CHAP, VI] THE LOWER HOUSES 509 
In the succeeding sections of this Act the term ‘ absolute 
majority of votes’ means a number of votes greater than 
one-half of the number of all the electors who vote at 
an election, exclusive of electors whose ballot-papers are 
rejected, but the casting vote of the returning officer, when 
given, shall be included in reckoning an absolute majority 
of votes. 
21. When a poll is taken at an election a candidate shall 
not, except as hereinafter provided, be elected as a member 
unless he receives an absolute majority of votes. 
22. Notwithstanding the provisions of the seventy-third 
section of the Principal Act, an elector may, if he thinks fit, 
indicate on his ballot-paper the name or names of any 
candidate or candidates for whom he does not vote in the 
first instance, but for whom he desires his vote or votes to 
be counted in the event of any candidate or candidates for 
whom he votes in the first instance not receiving an absolute 
majority of votes ; and, if he indicates more than one such 
candidate, may indicate the order in which he desires that 
his vote or votes shall be counted for any such candidate or 
candidates, 
Such indication shall be made by writing the figures 2, 3, 
or any subsequent number, opposite to the name or names 
of the candidate or candidates for whom he does not vote 
in the first instance, but for whom he desires his vote or 
votes to be so counted, and the order indicated by such 
numbers shall be taken to be the order in which he desires 
his vote or votes to be so counted. 
Provided always that no mere irregularity or error in 
writing such figures shall invalidate the vote or votes given 
by an elector in favour of any candidate or candidates in the 
first instance, if the ballot-paper of such elector is otherwise 
in order. 
23. When one member only is to be returned at the 
election, if there is no candidate who receives an absolute 
majority of votes, all the candidates except those two 
who receive the greatest number of votes shall be deemed 
defeated candidates. 
The vote of every elector who has voted for a defeated 
candidate shall be counted for that one (if any) of the 
remaining two candidates for whom he has indicated in the 
manner aforesaid that he desires his vote to be counted. 
the Premier of Victoria introduced a Bill into the Assembly for preferential 
voting, but the Upper House was not prepared to accept it and the Govern- 
ment allowed it to drop, but has reintroduced it. in 1911.