Bass - full preference count underway
Representatives from VEC are undertaking a full preference count at Wonthaggi Town Hall today.
The wait continues for an outcome for the seat of Bass. The battle between Labor's Jordan Crugnale and Liberals Aaron Brown will come down to preferences.
Representatives from the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) are undertaking a full preference count of votes at Wonthaggi Town Hall today.
No candidates are allowed to attend the count, which could take several days.
A preference count takes place when no candidate has won an absolute majority.
The VEC website contains an explanation of the process:
"If, after all first preference votes have been counted (all the number '1' votes) and rechecked, no candidate has an absolute majority of votes, we will conduct a preference distribution.
"The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded from the count, and their votes are transferred to the second preferences marked on these ballot papers (all the number ‘2’ votes).
"If no candidate has an absolute majority after this process, we continue by excluding the candidate with the fewest counts from the count. Once again, the excluded candidates’ votes are transferred to the second preferences marked on these ballot papers (all the number ‘2’ votes).
"If a voters’ second preference has already been eliminated from the count, we look at third and subsequent preferences marked on the ballot paper.
"This process continues until one candidate has more than half the total formal votes cast and is then declared elected."
The VEC website results for Bass includes a two-candidate preferred count, which "is intended to provide an early indication of election results, but has no status in determining the actual election outcome. Minor variations may be observed with rechecked results and preference distributions (where required)". This has Jordan Crugnale ahead by 211 votes (50.25 per cent of preferred votes).
On Monday night, ABC election analyst Antony Green said with almost every vote counted in Bass, "unless something untoward is discovered in the distribution of preferences, Labor is set to win the seat".
