Langer vote

A Langer vote was a style of voting in the Australian electoral system designed to avoid the requirement to express preferences for all candidates without the vote being rejected as informal. The title is a tribute to Albert Langer,. an Australian political activist, who advocated for the use of this style as a ''de facto'' method of optional preferential voting for making a valid vote for the voter's preferred candidates while the deliberate "error" avoided the vote being counted for one of the major political parties. (1996) 24 Federal Law Review 201.

Voters were advised to mark 1, 2, . .n, for favoured candidates, but to mark a repetition of the next digit against each of the remaining candidates. For example, a vote would be marked 1, 2, 3, 3, 3. The votes for the first and second candidates would be counted but the remaining candidates would then not receive preferences. From 1983 this was a valid vote, however since 1998 the Electoral Act requires that there be no repeated numbers. This type of voting would not merely be an individual act of conscience however. Its systemic effect could have been anarchic, given the way the preferential voting system was structured: in any close seats between the dominant Labor and Liberal Parties, had enough voters chosen to put the candidates of those parties equal last, no member would have been elected for those seats. This is due to Australian law requiring an MP for a single-member constituency or seat to have an absolute majority of all valid votes cast, after preferences, to be declared elected. This would have required fresh elections in those seats, and if enough had been affected, formation of government may have been destabilised.

History

Preferential voting was introduced in Federal elections in 1918. While voting was voluntary at the time, a valid vote was required to express a preference for every candidate, described as full preferential voting,. and a failure to mark ballots in consecutive numerical order meant that the vote was informal. This was confirmed by the High Court in a case concerning the 1928 election. This was a half senate election in which 3 senators were to be elected for Victoria. 6 candidates were nominated, however Maj Gen John Forsyth died before the ballot. Most ballot papers were reprinted with just the 5 remaining candidates. The Labor how-to-vote card had Forsyth listed as #5 and more than 11,000 ballots had numbered the candidates 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6. Starke J noted that the Electoral Act required that a ballot paper being given effect according to the voter's intention so far as his intention is clear and accepted that in this case the voters preferences were clear. Despite this however Starke J held that the Electoral Act "absolutely and imperatively" required that a voter use consecutive numbers so that the votes were properly rejected as informal.

In 1983 the Joint Select Committee on Electoral Reform was concerned at the informality rate for Senate voting. The Electoral Act was amended so that while a voter was formally required to express a preference for all candidates, a vote that erroneously did not comply with this requirement was saved from being rejected as informal. Subsection 270(1) applied to the Senate and subsection 270(2) to the House of Representatives.The terms of s 270(2) & (3) at that time are set out in the judgment of Brennan CJ in at pp 313-4.

1987 election

In 1987 Harold Van Moorst and Langer were part of "The Coalition Against Poverty and Unemployment" and were urging people to either (1) not vote at the election on 11 July 1987 (2) to deliberately vote informally or (3) informing electors of the effect of section 270 of the Electoral Act, set out in a document headed "How not to give preferences" so that electors could avoid voting for the major parties. The Australian Electoral Commission applied to the Supreme Court of Victoria for an order preventing Van Moorst from encouraging people not to vote. Langer was added as a defendant at his own request. Murphy J granted the injunction until the defendants could put on evidence and the matter could be heard.''Australian Electoral Commission v Van Moorst & Langer'
[1987
VicSC_257">987">[1987
VicSC_257_(26_June_1987)._After_hearing_the_evidence_on_2_July,_Frank_Vincent_(judge).html" "title="987
VicSC_257.html" ;"title="987">[1987
VicSC 257">987">[1987
VicSC 257 (26 June 1987). After hearing the evidence on 2 July, Frank Vincent (judge)">Vincent J held that it was an offence not to vote and an offence to incite people not to vote. Vincent J also held it was an offence to use a representation of a ballot paper to vote other than in accordance with the directions on the ballot paper and granted injunctions to prevent Van Moorst or Langer distributing documents to that effect. Van Moorst and Langer did have some measure of success however in that Vincent J held that it was not an offence to vote informally, nor to inform voters as to the effect of s 270 of the Electoral Act, holding that .

The system of compulsory voting requires that electors record votes at each election. It is, of course, integral to the operation of that system that all electors make choices. It is not integral that they must choose between the candidates or that, contrary to the dictates of their consciences, they must vote for persons who they may regard as being totally unacceptable to fill the offices for which they present themselves.
...
That choice in my view does permit them to say in effect "A plague on all their houses".''Australian Electoral Commission v Van Moorst & Langer'
[1987
VicSC 270] (2 July 1987).

