Dear Don
As one of the readers of your reply to Ian McLeod's concerns, I must say
your explanation fails to clarify the vital question of DISENFRANCHMENT
after the first count.
You write: "With respect to our conversation I advised that the scenario of
an elector placing 1,2,3,4,4,4,4 on a ballot paper would not invalidate
their vote." This is fine, as the voter's intention is clearly to not vote
for candidates except the 1st, 2nd and 3rd preferences. Repeating the 4s
gives effect to Mr Beattie's "put the rest last" call, while also reducing
the risk that the vote can be 'stolen' by filling in blank boxes.
Your next point, that: "If the Seat went to a preference count, the electors
preferences would only count up to the 3rd preference." fails to clarify the
crucial questions raised by the deceptive words "remaining in the count".
This has been raised with Electoral Commissioner Des O'Shea, in the attached
letter. So far hes not even acknowledged it, raising concerns that he is
intimidated, or even being induced to betray electors who refuse to give
preferences to untrustworthy candidates, by rigging elections in marginal
seats where exhausted votes prevent any candidate winning a majority of
valid (ie formal) ballots. Instead of declaring failed elections, exhausted
formal ballots of electors which "put the rest last", may be fraudulently
removed from later counts of all formal ballots, ie the count which sets the
"majority" for democratic election. This DISENFRANCHISES people for NOT
voting for untrustworthy candidates!!!!!!!!
The above demonstrates how electors, and even electoral officers, are
deceived into thinking elections are "free and fair", but candidates who
haven't won a "free and fair" democratic election, can be returned by
"optional counting" of formal votes. Not because this is the law, because
"votes remaining in the count" can be, whether foolishly or dishonestly, but
certainly UNLAWFULLY, mis-interpreted as less than "all formal ballot
papers", despite there being nothing in the Act to authorise this
anti-democratic exclusion of exhausted formal ballot papers from the count
of "votes remaining in the count".
Apparently this corruption and perversion of democracy, has happened in
previous elections, which would explain why we have so many untrustworthy
and incompetent MPs. Would you please confirm that you and your colleagues
will not let this happen again. It is criminal, even if the phrase
"remaining in the count" has, in the past, been foolishly or dishonestly
taken to give authority to DISENFRANCHISE people who don't vote for
untrustworthy candidates!
As well as confirming that no such betrayal will happen with the 2001
elections, will you please help Mr O'Shea to use all the authority he can to
prevent any such corruption of Queensland democracy in marginal seats next
Saturday. As I wrote on Tuesday, in the present situation, the Governor, as
the Queen's appointee, is both more free to act quickly and responsibly, and
has access to better advice, than the judges who could be asked to decide
after the election. Hopefully he will also help the Premier see the wisdom
of publicly, and immediately, confirming his understanding that all formal
votes "remain in the count" during Counts Two, Three, etc.
To assist you and him, I'll distribute this to as many electors as I can,
and specifically ask that all electoral officers be alerted to the need
prevent corruption of democracy in marginal Queensland seats. Since Mr
Beattie's call to "put the rest last" has been taken up by the Courier-Mail
(see 2nd attachment), we can expect many 'failed' elections. While this
will add to your work in the immediate future, it will also compel parties
to pre-select better candidates than the fools, rorters and worse, which
have become prevalent in most marginal seats.
If we work together we can get democratic, free and fair elections on
Saturday, despite the collusion by those who have suppressed the simple
democratic truth: - democratic, free and fair elections can fail, clearing
the way for honourable, competent replacements instead of 'media tarts' who
will do the bidding of manipulative foreign masters!
Regards,
Jim Stewart
Phone:+617 3411 7646
Mobile: 04 1427 4420 (voice-mail)
O'Shea.doc
more than meddling.doc