1 00:00:03,670 --> 00:00:06,550 Sean Aylmer: Welcome to the Fear and Greed daily interview. I'm Sean Aylmer. The 2 00:00:06,930 --> 00:00:10,200 Sean Aylmer: election campaign is now well underway and for the candidates, 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,220 Sean Aylmer: all eyes are firmly on May 21. But putting aside 4 00:00:14,220 --> 00:00:17,090 Sean Aylmer: the politics of it all, the election itself is a 5 00:00:17,090 --> 00:00:22,440 Sean Aylmer: massive logistical challenge. Thousands of polling places coordinating pre- poll 6 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,889 Sean Aylmer: and postal votes, transporting and counting votes and doing it 7 00:00:25,890 --> 00:00:28,860 Sean Aylmer: all in a COVID safe environment. Then add in the 8 00:00:28,860 --> 00:00:31,900 Sean Aylmer: role of social media, the amount of misinformation that's circulating, 9 00:00:31,990 --> 00:00:34,670 Sean Aylmer: and the need to engage younger voters who may be 10 00:00:34,670 --> 00:00:38,550 Sean Aylmer: doing it for the first time. Where do you start? Evan Ekin- Smyth is 11 00:00:38,550 --> 00:00:41,720 Sean Aylmer: the Director of Media and Digital Engagement at the Australian Electoral 12 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,800 Sean Aylmer: Commission. Evan, welcome to Fear and Greed. 13 00:00:44,290 --> 00:00:45,630 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Oh, g'day and thank you for having me. 14 00:00:46,310 --> 00:00:47,180 Sean Aylmer: Nice job you've got. 15 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,020 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah. Oh look, I do the easy part, I talk 16 00:00:50,020 --> 00:00:53,159 Evan Ekin-Smyth: about how hard it is. Our organization though does a 17 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:55,230 Evan Ekin-Smyth: heck of a lot of work. It is a significant 18 00:00:55,230 --> 00:00:58,950 Evan Ekin-Smyth: logistical undertaking. One of the nation's largest peace time logistical 19 00:00:58,950 --> 00:01:02,070 Evan Ekin-Smyth: exercises. And as you mentioned, the COVID overlay makes it 20 00:01:02,070 --> 00:01:05,550 Evan Ekin-Smyth: incredibly complex to run. So a difficult job, lots of 21 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,500 Evan Ekin-Smyth: materials, lots of people, lots of logistics, but hey, we're 22 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:09,651 Evan Ekin-Smyth: ready. We're ready to go and we know how to do this. 23 00:01:09,651 --> 00:01:12,930 Sean Aylmer: Okay. So when did planning begin? 24 00:01:13,380 --> 00:01:16,001 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Oh, it's going to sound a little hokey, but the day after the (inaudible) 25 00:01:16,001 --> 00:01:19,390 Evan Ekin-Smyth: were returned for the previous federal election in 2019. 26 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,600 Evan Ekin-Smyth: People often ask us, it's the barbecue question, what do you do 27 00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:24,850 Evan Ekin-Smyth: in between elections? But it is such a massive- 28 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:26,190 Sean Aylmer: What an insult, Evan. What an insult. 29 00:01:27,870 --> 00:01:30,069 Evan Ekin-Smyth: It can be. And I wish we were just sitting 30 00:01:30,069 --> 00:01:33,580 Evan Ekin-Smyth: around. There's other things, not just election preparation. Of course, 31 00:01:33,580 --> 00:01:36,000 Evan Ekin-Smyth: we maintain the role on a regular basis. We run 32 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,510 Evan Ekin-Smyth: hundreds of industrial elections that people don't know about. Re- 33 00:01:39,510 --> 00:01:43,209 Evan Ekin-Smyth: draw electoral boundaries, party registration. There's lots of things. But 34 00:01:43,209 --> 00:01:46,300 Evan Ekin-Smyth: in terms of preparation for a federal election, it's massive. 35 00:01:46,580 --> 00:01:50,250 Evan Ekin-Smyth: In fact, we've already got planning underway for 2025, just 36 00:01:50,250 --> 00:01:52,080 Evan Ekin-Smyth: to make sure that we've got early processes in place 37 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:53,840 Evan Ekin-Smyth: for that election. So we start pretty early. 