Van Moorst and Langer sought a declaration that (1) electors were entitled to deliberately vote informally and (2) electors were entitled to make a Langer vote. They also sought orders requiring the Australian Electoral Commission to publicise these declarations. Murray J declined to make either of the declarations, holding they merely sought to repeat the effect of the judgement of Vincent J and that they had no standing to seek an order requiring the Australian Electoral Commission to publish them.''Australian Electoral Commission v Van Moorst & Langer'
[1987
VicSC_278">987">[1987
VicSC_278_(6_July_1987).

_The_extent_of_Langer_votes_and_the_legislative_response

The_campaign_was_not_effective_in_1987,_with_just_2,082_exhausted_votes_being_recorded._For_the_1990_Australian_federal_election.html" ;"title="987
VicSC_278.html" ;"title="987"> 987">[1987
VicSC_278_(6_July_1987).

_The_extent_of_Langer_votes_and_the_legislative_response

The_campaign_was_not_effective_in_1987,_with_just_2,082_exhausted_votes_being_recorded._For_the_1990_Australian_federal_election">1990_election_however_this_jumped_to_18,765__exhausted_votes._Following_the_1990_election_the_Joint_Standing_Committee_on_Electoral_matters_recommended_that_it_be_made_an_offence_to_encourage_others_to_vote_other_than_in_accordance_with_full_preferential_voting._The_Electoral_Act_was_again_amended_to_include_s_329A_which_provided_as_follows:

329A._(1)_A_person_must_not,_during_the_relevant_period_in_relation_to_a_House_of_Representatives_election_under_this_Act,_print,_publish_or_distribute,_or_cause,_permit_or_authorise_to_be_printed,_published_or_distributed,_any_matter_or_thing_with_the_intention_of_encouraging_persons_voting_at_the_election_to_fill_in_a_ballot_paper_otherwise_than_in_accordance_with_section_240.

Penalty:_Imprisonment_for_6_months.Commonwealth_Electoral_Act_1918
s_329A_as_at_15_June_1995.

The_purpose_of_s_270_was_said_to_be_that_voters_"do_not_have_their_votes_discarded_because_of_an_unintentional_mistake",_but_that_s_329A_was_necessary_to_ensure_that_"people_do_not_go_out_and_intentionally_frustrate_the_will_of_this_Parliament_by_advocating_an_optional_preferential_system".

For_the_1993_election_the_number_of_exhausted_votes_dropped_back_to_7,325.

_Langer's_challenge

In_the_week_before_the_1993_Australian_federal_election.html" ;"title="987
VicSC 278">987"> 1990_election_however_this_jumped_to_18,765__exhausted_votes._Following_the_1990_election_the_Joint_Standing_Committee_on_Electoral_matters_recommended_that_it_be_made_an_offence_to_encourage_others_to_vote_other_than_in_accordance_with_full_preferential_voting._The_Electoral_Act_was_again_amended_to_include_s_329A_which_provided_as_follows:

329A._(1)_A_person_must_not,_during_the_relevant_period_in_relation_to_a_House_of_Representatives_election_under_this_Act,_print,_publish_or_distribute,_or_cause,_permit_or_authorise_to_be_printed,_published_or_distributed,_any_matter_or_thing_with_the_intention_of_encouraging_persons_voting_at_the_election_to_fill_in_a_ballot_paper_otherwise_than_in_accordance_with_section_240.

Penalty:_Imprisonment_for_6_months.Commonwealth_Electoral_Act_1918
s_329A_as_at_15_June_1995.

The_purpose_of_s_270_was_said_to_be_that_voters_"do_not_have_their_votes_discarded_because_of_an_unintentional_mistake",_but_that_s_329A_was_necessary_to_ensure_that_"people_do_not_go_out_and_intentionally_frustrate_the_will_of_this_Parliament_by_advocating_an_optional_preferential_system".

For_the_1993_election_the_number_of_exhausted_votes_dropped_back_to_7,325.

_Langer's_challenge

In_the_week_before_the_1993_Australian_federal_election">1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_ 1990_election_however_this_jumped_to_18,765__exhausted_votes._Following_the_1990_election_the_Joint_Standing_Committee_on_Electoral_matters_recommended_that_it_be_made_an_offence_to_encourage_others_to_vote_other_than_in_accordance_with_full_preferential_voting._The_Electoral_Act_was_again_amended_to_include_s_329A_which_provided_as_follows:

329A._(1)_A_person_must_not,_during_the_relevant_period_in_relation_to_a_House_of_Representatives_election_under_this_Act,_print,_publish_or_distribute,_or_cause,_permit_or_authorise_to_be_printed,_published_or_distributed,_any_matter_or_thing_with_the_intention_of_encouraging_persons_voting_at_the_election_to_fill_in_a_ballot_paper_otherwise_than_in_accordance_with_section_240.

Penalty:_Imprisonment_for_6_months.Commonwealth_Electoral_Act_1918
s_329A_as_at_15_June_1995.

