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https://theconversation.com/why-are-young-people-more-likely-to-cast-informal-votes-its-not-because-theyre-immature-266788>
"In Australia, where turning up to vote is mandatory, deliberately spoiling
your ballot is one of the only legal ways to protest or opt out.
This practice of “intentional informal voting” is an increasingly significant
issue. The number of informal ballots in federal elections has more than
doubled in the past few decades, rising from 2.5% in 1977 to 5.6% in 2025.
These “wasted” votes aren’t just a side note. They can have real consequences.
Our analysis shows in nearly two-thirds of Australian federal elections since
1987, the number of informal ballots was greater than the margin of victory.
This means the outcome technically could have been different in eight of the
past 13 federal elections if those votes had been cast formally.
A common assumption, supported by some previous research, is that younger
voters are the main culprits, spoiling their ballots as an act of youthful
protest. But is it really that simple?
Our new research challenges this stereotype. Using an original large survey of
more than 25,000 voters in Victoria, we found a more nuanced story.
While young voters tend to intentionally cast informal votes in higher
proportions than older voters, it’s not their age that directly predicts
whether they will spoil their ballot, but rather their grievances towards
democracy."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
