Source : the age
Zoe Daniel has requested a recount in Goldstein after counting today arrived at a final margin of 260 votes in favour of Liberal Tim Wilson.
The Australian Electoral Commission automatically undertakes a recount if the margin is under 100 votes, but candidates can also request one if they have sufficient grounds.
Zoe Daniel on election day.Credit: Justin McManus
A spokesman for the AEC said the full distribution of preferences was finalised today in favour of Wilson.
“A recount request is being considered, and an announcement regarding that decision will be made when able,” he said.
Daniel said: “In light of the very tight margin and several errors being picked up in the portion of the count that was included in the distribution of preferences, leading to unusual fluctuations and large numbers of votes moving to and fro in the final stages of the count, I have taken expert advice and asked the AEC to consider whether a full recount is appropriate.
“There are also several outstanding questions regarding the broader count which would be resolved by a recount. As always, I will respect the process and await the commission’s decision.”
Daniel has been getting advice from data scientist Simon Jackman, who has pointed to the increased size of electorates since the 100-vote trigger for a recount was decided in 2007 and to anomalies in the count.
Jackman said the AEC’s 100-vote guidance was implemented following the McEwen recount of 2007.
“That 100 votes is not key to an error rate, it’s an absolute number,” he said. “It was conjured up in 2007 when electorates were a lot smaller than they are now.”
Jackman said that because Goldstein was 40 per cent larger than the average electorate in 2007, he thought Daniel could make the argument that a 100-vote margin in 2007 was a 140-vote margin today.
Jackman also said there were anomalies in the Goldstein count that might deserve a recount.
“If you look closely at the Goldstein count, there are a few hiccups in the count,” he said. “The AEC or someone has made a mistake at the Hampton pre-poll voting centre where a huge bundle of votes that were given to Zoe Daniel were then taken away, and it looks like they may have gone over to the Greens candidate in large [part].”
Jackman said the count had been “a bit bumpy” in some polling centres in Goldstein, particularly the Brighton pre-poll centre, and a recount would help dissipate any concerns.
“Why not take another two or three days to just put any issues to bed and that way no one’s got any argument at all?” he said.
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