The_purpose_of_s_270_was_said_to_be_that_voters_"do_not_have_their_votes_discarded_because_of_an_unintentional_mistake",_but_that_s_329A_was_necessary_to_ensure_that_"people_do_not_go_out_and_intentionally_frustrate_the_will_of_this_Parliament_by_advocating_an_optional_preferential_system".

For_the_1993_election_the_number_of_exhausted_votes_dropped_back_to_7,325.

_Langer's_challenge

In_the_week_before_the_1993_Australian_federal_election">1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election.html" ;"title="William_Deane.html" ;"title="987
VicSC 278 (6 July 1987).

The extent of Langer votes and the legislative response

The campaign was not effective in 1987, with just 2,082 exhausted votes being recorded. For the 1990_election_however_this_jumped_to_18,765__exhausted_votes._Following_the_1990_election_the_Joint_Standing_Committee_on_Electoral_matters_recommended_that_it_be_made_an_offence_to_encourage_others_to_vote_other_than_in_accordance_with_full_preferential_voting._The_Electoral_Act_was_again_amended_to_include_s_329A_which_provided_as_follows:

329A._(1)_A_person_must_not,_during_the_relevant_period_in_relation_to_a_House_of_Representatives_election_under_this_Act,_print,_publish_or_distribute,_or_cause,_permit_or_authorise_to_be_printed,_published_or_distributed,_any_matter_or_thing_with_the_intention_of_encouraging_persons_voting_at_the_election_to_fill_in_a_ballot_paper_otherwise_than_in_accordance_with_section_240.

Penalty:_Imprisonment_for_6_months.Commonwealth_Electoral_Act_1918
s_329A_as_at_15_June_1995.

The_purpose_of_s_270_was_said_to_be_that_voters_"do_not_have_their_votes_discarded_because_of_an_unintentional_mistake",_but_that_s_329A_was_necessary_to_ensure_that_"people_do_not_go_out_and_intentionally_frustrate_the_will_of_this_Parliament_by_advocating_an_optional_preferential_system".

For_the_1993_election_the_number_of_exhausted_votes_dropped_back_to_7,325.

_Langer's_challenge

In_the_week_before_the_1993_Australian_federal_election">1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia.html" ;"title="1990 Australian federal election">1990 election however this jumped to 18,765 exhausted votes. Following the 1990 election the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral matters recommended that it be made an offence to encourage others to vote other than in accordance with full preferential voting. The Electoral Act was again amended to include s 329A which provided as follows:

329A. (1) A person must not, during the relevant period in relation to a House of Representatives election under this Act, print, publish or distribute, or cause, permit or authorise to be printed, published or distributed, any matter or thing with the intention of encouraging persons voting at the election to fill in a ballot paper otherwise than in accordance with section 240.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
s 329A as at 15 June 1995.

The purpose of s 270 was said to be that voters "do not have their votes discarded because of an unintentional mistake", but that s 329A was necessary to ensure that "people do not go out and intentionally frustrate the will of this Parliament by advocating an optional preferential system".

For the 1993 election the number of exhausted votes dropped back to 7,325.

Langer's challenge

In the week before the 1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_ 1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_Gavan_Griffith">Griffith_,_and_argued_that_s_240_required_full_preferential_voting_and_that_s_270_was_a_savings_provision_that_was_intended_to_apply_to_unintentional_errors._S329A_was_necessary_to_protect_the_integrity_of_compulsory_preferential_voting.

_Judgement

All_of_the_Court_held_that_a_Langer_vote_was_a_valid_vote_under_the_then_electoral_laws._The_majority,_ 1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_Gavan_Griffith">Griffith_,_and_argued_that_s_240_required_full_preferential_voting_and_that_s_270_was_a_savings_provision_that_was_intended_to_apply_to_unintentional_errors._S329A_was_necessary_to_protect_the_integrity_of_compulsory_preferential_voting.

_Judgement

All_of_the_Court_held_that_a_Langer_vote_was_a_valid_vote_under_the_then_electoral_laws._The_majority,_Gerard_Brennan">Brennan_ 1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_Gavan_Griffith">Griffith_,_and_argued_that_s_240_required_full_preferential_voting_and_that_s_270_was_a_savings_provision_that_was_intended_to_apply_to_unintentional_errors._S329A_was_necessary_to_protect_the_integrity_of_compulsory_preferential_voting.

_Judgement

All_of_the_Court_held_that_a_Langer_vote_was_a_valid_vote_under_the_then_electoral_laws._The_majority,_Gerard_Brennan">Brennan_Chief_Justice_of_Australia">CJ,_ 1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_Gavan_Griffith">Griffith_,_and_argued_that_s_240_required_full_preferential_voting_and_that_s_270_was_a_savings_provision_that_was_intended_to_apply_to_unintentional_errors._S329A_was_necessary_to_protect_the_integrity_of_compulsory_preferential_voting.

