NO-ONE could argue the barrel of numbered balls that would ultimately decide the order of candidates on the ballot paper for Monash was not well rotated.
No less than three candidates took turns to rotate the container which after an exhaustive ballot not only decided the order of candidates but the candidates’ identifying numbers.
For numerologists, Labor Candidate Tully Fletcher was allocated No. 1, followed by Liberal Candidate Mary Aldred No. 2, and David O'Reilly from the Legalise Cannabis Party No. 3.
Labor’s luck was not to last however with the rotating barrel and blindfolded hand of AEC staffer Kate eventually placing One Nation’s Kuljeet Kaur Robinson at the top of the ballot paper followed by Labor’s Tully Fletcher, Independent Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent, Liberal Candidate Mary Aldred, Independent Deb Leonard, Geoffrey Dethlefs for Family First, David O'Reilly Legalise Cannabis Party, Greens Candidate Terence Steele and Trumpet of Patriots Candidate Alex Wehbe last.
Does a candidate’s position on the ballot paper matter?
According to the Australian Electoral Commission when a ballot paper is numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc in the same order that the candidates’ names appear on the ballot it is known as a ‘donkey vote’.
Donkey votes may be a voter not understanding how to vote correctly, not caring how they vote or actually expressing their true preference.
Whatever the reason a donkey vote is considered a formal vote and will be counted.
It is only when a ballot paper has not been fully completed, is completed incorrectly or can identify the person who voted is it considered an informal vote and not included in the count.
At federal elections nationally around five per cent of votes end up being assessed as informal.
In 2022 for the Division of Monash, 4.68 per cent of the vote or 4752 ballot papers were considered informal out of a total of 101,464 votes.
The Greens were placed at the top of the ballot paper in Monash in 2022 and achieved a primary vote of 9.9 per cent.
Liberal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent was placed second on the ballot paper in 2022 and ended up scoring 37.8 per cent of the primary vote.
After the distribution of preferences in 2022 the Liberals received 52.9 per cent of the vote compared to Labor with 47.1 per cent.
Donkey votes have been variously estimated at between one and two per cent of all votes however it could be that what appears to be a donkey vote is in fact a genuine representation of a voter's preferences.
For the Division of Monash on May 3 a consecutively numbered vote from the top of the ballot paper to the bottom would be a vote for Kuljeet Kaur Robinson and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.
For more information on voting for the May 3 Federal Election go to aec.gov.au
Results of the AEC Ballot Draw for the Electoral Division of Monash 2025
1. Kuljeet Kaur Robinson (One Nation)
2. Tully Fletcher (Labor)
3. Russell Broadbent (Independent) (Sitting Member)
4. Mary Aldred (Liberal)
5. Deb Leonard (Independent)
6. Geoffrey Dethlefs (Family First)
7. David O'Reilly (Legalise Cannabis Party)
8. Terence Steele (Greens)
9. Alex Wehbe (Trumpet of Patriots)
