections in Australia. The first are federal elections. At federal elections, you vote for people to represent you on national issues like tax, welfare, trade, environment, defence, immigration. Australia is divided into federal electoral divisions. Voters in each division choose one person to represent their division in the Australian government's House of Representatives. Voters in each state also choose people to represent their state in the Australian Senate. Members of the House of Representatives put forward different laws to the Senate for review and debate. The federal government works from Parliament House in Canberra.
The next type are state elections. At state elections you vote for people to represent you on state issues like schools, transport, housing, roads and traffic, hospitals. New South Wales is divided into state electoral districts. Voters in each district choose one person to represent their district in the state governments' Legislative Assembly. Voters also choose people to represent them in the state Legislative Council. Members of the Legislative Assembly put forward different laws to the Legislative Council for review and debate. The NSW state goverment works from Parliament House in Sydney.
The third type are local elections. At local elections you vote for people to represent you on local issues like libraries, local roads, parks, ovals, garbage collection. New South Wales is divided into local government areas. These are also known as council areas. Voters in each area elect people to represent them on their local council. Voters in some areas also vote to elect their mayor. In other areas, the mayor is chosen by the elected councillors. The local government works from the Council offices in your local area.
How do you vote at the three different elections? Firstly, voting at federal elections. There are two houses of government so there are two ballot papers, one small and one large. Always use numbers to show your choices. For the House of Representatives, you use the small ballot paper.
Screen shows an example of the small ballot paper.
You must put a number in every box. Put number one next to your first choice. Then you must put number 2 next to your second choice, and so on until you have numbered every box. For the Senate, you use the large ballot paper.
Screen shows an example of the large ballot paper.
This ballot paper has a line across it. There are two different ways you can vote, either above the line or below the line. To vote above the line, just put a number one in a box above the thick black line for the party or group of your choice. By doing this, you are following the choices of candidates decided by that party or group. Or, to vote below the line, you must number every box below the thick black line. Put a number one next to your first choice, two next to your second choice, and so on until you have numbered every box.
Next, voting at state elections. There are two houses of government, so there are two ballot papers, one small and one large. Always use numbers to show your choices. For the Legislative Assembly, you use the small ballot paper.
Screen shows an example of the small ballot paper.
You must put a number one next to your first choice. If you want, you can show more choices by putting a number 2 next to your second choice, then a number three, and so on. It is up to you how many choices you show.
For the Legislative Council, you use the large ballot paper.
Screen shows an example of the large ballot paper.
This ballot paper has a line across it. There are two different ways you can vote, either above the line or below the line. If you vote above the line, you vote for a group by putting a number one in a square above the thick line. You can show more choices if you want. By doing this, you are voting for the candidates listed below that square, in the order that they are listed.
Or, to vote below the line, vote for your choice of candidates by numbering at least 15 squares. Put a number one next to your first choice, then you must put number two, then number three and continue until number 15. You can show more choices if you want.
Thirdly, voting at local elections. Every local government area is different. At local elections, you must follow the instructions on the ballot paper. You will get one or more ballot papers at a local government election. Every council is different. You may also be asked to say yes or no to a question that affects your local area. This is called a poll or referendum. Every council has a mayor and a number of councillors. Some council areas are divided into smaller areas called wards.
If you are an Australian citizen and 18 years or older, you must put your name on the list of voters. This is called enrolling. You must vote at local, state and federal elections. There are a few important things to remember for all elections. Always use numbers to make your vote count. Follow the direcitons on the ballot paper. Ask for assistance if you are not sure what to do. If you need more information just give us a call. Contact the NRS and quote the following numbers: 1300 135 736.
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