38 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:56,160 Sean Aylmer: So give me an idea of the size of the 39 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,340 Sean Aylmer: challenge. How many people are enrolled to vote? How many 40 00:01:59,340 --> 00:02:02,820 Sean Aylmer: polling places are there? How many people are working at 41 00:02:02,820 --> 00:02:04,480 Sean Aylmer: the AEC to help it run smoothly? 42 00:02:05,060 --> 00:02:08,780 Evan Ekin-Smyth: In terms of enrollment, 17.1 million people on the electoral 43 00:02:08,780 --> 00:02:11,010 Evan Ekin-Smyth: roll at the moment. There's a few days to go 44 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,220 Evan Ekin-Smyth: until the close of rolls date, which is 8: 00 45 00:02:13,220 --> 00:02:16,950 Evan Ekin-Smyth: PM local time on Monday the 18th. So anybody who's 46 00:02:16,950 --> 00:02:19,200 Evan Ekin-Smyth: listening, get on aec. gov. au. 47 00:02:20,460 --> 00:02:23,169 Sean Aylmer: Am I right in saying that there's about 500,000 people 48 00:02:23,169 --> 00:02:26,750 Sean Aylmer: you think who need to enroll to vote that should 49 00:02:26,750 --> 00:02:29,020 Sean Aylmer: be enrolled but just haven't, mostly because they've turned 18 in 50 00:02:29,110 --> 00:02:29,870 Sean Aylmer: the last three years? 51 00:02:30,250 --> 00:02:36,120 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah, that's correct. So 17.1 million represents, we estimate, 96.5% of 52 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:39,950 Evan Ekin-Smyth: the eligible population. Remarkable. By any international standard it's a 53 00:02:39,950 --> 00:02:42,360 Evan Ekin-Smyth: great base for democratic participation. But yeah, half a million people. It's still a lot 54 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,520 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of people who need jump on. And a lot of 55 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,010 Evan Ekin-Smyth: them will be young. So, 96% nationally. But if you 56 00:02:49,010 --> 00:02:51,130 Evan Ekin-Smyth: break it down and you go to a youth cohort, 57 00:02:51,210 --> 00:02:54,560 Evan Ekin-Smyth: 18 to 24 year olds, it sits at around 85%. So there's a lot 58 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:56,650 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of young people who need to take action. And they 59 00:02:56,650 --> 00:02:59,120 Evan Ekin-Smyth: typically do in this last week leading up to close 60 00:02:59,120 --> 00:02:59,530 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of rolls. 61 00:03:00,020 --> 00:03:02,960 Sean Aylmer: Mate, I have four people in my household between 18 and 62 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,370 Sean Aylmer: 24. I'm going to get onto them today. 63 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:08,060 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Please do. I'll follow up if you don't. 64 00:03:08,060 --> 00:03:10,790 Sean Aylmer: Good. How about polling places? How many of them are there? 65 00:03:11,380 --> 00:03:13,290 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah, we've got about 8, 000 of them around the 66 00:03:13,290 --> 00:03:15,940 Evan Ekin-Smyth: country. Most of those will be on election day itself, 67 00:03:15,940 --> 00:03:19,100 Evan Ekin-Smyth: but we've got just over 500 in the early voting period as well. 68 00:03:19,710 --> 00:03:21,810 Evan Ekin-Smyth: So there's a lot of premises. And that's just our 69 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,590 Evan Ekin-Smyth: front of house where people vote. We've also got warehouse 70 00:03:24,590 --> 00:03:27,760 Evan Ekin-Smyth: facilities across the country and we do things like train 71 00:03:27,950 --> 00:03:30,500 Evan Ekin-Smyth: our polling officials, do the pick and pack for the 72 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:33,770 Evan Ekin-Smyth: millions of materials that we distribute all across the nation. 73 00:03:34,060 --> 00:03:36,240 Evan Ekin-Smyth: And we conduct counts at those centers as well. So 74 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:40,400 Evan Ekin-Smyth: there's a lot of premises that goes into it in addition 75 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,130 Evan Ekin-Smyth: to a lot of staff. We actually become one of 76 00:03:42,130 --> 00:03:45,470 Evan Ekin-Smyth: the nation's largest employers, albeit for a very short period 77 00:03:45,470 --> 00:03:48,790 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of time, with around about 105, 000 staff in total. 