VOTERS in Murray are being given wildly varied how-to-vote cards for this Saturday’s NSW election.
Some recommended voting for only one candidate, which is permitted in NSW state elections, unlike at Victorian or federal polls.
Other cards advised voters to fill in two or three boxes, while at least two suggested every box be filled.
NSW voters are not required to number every box on the ballot, because preferential voting is optional.
The contest for Murray is tipped to come down to two candidates, independent incumbent Helen Dalton and Nationals candidate Peta Betts.
Riverina-statehood independent David Landini, who had two per cent of first preferences at the last election, recommended using the preferential voting system.
He supported a how-to-vote card from pro-free market group Turning Point Australia, which had a 1 next to his name and all 10 boxes numbered.
“In case I get eliminated, (a voter’s ballot) doesn’t become a dead vote, it goes to the next candidate that they want,” Mr Landini said.
Fellow independent Greg Adamson chose to only put a 1 on his how-to- vote card.
“I’ve noticed that preferencing in our region is not followed to a great deal at all,” Mr Adamson said.
“I’d say 60 per cent of people don’t preference.
“There’s a very high proportion of people who choose to just put a number 1 and leave it at that.
“Rather than trying to challenge that, I’d rather those that are interested in preferencing make their own decisions.”
At the last state election, 8448 ballots in Murray, or 17.2 per cent, became “exhausted votes”.
That meant their preferred candidate was excluded during the distribution of preferences without flowing to one of the final two candidates.
Another 1889 votes, or 3.8 per cent, were informal.
In total more than one-in-five ballots were either informal or exhausted and not directly used to determine the winning candidate.
The gap between Mrs Dalton and Austin Evans at the last election was 2745 votes.
How-to-vote cards for Mrs Dalton and Ms Betts asked people to vote for them only.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, who won the last Murray election with then-candidate Mrs Dalton, suggested voters put The Nationals second without any further numbered boxes.
Labor and The Greens each suggested supporters go no further than putting Mrs Dalton in third, leaving the box next to Ms Betts empty.
The Legalise Cannabis Party and Sustainable Australia Party told voters to number as many boxes as they like, but weren’t making preference suggestions.
Public Education Party candidate Kevin Farrell suggested a complete ballot with The Nationals fourth, ahead of Mrs Dalton in ninth.
