Court dismisses United Australia party push to count crosses as valid votes in voice referendum

Ralph Babet and Clive Palmer lose case against AEC, which is following precedent by counting ticks but disregarding crosses in upcoming vote

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Ticks on the voice referendum ballot paper will count as yes votes while crosses will be invalid, the federal court has ruled, rejecting a challenge brought by United Australia party senator Ralph Babet and Clive Palmer.

On Wednesday Justice Steven Rares ruled in favour of the Australian Electoral Commission, rejecting an argument from Babet and Palmer’s lawyers that ticks should also be invalid if crosses are not accepted as valid no votes.

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