78 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,380 Sean Aylmer: So basically you are able to access schools, public schools 79 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:56,310 Sean Aylmer: and things like that. Is that how that works? And 80 00:03:56,310 --> 00:03:59,340 Sean Aylmer: then everyone else is a volunteer. Having said that, they 81 00:03:59,340 --> 00:04:02,010 Sean Aylmer: get paid for it. But people put their name down to be part 82 00:04:02,010 --> 00:04:03,850 Sean Aylmer: of the process on the day. Is that how it works? 83 00:04:03,850 --> 00:04:06,370 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah, you do get paid. It's anywhere from a few 84 00:04:06,370 --> 00:04:08,530 Evan Ekin-Smyth: hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on if you're 85 00:04:08,530 --> 00:04:10,750 Evan Ekin-Smyth: just working for a single day or a little bit of a longer 86 00:04:10,750 --> 00:04:13,580 Evan Ekin-Smyth: period, be it early voting or counting. Also depending on 87 00:04:13,580 --> 00:04:15,630 Evan Ekin-Smyth: your level of seniority, because we have people who run 88 00:04:15,630 --> 00:04:18,300 Evan Ekin-Smyth: polling places and people who just work in them. In 89 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:20,110 Evan Ekin-Smyth: terms of the venues, a lot of them on election 90 00:04:20,110 --> 00:04:24,210 Evan Ekin-Smyth: day are schools or community halls or church halls. Obviously 91 00:04:24,210 --> 00:04:26,630 Evan Ekin-Smyth: with the early voting period, we can't use those venues 92 00:04:26,870 --> 00:04:30,350 Evan Ekin-Smyth: because the kids are there. So we get what we 93 00:04:30,350 --> 00:04:32,950 Evan Ekin-Smyth: can. There's not a lot of facilities out there that 94 00:04:32,950 --> 00:04:36,470 Evan Ekin-Smyth: meet the requirements for us in terms of security, enough 95 00:04:36,470 --> 00:04:38,620 Evan Ekin-Smyth: space to set up a good polling place, particularly in 96 00:04:38,620 --> 00:04:42,200 Evan Ekin-Smyth: COVID 19 setting. So we get what we can. I remember a 97 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,860 Evan Ekin-Smyth: few elections ago when video stores were going defunct, we 98 00:04:44,860 --> 00:04:47,040 Evan Ekin-Smyth: used a lot of old video stores for instance. But 99 00:04:47,690 --> 00:04:49,800 Evan Ekin-Smyth: it's sort of shop fronts and things of that nature 100 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,760 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that are sitting there waiting for a lease. And while 101 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,490 Evan Ekin-Smyth: they're waiting for a long term one, we jump in 102 00:04:54,490 --> 00:04:55,310 Evan Ekin-Smyth: and get a short term one. 103 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:57,400 Sean Aylmer: Say with me Evan, we'll be back in a minute. 104 00:05:03,210 --> 00:05:06,080 Sean Aylmer: My guest this morning is Evan Ekin- Smyth, Director of 105 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:11,729 Sean Aylmer: Media and Digital Engagement at the Australian Electoral Commission. Okay, so I want to talk about COVID in a moment, but 106 00:05:12,330 --> 00:05:15,080 Sean Aylmer: just quickly, pre- poll, postal votes, all that. When does 107 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:15,810 Sean Aylmer: that all start? 108 00:05:17,260 --> 00:05:20,570 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Well postal votes, if people need it, applications are open 109 00:05:20,570 --> 00:05:23,529 Evan Ekin-Smyth: now and you can go to our website and apply. But it is an in- 110 00:05:23,529 --> 00:05:26,550 Evan Ekin-Smyth: person community event and election. We get together once every 111 00:05:26,550 --> 00:05:29,360 Evan Ekin-Smyth: three years or so, you get your democracy sausage, you 112 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,729 Evan Ekin-Smyth: get to go in a polling place, you experience the 113 00:05:31,730 --> 00:05:32,500 Evan Ekin-Smyth: festival of democracy. 