MARK ALDRIDGE

Pauline challenges the vote counting in NSW

Pauline Hanson will challenge the count of Ballots in the NSW election after narrowly missing out on a spot in the state's upper house.

Ms Hanson fell just 1306 votes short of winning a spot at the March 26 poll after preferences went against her.

Ms Hanson, who ran as an independent, indicated to me in mid-April that she may challenge the count, and it seems she is going ahead.

She has now confirmed she will lodge a challenge in the NSW Supreme Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, lodging her petition before the court tomorrow.

My research has not been able to come up with the exact figures relating to the ballot count says Mark Aldridge, with my requests for the final figures falling on deaf ears with in the electoral commission, I would have thought the figures of a general election would be made available to one and all, Mark Said.

Ms Hanson in April claimed the preferences weren't distributed fairly and raised concerns about the preference system used by the NSW Electoral Commission, an issue on the minds of many in the electorate,

Nationals candidate Sarah Johnston, who took the 21st and last spot up for grabs in the NSW Legislative Council, was just 1306 votes ahead of the former federal MP late in the counting.

Ms Hansen already had to endure a blank voting square on the ballot paper, confusing many supporters as to how to mark a ballot, a direct repercussion of a lack of independent review of the electoral systems in Australia.

Before preferences, Ms Hanson led the Nationals by 7540 votes and the Greens - which took the 20th spot - by 15,470.

Ms Hanson was also upset by reports a scrutineer had discovered votes for her in a bundle of blank votes, amongst many other issues that have become regular stains on our democratic process.

"It's not just about Pauline Hanson," it is about the lack of equity in the democratic process says Mark.

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"We need to make sure that this is a fair and just election. I just don't feel that this election was conducted this way." Pauline herself said.

After uncovering tens of thousands of missing ballots on top of dozens of conduct issues during the South Australian election, this is becoming a habit we can do with out, any where in our country. Mark said!

The rumours are over 200,000 people votes were invalid one way or another in the NSW election last month, some timely and transparent information from the electoral commission might clear the air, or more likely will show up the degradation of the electoral system itself.

Mark M Aldridge (Independent Candidate)

Member of the Alliance Australia

“In the pursuit of Unity”

08 82847482 / 0403379500

[email protected]

Full facts and figures relating to the misconduct of the SA 2010 election, available upon request, or see this site