Voting Referendum: Yes Campaign Accused of Dirty Tricks After Voters Notice VERY Confusing Details Outside the Polling Station
The Yes23 campaign has been accused of running dirty tricks outside early voting centers by using almost identically colored signs to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Early voting for the Voice referendum began on Monday in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, ahead of the October 14 election.
A photo taken outside a voting booth at the Mildura Senior Citizens Club in Victoria on Monday morning showed an official purple ‘Vote Centre’ sign sandwiched between two ‘Vote Yes’ signs with the same purple color and white lettering.
“I guess these colors are just a coincidence!” Bruce, who took the photo, posted on X, formerly Twitter.
His image sparked a wave of criticism, with many accusing the Yes23 campaign of using dirty tricks to confuse voters.
A photo taken outside an early voting center at the Mildura Senior Citizens Club in Victoria on Monday morning showed a purple ‘voting centre’ sign sandwiched between two ‘Vote Yes’ signs with a nearly identical purple color and the same white lettering.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) issued a lengthy statement on Monday evening revealing that it had asked the Yes23 campaign to remove their signage which, they claimed, ‘could potentially mislead voters as to the source of a campaign message’.
“This combination of using purple and white colors near AEC signage could mislead a voter as to the source of the signage, and by extension, the source of the message on the signage,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, when we were made aware of this signage, the AEC requested that the Yes23 campaign rectify the situation by ensuring that their signage is not placed in close proximity to the AEC voting center signage. ‘
The AEC said the Yes23 campaign complied with this request.
However, the AEC admitted it had no ‘legal power to stop people from using certain colors’ – despite making it ‘strongly’ clear that their preference is for campaigners not to use purple and white.
In fact, the AEC does not have the legal authority to remove any sign located more than six meters from the entrance to a polling booth.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) released a lengthy statement on Monday evening revealing that they had asked the Yes23 campaign to remove their signage which, they claimed, ‘could potentially mislead voters as to the source of a campaign message’ (pictured : Prime Minister Anthony Albanzen during a Yes23 campaign event)
This means that it is likely that the Yes23 campaign will be allowed to keep the purple and white signs, but will only have to move them six meters from the official AEC signs.
Daily Mail Australia has approached the Yes23 campaign for comment.
It is not the first time that the use of the colors purple and white by activists has led to controversy.
In 2019, the Court of Disputed Returns ruled that Liberal Party campaign signs written in Chinese in Melbourne’s Chisholm and Kooyong divisions were likely to mislead or deceive voters.
The court ultimately ruled that the signals did not have sufficient influence to influence the final election outcome.
Early voting centers will open in the remaining states and territories on Tuesday.
Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said voters should plan ahead if they cannot vote in person on October 14.
‘Federal referendums are personal events, just like elections. This is the first time in almost a quarter century that the country has come together to have their say on potential constitutional changes.” said Mr. Rogers.
‘If you can vote on October 14, then you should do so.
“However, if your circumstances prevent you from doing so, you should consider the early voting and voting options available based on your circumstances.
“Remember, it is mandatory to vote for all registered Australians.”
For the complete list of early voting center locations, opening days and hours, visit the AEC website.