114 00:05:32,670 --> 00:05:34,440 Sean Aylmer: I reckon it's one of the best days of the 115 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,070 Sean Aylmer: year, of the three years. I really enjoy voting and 116 00:05:37,070 --> 00:05:41,080 Sean Aylmer: it's my right to have my say. And you're right, you get 117 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,279 Sean Aylmer: your democracy sausage, but there's really great feel. And particularly 118 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,020 Sean Aylmer: if it's a nice day, you actually get a real community feel. 119 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,900 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah, I absolutely agree. And it's sort of unique to Australia 120 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:52,620 Evan Ekin-Smyth: in a way as well. I mean, you look at 121 00:05:52,620 --> 00:05:56,940 Evan Ekin-Smyth: some elections overseas, you don't have options overseas for some 122 00:05:56,940 --> 00:05:59,560 Evan Ekin-Smyth: places. You've literally got your name on a door at 123 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,580 Evan Ekin-Smyth: a particular day, a particular time, and if you don't 124 00:06:01,580 --> 00:06:03,490 Evan Ekin-Smyth: go then, you don't get your vote. We've got a 125 00:06:03,490 --> 00:06:06,990 Evan Ekin-Smyth: lot of options. You get down there and the barbecues 126 00:06:06,990 --> 00:06:08,990 Evan Ekin-Smyth: are being manned by the local footy club or the 127 00:06:08,990 --> 00:06:11,160 Evan Ekin-Smyth: lions club. It really is that good feel. You bring 128 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,839 Evan Ekin-Smyth: your kids along. So we're really blessed in Australia to 129 00:06:13,870 --> 00:06:16,170 Evan Ekin-Smyth: have that sort of atmosphere around elections and long may 130 00:06:16,170 --> 00:06:16,760 Evan Ekin-Smyth: it continue. 131 00:06:17,790 --> 00:06:20,650 Sean Aylmer: I wonder whether post COVID, because my own community where 132 00:06:20,650 --> 00:06:23,219 Sean Aylmer: I live, I certainly know the people in my community 133 00:06:23,220 --> 00:06:24,770 Sean Aylmer: a lot better than I did a couple of years 134 00:06:24,770 --> 00:06:28,480 Sean Aylmer: ago because every morning I walk and during lockdowns, we're 135 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,950 Sean Aylmer: all in the same boat. So I actually start saying 136 00:06:30,950 --> 00:06:33,409 Sean Aylmer: hello to them. I wonder whether this on May 21, it'll even 137 00:06:33,810 --> 00:06:36,760 Sean Aylmer: be better than normal because people will know their local 138 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:37,450 Sean Aylmer: community better? 139 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,320 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah, well let's hope so. And let's hope we're in 140 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,729 Evan Ekin-Smyth: a good COVID environment. We've still got about five and 141 00:06:42,730 --> 00:06:44,900 Evan Ekin-Smyth: a half weeks until election day. Of course, who knows 142 00:06:44,900 --> 00:06:47,770 Evan Ekin-Smyth: what that is doing at the time. But we will 143 00:06:47,770 --> 00:06:50,159 Evan Ekin-Smyth: have a lot of COVID safety measures in place for 144 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,990 Evan Ekin-Smyth: people so they can feel comfortable coming down to vote. 145 00:06:52,990 --> 00:06:56,530 Evan Ekin-Smyth: I mean, we're two years down unfortunately in the pandemic, 146 00:06:56,910 --> 00:06:58,950 Evan Ekin-Smyth: but people are getting out and about for the most 147 00:06:58,950 --> 00:07:00,859 Evan Ekin-Smyth: part and leading their daily lives, going to the local 148 00:07:00,860 --> 00:07:03,029 Evan Ekin-Smyth: shops. There'll be more safety measures in place at our 149 00:07:03,029 --> 00:07:05,050 Evan Ekin-Smyth: polling places than your trip to the local shops. So you 150 00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:06,359 Evan Ekin-Smyth: can feel comfortable to come on down. 151 00:07:06,790 --> 00:07:09,260 Sean Aylmer: Okay. The big question though is, am I really going to get 152 00:07:09,590 --> 00:07:12,000 Sean Aylmer: to know my community members better (inaudible) the line 153 00:07:12,100 --> 00:07:17,220 Sean Aylmer: with them for half an hour airport style, or do 154 00:07:17,220 --> 00:07:19,250 Sean Aylmer: you think it'll work out okay? 155 00:07:19,940 --> 