The ‘big risk’ independent election candidates are running

Independent election candidates are running a “pretty big risk” by not offering full how-to-vote cards, academics have warned on the eve of the election.

It’s been reported Kooyong candidate Monique Ryan’s decision not to allocate preferences on her how-to-vote cards is leading to invalid early votes.

Dr Jill Sheppard, from the Australian National University’s School of Politics and International Relations, examines voter behaviour and told Tom Elliott it could prove very costly.

“It’s a pretty big risk these independents are running, by not offering a full how to vote card,” she said.

“The main cost to them is that a lot of their voters are going to cast invalid votes, now that’s not what you normally want your voters to do.”

She said while it may seem simple for some, a lot of migrants and young Australians would not be across the importance of numbering every box.

Press PLAY below to hear her explain