No substance to claim that Victorian state election was rigged

^{By Renee Davidson}

In the wake of the Victorian state election, a number of misleading claims about the voting process have been made on social media platforms, leading to false declarations that the election was rigged. 

For instance, a message spread on Facebook relies on speculation to make three unfounded claims. Firstly, many Victorians could not vote because many voting centres had run out of ballot papers. Secondly, many Victorians were unable to vote because their names had been removed from the electoral roll. Lastly, that the Victorian election was rigged. 

The message, which has been copied and pasted in several Facebook posts, is signed by someone named Jamie McIntyre. The message carries a link to an online publication called the Australian National Review, where Mr McIntyre is listed as the founder and as having been active in protests against COVID lockdowns and vaccines.  

RMIT FactLab investigated three claims using information and statements provided by the Victorian Electoral Commission. 

CLAIM ONE: Many people could not vote because there were no ballot papers 

The message shared on Facebook claims that “many booths ran out of ballot papers, meaning many others couldn’t vote”.

But the VEC has rejected the claim that people were unable to vote. “We are aware of a limited number of voting centres running out of printed district ballot papers earlier today,” the VEC tweeted on November 26. 

“This may have been because of people voting outside of their district. Replacement ballots were provided to each voting centre. No voters were turned away or missed out on voting due to this,” the tweet said.

In a statement provided to RMIT FactLab, the VEC explained that there was a shortfall of ballot papers in some voting centres due to electorate boundary changes.

“This is partially because many people voted outside their own district and printed absent sets ran short,” the VEC wrote. “There was a redivision of state electoral boundaries in 2021 that affected around 1 in 5 voters. This means they were voting in a different district due to the boundary changes.”

An absent vote is issued to a person when they cast a vote outside their electoral district on election day.  

According to the VEC’s statement, voters at booths that had run out of ballot papers were advised that they could wait for additional ballot papers to arrive; vote at a neighbouring voting centre; or return later in the day. They were also given the option of voting on blank ballot papers with candidates’ names handwritten by election officials. 

“This is an acceptable approach in this situation and is permitted by legislation,” the VEC’s statement said. 

Voters could also record their attendance at a voting centre as proof of their intention to vote. 

“In a couple of voting centres, a very small number of voters opted to complete an information report as a record of attending the site and as proof of their intention to vote,” the statement said. 

VEC communication manager, Ms Marie Guerin, told RMIT FactLab that the VEC was unable to provide the exact number of polling centres that had run out of ballot papers, as well as the number of people who had completed an information report, until it had conducted a recheck of all votes. 

“In the fullness of time we will be able to provide the exact number for both those things, but as mentioned, the numbers were limited,” she said.

The redivision of Victoria’s electoral boundaries was conducted by the Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC), an independent statutory body that establishes and reviews Victoria’s electoral boundaries. A redivision is conducted to ensure that each electorate has a similar number of enrolled voters so that each vote carries the same weight. 

The last redivision of Victoria’s electoral boundaries took place in 2013, with the next one planned for 2030.  

CLAIM TWO: Names of voters were removed from the electoral roll

The message posted on Facebook claims that "many Victorians are complaining they couldn’t vote. There [sic] names had been removed from the electoral roles [sic],” the message says. “A betting person would suggest those who have been removed are likely to be non labor or green voters.”

The VEC’s Ms Guerin said voters' names had not been removed from the electoral roll other than for legitimate reasons.

“We did not remove names from the electoral roll, except in line with those provisions listed on our website,” she said. “For example, if someone has died, if someone has a medical certificate stating they are unable to understand the nature and significance of voting, or if they’ve moved interstate or overseas.”

“What may have occurred is that people had not updated their enrolment details, such as change of address or name, before the close of the roll,” she said. “Therefore they could not be found on the roll on election day when giving their current name and address.”

She said people were still able to vote in these situations: “Electors who believe they should be on the roll but cannot be found on the roll complete a provisional vote. 

“You fill out the form, stating that you're eligible to vote, and then it's put in a separate envelope,” she said. “Once we've verified that you are on the roll, or are entitled to be on the roll, your vote is admitted to the vote count.” 

According to the VEC, there are limited circumstances in which a person can be removed from the electoral roll.

A person’s name can be removed when the VEC receives a death certificate, or a medical certificate showing that a person is incapable of understanding the nature and/or significance of enrolling and voting, or if a person has been sent to prison for more than five years, Ms Guerin said.

“The other circumstance is where someone moves interstate or overseas and updates their enrolment details so they are no longer on the Victorian register of electors,” she said.

These circumstances are further detailed on the VEC’s website. 

CLAIM THREE: The election was rigged

The message shared on Facebook states, “should we be surprised the Victorian elections were rigged”.

The VEC’s Ms Guerin said there was “no substance” to such claims which were made on a number of social media platforms. 

Asked specifically if there was any evidence to suggest the election was rigged, she said, “no”.