ABS warns stop publishing same-sex marriage forms online

Australians have been urged not to post a picture online of their same-sex marriage survey revealing the form’s barcode because it could jeopardize their vote. 

Numerous people published images of their form – some including their address and unique barcode – to social media this week as the survey arrived in household mailboxes.

By doing so, they risk their vote being tampered with by a stranger who spotted it online, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has warned.

The barcode is used to ensure no one can respond to the survey multiple times and is used to register the form when it is returned, a spokesman told The Sydney Morning Herald.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has urged people not to post a picture online of their same-sex marriage survey (pictured) revealing the form’s barcode because it could jeopardize their vote

Numerous people published images of their form - some including their address and unique barcode - to social media this week as the survey arrived in household mailboxes

Numerous people published images of their form – some including their address and unique barcode – to social media this week as the survey arrived in household mailboxes

The ABS' warning comes after a slew of Australians went online to cheer on former occupants of their homes, claiming their failure to redirect their mail has left the new residents with extra votes (pictured) 

The ABS’ warning comes after a slew of Australians went online to cheer on former occupants of their homes, claiming their failure to redirect their mail has left the new residents with extra votes (pictured) 

It is possible a stranger could replicate the barcode, alter the person’s response and return it before the correct individual can.

If the fraudulent survey is received first, their response is counted instead. 

The ABS’ warning comes after a slew of Australians went online to cheer on former occupants of their homes, claiming their failure to redirect their mail has left the new residents with extra votes.

Would-be voters said their extra mail would finally be put to use, with one man claiming he had received seven extra votes.

‘Big ups to the seven people that haven’t changed their enrolment info and their vote mail came to my house,’ he wrote on Twitter.

‘My vote just evolved 7 times hahaha.’

If a stranger spots the barcode online, they can alter the person's response and return it before the correct individual can, the ABS warned

If a stranger spots the barcode online, they can alter the person’s response and return it before the correct individual can, the ABS warned

In another instance, a photo claiming to show how the supposedly secret same-sex marriage postal vote can be seen through the envelope created controversy online (pictured) 

In another instance, a photo claiming to show how the supposedly secret same-sex marriage postal vote can be seen through the envelope created controversy online (pictured) 

He was cheered on by a woman who said she often received mail for previous residents, and would submit a yes vote for each extra postal survey form she received. 

The pair were joined in their sentiments by another man on Facebook.

He said the ‘beauty’ of the Government’s decision to spend $122million on a postal survey instead of putting the matter to a parliamentary vote, was found in the extra three votes he had received.

Commenters had mixed reactions to the idea, with some praising the original posters while others questioned if it amounted to voter fraud. 

Many praised the idea of using extra ballots to have a more powerful say in the survey

Many praised the idea of using extra ballots to have a more powerful say in the survey

A woman responded she would be doing the same thing with extra votes sent to her home

A woman responded she would be doing the same thing with extra votes sent to her home

In another instance, a photo claiming to show how the supposedly secret same-sex marriage postal vote can be seen through the envelope created controversy online.

The image appears to show a gay marriage vote form with the ‘no’ box ticked being illuminated through the envelope with a torch.

The photo began circulating on social media after a concerned voter saw the image pop up on his Facebook news feed.

‘So we wasted $122 million on a survey where a torch can reveal the answer through the reply envelope it came with.’

The person who posted the photo said they would ‘be voting yes… if it will even be counted now after this stuff up’.

Last month, deputy statistician Jonathan Palmer told a Senate inquiry: ‘You can’t guarantee against theft in a postal process’.

Though the nature of the survey means electoral fraud is not possible, there are still some rules intended to keep the survey count above board. 

One man on Facebook said the ability to vote multiple times due to the postal process was 'the beauty' of the non binding survey

One man on Facebook said the ability to vote multiple times due to the postal process was ‘the beauty’ of the non binding survey

Though the nature of the survey means electoral fraud is not possible, there are still some rules intended to keep the survey count above board - including laws against opening peoples mail and 'misleading the statistician' which can result in a fine of more than $2,000

Though the nature of the survey means electoral fraud is not possible, there are still some rules intended to keep the survey count above board – including laws against opening peoples mail and ‘misleading the statistician’ which can result in a fine of more than $2,000

The mailout of postal surveys on whether same sex marriage should be legalised began this week. The survey cost the Federal Government $122million and is non binding

The mailout of postal surveys on whether same sex marriage should be legalised began this week. The survey cost the Federal Government $122million and is non binding

Mr Palmer explained: ‘It would be against the law to open someone else’s mail, and there would also be penalties around misleading the statistician’.

The laws are, however, difficult to enforce. Authorities would need to know who opened the mail, be able to prove it was opened, and to prove who ‘misled the statistician’.

The only real way authorities will be able to determine if a double vote has taken place will be if someone rings up to report they have not received their form or to ask for a new one. 

In this case, a new form will be issued with a new barcode, rendering the previous survey form invalid. 

If someone is caught misleading the statistician, they face a penalty of up to $2,100. 

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