Bill
Electoral Legislation Amendment (Assurance of Senate Counting) Bill 2021
passed, as at 2021-12-13. Special Minister of State portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Special Minister of State
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2021-10-28
- second reading — 2021-10-28
- second reading — 2021-12-01
- second reading — 2021-12-01
- third reading — 2021-12-01
- introduced — 2021-12-02
- second reading — 2021-12-02
- second reading — 2021-12-02
- second reading — 2021-12-02
- third reading — 2021-12-02
- passed — 2021-12-02
- royal assent — 2021-12-13
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2021-10-28.
This bill would change the Electoral Act to make Senate vote counting more transparent and secure.
It would require the Electoral Commissioner to arrange independent security and software assessments of the computer systems used to scan, store and count Senate votes before each election.
From 1 January 2023, the software used to distribute preferences and elect candidates would be checked to ensure it follows the rules in section 273A of the Electoral Act.
- Require the Electoral Commissioner to arrange an independent risk assessment of the security of computer systems used for Senate vote scrutiny before each election.
- Require the Electoral Commissioner to arrange an independent assessment of the software used for Senate vote scrutiny from 1 January 2023.
- Require the Electoral Commissioner to verify the assured version of counting software no more than 7 days before an election and report any variations within 7 days of the writ's return.
- Require the Electoral Commissioner to check a statistically significant sample of ballot papers during scrutiny to ensure electronic data matches physical ballots.
- Clarify that the tie-breaking mechanism for Senate candidates aligns with House of Representatives processes, resolved by lot if needed.
- Allow a scrutineer to request access to original ballot papers to resolve formality or preference questions, subject to controls against unreasonable requests.
The Electoral Commissioner and scrutineers are affected.
Sources
em
billhome
frl act