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1. Foreign interference and Australian electoral security in the digital era.

Author

Dowling, Melissa-Ellen

Subjects
*FOREIGN electoral interference, *BALLOTS, *ELECTRONIC voting, *ELECTIONS, *GOVERNMENT policy, *INTERNET security
Abstract

Australian elections are digitising. Electronic ballots, electronic certified lists, electronic scrutiny, and electronic data are becoming part of the electoral status quo. The digitisation of elections in Australia induces new vulnerabilities that malign foreign entities can exploit to subvert the nation's democratic sovereignty. Problems such as inauthenticity, data insecurity, and disinformation are amplified in today's epoch of digital era governance. Since these problems have the potential to erode the legitimacy of Australian elections, it is imperative to deepen understanding of these risks to optimise the nation's democratic resilience. Through applying a conceptual framework derived from democratic theory and public policy, this paper assesses the vulnerability of Australia's elections to foreign interference based on the Australian electoral system irrespective of adversary capabilities. It finds that Australia's federal elections are relatively secure from hard cyber security risks due to digital-analogue hybridity in electoral processes, but they are vulnerable to soft cyber risks such as digital disinformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2022
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2. The Impact of the Australian Ballot on Quality Challenger Entry Decisions.

Author

Will, Brent and Vander Wielen, Ryan

Subjects
*BALLOTS, *ELECTIONS, *POLITICIANS, *POLITICAL parties, *SECRET ballot
Abstract

Beginning in 1888, the American states rapidly adopted the Australian ballot. This change revolutionized American elections, ending party ballots, and producing greater accountability for individual politicians. Compared to the previous strategic environment, the advent of the Australian ballot released politicians from homogenized party labels and providing incentives for district service and a personal voteâ??or, at least, that is the standard story. Carson and Roberts (2007) challenge this view, instead asserting the pre-secret ballot party system provided incentives for political careerists that yielded greater numbers of quality challengers. Our paper suggests quality challengers who can differentiate themselves from their party are in the best position to effectively challenge a seat; this can only be achieved under an Australian ballot system. We argue the Australian ballot increased incentives for quality challengers and produced changes more closely aligned with the traditional interpretation of events. We test our theory using a state-by-state analysis which we think can more fully account for the observed changes produced by the adoption of the secret ballot. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2009

3. The Impact of the Australian Ballot on Member Behavior in the U.S. House.

Author

DiSarro, Brian, Nemeth, Stephen C., Sanborn, Howard, Wittrock, Jill N., and Squire, Peverill

Subjects
*SECRET ballot, *BALLOTS, *LEGISLATORS, *ELECTIONS, *REPRESENTATIVE government, *POLITICAL parties, *PUBLIC spending
Abstract

We explore the extent to which the adoption of the Australian ballot marked a departure in the re-election behavior of House members in regards to committee assignments, party voting, and pork barrel expenditures. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2006