The week following the Federal Election has revealed very low levels of electoral disinformation, according the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers.
Mr Rogers said that while a very small number of individuals had chosen to engage in promoting “predictable and disappointing conspiracy theories”, he was very pleased to report that the vast majority of Australians were choosing not to engage with the disinformation.
He said the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) social media analytics showed that conversations around electoral disinformation had been steadily declining since the election weekend, with far more Australians discussing the progress of the count.
“The count is progressing in centres all around the country, with the vast majority of first preferences counted and having undergone fresh scrutiny,” Mr Rogers said.
“Despite some anticipated staff shortages due to COVID-19, the AEC remains on track to return the writs to the Governor-General on or before 28 June,” he said.
“Our motto for the count is ‘right, not rushed’.”
Mr Rogers said the count was progressing well and it was likely that the results in some seats would be declared mid-week.
The Commissioner said this could only occur when it became mathematically impossible for any other candidate to win.
He said the AEC could receive postal votes until the close of business on Friday (3 June).
“In a number of seats, the margins are so thin that the AEC will need to wait until we have received and counted all allowable postal votes before distributing preferences and declaring a result,” Mr Rogers said.
“Final results for every division will not be known until the full distribution of preferences, which cannot occur until every vote has been received and counted (i.e. after the postal vote receipt deadline).”
He said that in the Senate, the full distribution of preferences would continue for up to five weeks after election day.
