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au_205
Government and the Law › Elections
What is a 'donkey vote' in Australian elections?
- A vote where preferences are numbered from top to bottom without thought
- A vote cast for an independent candidate
- An informal vote that is not counted
- A vote cast by post
Why this is the correct answer
A donkey vote occurs when a voter simply numbers candidates from top to bottom on the ballot paper without considering their actual preferences. Because candidates at the top of the ballot benefit most, this practice can skew results in a preference-based voting system.