00:07:22,320 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Maybe. It probably depends where you go and when you 156 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,390 Evan Ekin-Smyth: go. So again, we're a little bit different with the 157 00:07:25,390 --> 00:07:27,820 Evan Ekin-Smyth: access to our voting services than a lot of people 158 00:07:27,820 --> 00:07:30,400 Evan Ekin-Smyth: overseas. I mean, I see those queues, there was the 159 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,239 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Canadian election at the late stages of 2021. And there was a queue 160 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,470 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that stretched on for eight hours or whatever it was. 161 00:07:36,860 --> 00:07:40,210 Evan Ekin-Smyth: We won't see that. And our friends at Elections Canada do a pretty 162 00:07:40,210 --> 00:07:42,360 Evan Ekin-Smyth: good job, but that was a pretty bad queue. We 163 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,380 Evan Ekin-Smyth: don't see that. We estimate that around three quarters of 164 00:07:45,380 --> 00:07:49,020 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Australians get through in 15 minutes or less. People loathe 165 00:07:49,020 --> 00:07:51,680 Evan Ekin-Smyth: queuing and probably don't even tolerate 15 minutes, but we 166 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,380 Evan Ekin-Smyth: think that's pretty good. But you will get some queues 167 00:07:54,380 --> 00:07:58,810 Evan Ekin-Smyth: and COVID safety measures will I suppose, contribute to those 168 00:07:58,810 --> 00:08:01,850 Evan Ekin-Smyth: queues. You think about just ordering a coffee at a local 169 00:08:01,850 --> 00:08:04,160 Evan Ekin-Smyth: cafe. If you are wearing a mask or the attendant's wearing 170 00:08:04,170 --> 00:08:07,330 Evan Ekin-Smyth: mask or both, that transaction can take a little longer 171 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,580 Evan Ekin-Smyth: because you need to clarify what's happening. Well when we're 172 00:08:09,580 --> 00:08:11,310 Evan Ekin-Smyth: marking you off the electoral roll, that's a bit more 173 00:08:11,310 --> 00:08:13,650 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of a sophisticated transaction with a bit more to it, 174 00:08:13,650 --> 00:08:15,070 Evan Ekin-Smyth: so it could slow things down. 175 00:08:15,580 --> 00:08:19,430 Sean Aylmer: Okay. So what about if people are isolating on the day? What's going 176 00:08:19,430 --> 00:08:21,850 Sean Aylmer: to happen then because you get fined if you don't vote of course. 177 00:08:22,690 --> 00:08:25,870 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah. It is a compulsory system. The first message is, 178 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,210 Evan Ekin-Smyth: election day, if you can make it there, great. That's 179 00:08:28,210 --> 00:08:30,550 Evan Ekin-Smyth: what you should be doing. The first backup is the 180 00:08:30,550 --> 00:08:32,750 Evan Ekin-Smyth: early voting period and it is a two week early 181 00:08:32,750 --> 00:08:36,130 Evan Ekin-Smyth: voting period. Starts from Monday, the 9th of May. So 182 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,130 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that's your first port of call if you can't make 183 00:08:38,130 --> 00:08:41,260 Evan Ekin-Smyth: it on election day. And there might be people through that two 184 00:08:41,260 --> 00:08:44,809 Evan Ekin-Smyth: week period who have to isolate. Most isolation requirements these days 185 00:08:44,809 --> 00:08:47,339 Evan Ekin-Smyth: are seven days. So it might be the case that 186 00:08:47,420 --> 00:08:49,240 Evan Ekin-Smyth: if somebody who needs to isolate during that voting period, 187 00:08:49,309 --> 00:08:51,689 Evan Ekin-Smyth: they may have already voted, or they may get out 188 00:08:51,690 --> 00:08:55,020 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of isolation to be able to vote in- person afterwards. But 189 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:57,079 Evan Ekin-Smyth: there'll be some people who won't be able to make it in- 190 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,520 Evan Ekin-Smyth: person at all. The first emergency measure I suppose is 191 00:09:00,570 --> 00:09:03,679 