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Preferential Voting in Single Member Electorates - Western Australia

	Electoral Authority: Western Australian Electoral Commission
Parliament which uses Preferential Voting	Legislative Council (Upper House)
Name of Preferential Voting system	Partial preferential
Formality/Informality points	Formal Where there are 3 or more candidates the elector is directed to number "1", "2", "3" on the ballot paper, and may indicate preferences for remaining candidates. Where there are 3 candidates, "1", "2", blank is to be taken to be "1", "2", "3". Where there are 2 candidates the elector is directed to number "1" and "2" on the ballot paper. Informal No vote has been recorded. The voter has not voted in the directed manner. It contains any unauthorised mark or writing which would identify the voter. Ballot paper not authenticated. Note: A ballot paper is not informal if in the opinion of the returning officer the voter's intention is clear.
Directions on the Ballot Paper	(1998 Legislative Council Election) Mark your vote on this ballot-paper by placing the numbers "1", "2", "3"... "N" (where N equals the number of candidates) in the squares immediately to the left of the names of the respective candidates so as to indicate the order of your preference for them. Your vote is not counted unless you vote for at least 3 candidates.
Casual Vacancies	A writ for a by-election is to be issued within 40 days of a casual vacancy occurring. However, if the vacancy occurs within 4 months of the next annual periodic elections a by election is to be held concurrent with those elections; or if the periodic election for that division is due, a by election is not required.