Formal and informal votes

Formal and informal votes

To ensure your vote counts, follow the instructions on the top of your ballot paper and complete it accordingly. This is called placing a formal vote. Only formal votes can be counted and contribute to the election result.

If a ballot paper isn't completed correctly, it's called an informal vote. An informal vote doesn't contribute to the election result.

A ballot paper may be deemed informal for a number of reasons including:

• it's blank or unmarked,
• ticks or crosses have been used when numbering in order of preference is required,
• the required number of boxes haven't been marked, or
• it has writing on it which identifies the elector.