Evan Ekin-Smyth: postal voting. And postal vote applications are open until the 192 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,640 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Wednesday prior to election day. So that's the first port 193 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,150 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of call if you can't make it to a polling 194 00:09:09,150 --> 00:09:13,650 Evan Ekin-Smyth: place in- person. Then that problem is narrowed down to 195 00:09:13,650 --> 00:09:17,240 Evan Ekin-Smyth: the last three days. The Thursday, the Friday and election day 196 00:09:17,460 --> 00:09:20,620 Evan Ekin-Smyth: itself on the Saturday. If you haven't voted already, if you're 197 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,980 Evan Ekin-Smyth: COVID affected and you're mandated to isolate because you've contracted COVID, 198 00:09:25,330 --> 00:09:27,470 Evan Ekin-Smyth: we'll have a telephone voting service available for you. 199 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,470 Sean Aylmer: Okay. So that's official. You're definitely doing that. 200 00:09:31,030 --> 00:09:33,699 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah. So the telephone voting service is something, there was legislation 201 00:09:33,700 --> 00:09:36,250 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that passed in February, there were regulations written on top 202 00:09:36,250 --> 00:09:38,300 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of that in March, and we're planning to do that. 203 00:09:38,300 --> 00:09:41,090 Evan Ekin-Smyth: We've got thousands of operators that we're looking to set 204 00:09:41,090 --> 00:09:43,610 Evan Ekin-Smyth: up to run that service. So there's a few details 205 00:09:43,610 --> 00:09:46,030 Evan Ekin-Smyth: still to fine tune, but that's something that we're planning 206 00:09:46,030 --> 00:09:48,099 Evan Ekin-Smyth: on for that last little bit of the election period. 207 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,560 Sean Aylmer: So what's a good election day look like for the AEC? 208 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:58,990 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Happy voters, small queues. And this is going to sound 209 00:09:58,990 --> 00:10:01,309 Evan Ekin-Smyth: a little bit funny, but when we get into election 210 00:10:01,309 --> 00:10:04,230 Evan Ekin-Smyth: night, a wide margin. We don't care what side of 211 00:10:04,230 --> 00:10:06,970 Evan Ekin-Smyth: politics wins, but a wide clear margin is always the 212 00:10:06,970 --> 00:10:09,809 Evan Ekin-Smyth: best thing because people get an indication, an early indication 213 00:10:10,140 --> 00:10:12,070 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of who's going to form government and it just makes 214 00:10:12,070 --> 00:10:14,420 Evan Ekin-Smyth: for a smooth count. So if we can get all 215 00:10:14,420 --> 00:10:16,540 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that, tick, tick, tick, we'll be happy people. 216 00:10:17,020 --> 00:10:19,820 Sean Aylmer: So how does accounting go? So you're responsible for the accounting? 217 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,750 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah, absolutely. So election night, we'll count every single vote 218 00:10:23,830 --> 00:10:26,559 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that's been cast that day. We'll count the vast majority 219 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,179 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of early votes that have been cast as well. Somewhere 220 00:10:29,179 --> 00:10:31,110 Evan Ekin-Smyth: in the order, when you add up House of Representatives 221 00:10:31,110 --> 00:10:32,929 Evan Ekin-Smyth: ballots and Senate ballots, it's going to be somewhere in 222 00:10:32,929 --> 00:10:35,670 Evan Ekin-Smyth: the order of 22, 23 million ballot papers that we'll count 223 00:10:35,670 --> 00:10:38,860 Evan Ekin-Smyth: on that night. So that's a significant task, of course. 