I REFER to the article “Candidates seal preference deals” (Central Western Daily, August 28) that may give the reader the mistaken impression that preferences automatically flow according to deals made beforehand by candidates and groups.
This is not the case. At NSW state and local council elections voters have full control over their preference flows.
Candidates and groups can only suggest to voters how they should vote through their how-to-vote material.
Voters ultimately choose who to vote for and when to stop allocating preferences on the ballot paper.
Colin Barry,
Electoral commissioner