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news © AE@ws~ Sleep On It Votes Manipulated State Government’s voting Last year NDP candidate Robert tthe Upper House give them Wood was elected with Labor prefer- xr to manipulate the voteand ences although he won only 48,238 \l parties out of the field. votes, or 1.5% of the formal vote. the new system for this year’s “They even directed prefer- eelection, peoplecan givethe ences to the Liberal and National chines control over prefer- Party ticket before directing them single mark. to Garrett - a fact little known by ingtoDrErnieChaples,head most Labor voters.” versity of Sydney’s School of The NSW group voting scheme is nt, the consequences can be even less democratic because the Legis- the Federal Government's _ lative Council ballot paper will show no r the election of minor party party names. Voters can still choose n 1984 and 1987. candidates in order of preference ifthey te getting 294,000 votesin wish-butover 91%of Labor voters used 1ost 10% of the NSW vote- _ the single mark-registered option at the rrettofthe N.D.P.wasnot 1987 Senate election. “Any time the choice of candidates at ad, Australian Democrat elections is made more confusing for ion, with only 223,000 pri- voters and any time choice is trans- es, was elected because the ferred from the voter to political party bor Party Administrative officials, real democracy and popular edid not want Garrettin the control of government must suffer,” ider any circumstances,” Dr said Dr Chaples. wa le Blinds US Pilot