224 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,230 Evan Ekin-Smyth: And then we move into Sunday, which is really a 225 00:10:42,230 --> 00:10:45,320 Evan Ekin-Smyth: logistics day. End of Saturday night we package everything up 226 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,110 Evan Ekin-Smyth: and we've got really secure arrangements around that, point- to- 227 00:10:48,110 --> 00:10:52,219 Evan Ekin-Smyth: point tracking of ballot papers and purpose- built storage containers 228 00:10:52,220 --> 00:10:55,400 Evan Ekin-Smyth: and things of that ilk. Sunday we're moving them to 229 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,350 Evan Ekin-Smyth: centralized count centers. We're getting the votes that have been cast 230 00:10:58,350 --> 00:11:00,120 Evan Ekin-Smyth: over the other side of the country to come back. 231 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,350 Evan Ekin-Smyth: We're getting overseas votes to come back to Australia. We've 232 00:11:03,350 --> 00:11:06,670 Evan Ekin-Smyth: got postal votes moving into AEC facilities. But we will 233 00:11:06,670 --> 00:11:09,940 Evan Ekin-Smyth: start some small postal counts from the Sunday afternoon and 234 00:11:09,940 --> 00:11:12,700 Evan Ekin-Smyth: then larger ones from the Monday onwards. So we kind 235 00:11:12,700 --> 00:11:15,699 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of treat election day as the halfway mark here at 236 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:18,410 Evan Ekin-Smyth: the AEC. For most people they think over, especially if 237 00:11:18,410 --> 00:11:20,550 Evan Ekin-Smyth: they've gotten an indication of who's going to form government, but 238 00:11:20,550 --> 00:11:22,070 Evan Ekin-Smyth: it really is the halfway mark for us. 239 00:11:22,380 --> 00:11:25,650 Sean Aylmer: Yeah. Okay. Now one thing that you've certainly embraced is 240 00:11:25,650 --> 00:11:28,130 Sean Aylmer: social media. You do some great social media, or the 241 00:11:28,130 --> 00:11:31,809 Sean Aylmer: AEC does, but presumably a lot of voters are engaging 242 00:11:31,809 --> 00:11:34,460 Sean Aylmer: with traditional media too. Is the goal just right now 243 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:37,530 Sean Aylmer: to get people to get onto the electoral role? 244 00:11:38,590 --> 00:11:42,090 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah. That's primarily the goal. We want people to participate 245 00:11:42,090 --> 00:11:44,880 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of course. The electoral is in incredibly healthy shape, but 246 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,150 Evan Ekin-Smyth: we want more. And then we want people to turn out 247 00:11:47,150 --> 00:11:48,959 Evan Ekin-Smyth: and know how to mark their ballot paper so it's 248 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,050 Evan Ekin-Smyth: a formal vote. That's the number one goal. But a 249 00:11:52,050 --> 00:11:54,620 Evan Ekin-Smyth: really important thing is for people to trust the electoral 250 00:11:54,620 --> 00:11:57,490 Evan Ekin-Smyth: system. To know how it works and to trust it. 251 00:11:57,490 --> 00:12:01,350 Evan Ekin-Smyth: And we've seen, I suppose, a denigration of that in 252 00:12:01,350 --> 00:12:05,470 Evan Ekin-Smyth: some jurisdictions overseas. More people talking about the electoral process, 253 00:12:05,750 --> 00:12:11,189 Evan Ekin-Smyth: questioning it sometimes with less than factual information. That's seeped 254 00:12:11,190 --> 00:12:13,530 Evan Ekin-Smyth: in a little bit here in Australia. So we're working 255 00:12:13,530 --> 00:12:16,580 Evan Ekin-Smyth: really hard. Our social media approach might look a bit 256 00:12:16,580 --> 00:12:19,340 Evan Ekin-Smyth: of fun and frivolity at times, but there's a really serious 257 00:12:19,350 --> 00:12:22,620 Evan Ekin-Smyth: edge to it. We want to protect our reputation because 258 00:12:23,030 --> 00:12:25,809 Evan Ekin-Smyth: what people think of us as the electoral administrator who 259 00:12:25,809 --> 00:12:28,750 Evan Ekin-Smyth: runs the election is intrinsically linked to their trust in 260 00:12:28,750 --> 00:12:32,850 Evan Ekin-Smyth: election results. So it's a really purposeful approach. I do 261 00:12:32,850 --> 00:12:35,110 Evan Ekin-Smyth: get my own hands on the keyboard every now and 262 00:12:35,110 --> 00:12:38,420 Evan Ekin-Smyth: again, or my thumbs on the phone with that. And it is 263 00:12:38,420 --> 00:12:41,010 Evan Ekin-Smyth: my team that does the social media channels for the 264 00:12:41,010 --> 00:12:43,970 Evan Ekin-Smyth: AEC. And I think they do an incredibly good job 265 00:12:43,970 --> 00:12:45,189 Evan Ekin-Smyth: in trying circumstances. 