_Judgement

All_of_the_Court_held_that_a_Langer_vote_was_a_valid_vote_under_the_then_electoral_laws._The_majority,_Gerard_Brennan">Brennan_Chief_Justice_of_Australia">CJ,_John_Toohey_(judge)">Toohey,_1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_Gavan_Griffith">Griffith_,_and_argued_that_s_240_required_full_preferential_voting_and_that_s_270_was_a_savings_provision_that_was_intended_to_apply_to_unintentional_errors._S329A_was_necessary_to_protect_the_integrity_of_compulsory_preferential_voting.

_Judgement

All_of_the_Court_held_that_a_Langer_vote_was_a_valid_vote_under_the_then_electoral_laws._The_majority,_Gerard_Brennan">Brennan_Chief_Justice_of_Australia">CJ,_John_Toohey_(judge)">Toohey,_ Gaudron,_Michael_McHugh_(judge).html"__"title="Mary_Gaudron.html"_;"title="John_Toohey_(judge).html"_;"title="Chief_Justice_of_Australia.html"_;"title="Gerard_Brennan.html"_;"title="Gavan_Griffith.html"_;"title="1993_Australian_federal_election">1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_Gavan_Griffith">Griffith_,_and_argued_that_s_240_required_full_preferential_voting_and_that_s_270_was_a_savings_provision_that_was_intended_to_apply_to_unintentional_errors._S329A_was_necessary_to_protect_the_integrity_of_compulsory_preferential_voting.

_Judgement

All_of_the_Court_held_that_a_Langer_vote_was_a_valid_vote_under_the_then_electoral_laws._The_majority,_Gerard_Brennan">Brennan_Chief_Justice_of_Australia">CJ,_John_Toohey_(judge)">Toohey,_Mary_Gaudron">Gaudron,_Michael_McHugh_(judge)">McHugh_
McHugh_is_a_common_surname_of_Irish_language,_Irish_origin._It_is_an_anglicisation_of_the_original_Irish_''Mac_Aodha'',_meaning_literally_"Son_of_Aodh"._Aodh_(given_name),_Aodh_was_a_popular_male_given_name_in_mediaeval_Gaelic_Ireland._It_was_tradi_...
_and_ Gaudron,_Michael_McHugh_(judge).html"__"title="Mary_Gaudron.html"_;"title="John_Toohey_(judge).html"_;"title="Chief_Justice_of_Australia.html"_;"title="Gerard_Brennan.html"_;"title="Gavan_Griffith.html"_;"title="1993_Australian_federal_election">1993_election_Langer_sought_a_declaration_from_the_High_Court_that_s_329A_was_not_a_valid_act_of_the_Commonwealth._On_11_March_1993_William_Deane">Deane_J_refused_to_make_the_declaration_sought_and_referred_the_matter_for_consideration_by_the_Full_Court._The_matter_was_not_heard_until_4_October_1995,._and_the_order_was_handed_down_on_7_February_1996,_one_month_prior_to_the_1996_Australian_federal_election">1996_election_while_the_reasons_for_judgement_were_not_handed_down_until_20_February_1996.

_Arguments

Langer_represented_himself_and_argued_that_arguments_were_that_(1)_the_wording_of_section_240_did_not_require_consecutive_numbers_without_repeats,_(2)_the_langer_voter_was_a_valid_method_of_voting_(3)_this_impacted_on_free_and_fair_elections_in_that_it_was_an_attempt_to_prevent_discussion_of_a_method_of_casting_a_valid_vote_and_(4)_the_AEC_was_intimidating_and_misleading_people_about_how_they_could_vote._The_Commonwealth_was_represented_by_the_Solicitor-General_of_Australia">Solicitor-General,_Gavan_Griffith">Griffith_,_and_argued_that_s_240_required_full_preferential_voting_and_that_s_270_was_a_savings_provision_that_was_intended_to_apply_to_unintentional_errors._S329A_was_necessary_to_protect_the_integrity_of_compulsory_preferential_voting.

_Judgement

All_of_the_Court_held_that_a_Langer_vote_was_a_valid_vote_under_the_then_electoral_laws._The_majority,_Gerard_Brennan">Brennan_Chief_Justice_of_Australia">CJ,_John_Toohey_(judge)">Toohey,_Mary_Gaudron">Gaudron,_Michael_McHugh_(judge)">McHugh_
McHugh_is_a_common_surname_of_Irish_language,_Irish_origin._It_is_an_anglicisation_of_the_original_Irish_''Mac_Aodha'',_meaning_literally_"Son_of_Aodh"._Aodh_(given_name),_Aodh_was_a_popular_male_given_name_in_mediaeval_Gaelic_Ireland._It_was_tradi_...