Meryl Swanson, the Member of Parliament for Paterson, has stirred controversy with her recent Facebook post promoting early voting locations within her electorate. Initially appearing as a routine announcement, her post took a peculiar twist when hidden hashtags came to light two days later.
Among the seemingly innocuous hashtags such as #Referendum2023, #Voice, and #Voteearly, but one tag, drew attention from our vigilant readers #Voteoften. This raised the question: why is Meryl Swanson encouraging voters to cast their ballots multiple times in an election where Australians are allotted only one vote?
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the phrase “Vote Early, Vote Often” traces its origins back to the mid-19th century in the United States. The phrase implies exactly what it states: vote early and vote multiple times, even in the same election. Wikipedia documents its historical usage primarily in the context of U.S. elections, could also mean vote in all elections including party primaries, non-presidential election years, and local elections which would make sense as voting is not compulsory in the United States.
Applying this historical context to a one-off referendum, the implications could lead voters to vote early and vote again on the day. It suggests that Meryl Swanson may be subtly encouraging voters to cast multiple ballots, a practice that is unequivocally illegal in Australian elections.
We urge Meyrl Swanson MP to clarify her statement and ensure her followers do not vote twice on October 14th.