266 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,000 Sean Aylmer: I do think it's beneficial that pretty much everyone around 267 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,290 Sean Aylmer: Australia, if I'm correct Evan, votes in the same way. 268 00:12:52,530 --> 00:12:55,530 Sean Aylmer: I've lived in the US at times when presidential votes 269 00:12:55,530 --> 00:12:59,990 Sean Aylmer: have gone on and because there are so many different systems, they're 270 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,439 Sean Aylmer: open to legal challenge so much more than Australia. 271 00:13:03,290 --> 00:13:05,540 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Indeed. And we get comparisons to the US all the 272 00:13:05,540 --> 00:13:10,160 Evan Ekin-Smyth: time, unfortunately. But it's so different. There's so many differences 273 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,610 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that the comparisons aren't really useful. Because as you said, 274 00:13:12,950 --> 00:13:17,170 Evan Ekin-Smyth: multiple systems. Here in Australia we've got the AEC, one 275 00:13:17,170 --> 00:13:21,099 Evan Ekin-Smyth: electoral administrator running it consistently across the entire nation. They 276 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:24,420 Evan Ekin-Smyth: use first pass the post. We use preferential voting system. 277 00:13:24,670 --> 00:13:27,829 Evan Ekin-Smyth: We're a compulsory system. They're a voluntary system. They elect 278 00:13:27,830 --> 00:13:31,190 Evan Ekin-Smyth: their president directly. We do not. I could go on for 279 00:13:31,540 --> 00:13:36,360 Evan Ekin-Smyth: so long. The differences are enormous. I suppose we're consuming 280 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:40,290 Evan Ekin-Smyth: more media of international elections than ever before and people 281 00:13:40,540 --> 00:13:43,720 Evan Ekin-Smyth: are starting to raise questions. So we're being quite firm 282 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,469 Evan Ekin-Smyth: where we need to be, being funny where we need 283 00:13:45,470 --> 00:13:48,160 Evan Ekin-Smyth: to be in combating that misinformation. And one of the 284 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,590 Evan Ekin-Smyth: key ways we do that is our short form videos 285 00:13:50,590 --> 00:13:52,929 Evan Ekin-Smyth: that we produce here at the AEC with our YouTube 286 00:13:52,929 --> 00:13:55,770 Evan Ekin-Smyth: channel, AEC TV. You'll see my face and those of 287 00:13:55,770 --> 00:13:58,559 Evan Ekin-Smyth: my teams a little bit too often with some bad acting and some 288 00:13:58,559 --> 00:13:58,800 Evan Ekin-Smyth: bad outtakes. 289 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,780 Sean Aylmer: Don't be like that Evan. Don't be like that. 290 00:14:02,780 --> 00:14:03,640 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah. No. I think the measures get across. 291 00:14:04,050 --> 00:14:07,780 Sean Aylmer: Yep. Absolutely. Well look, enjoy the next five weeks or 292 00:14:07,780 --> 00:14:11,670 Sean Aylmer: so and the five weeks after that too. It seems 293 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,650 Sean Aylmer: the message I suppose to everyone out there is enroll. 294 00:14:14,730 --> 00:14:18,390 Sean Aylmer: It's your right to vote, whoever you vote for. And 295 00:14:18,420 --> 00:14:20,880 Sean Aylmer: so get on the poll and enjoy election day. 296 00:14:21,450 --> 00:14:24,100 Evan Ekin-Smyth: Yeah, absolutely. And thank you for having me on. Yeah, 297 00:14:24,100 --> 00:14:26,300 Evan Ekin-Smyth: enroll, enroll, enroll. That's the message at the moment. 298 00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:30,560 Sean Aylmer: Thank you, Evan. That was Evan Ekin- Smyth, Director of Media 299 00:14:30,630 --> 00:14:33,910 Sean Aylmer: and Digital Engagement at the Australian Electoral Commission. This is 300 00:14:33,910 --> 00:14:36,270 Sean Aylmer: the Fear and Greed daily interview. Join us every morning for 301 00:14:36,270 --> 00:14:39,160 Sean Aylmer: the full episode of Fear and Greed, Australia's most popular 302 00:14:39,220 --> 00:14:41,850 Sean Aylmer: business podcast. I'm Sean Aylmer, enjoy your day.