Summary
- Deakin’s Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI) has secured a $2 million tender to continue its partnership with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
- The IISRI team is creating a new web-based scheduling system to enable the AEC to make data-driven decisions to streamline the electoral process.
- The research also looks at metrics and resourcing in polling places to improve the voting experience of every Australian.
On voting day, who hasn’t joined a long line at their local school or church clasping a sausage in bread and wondered why it takes so long to cast your vote?
A three-year partnership project between Deakin University’s Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI) and the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) could soon transform how the AEC administers our electoral process via a smart tech scheduling solution.
It’s an innovation that will also enhance the voting experience by reducing waiting times.
The ground-breaking project, led by IISRI’s Associate Professor Michael Johnstone, is the second phase of the research team’s work with the AEC.
It recently secured $2 million from the AEC to continue the project with the aim of having a new web-based system in place before the next Federal election.
‘Phase one of our work focused on the electoral planning side and was used at the 2022 federal election, and the 2023 Voice Referendum,’ Associate Professor Johnstone explains.
The $2 million from AEC will support further research in simulation modelling, scheduling and data expertise, all aimed at enabling the AEC to make data-driven decisions to improve its processes.
‘The partnership will focus on developing advanced analytical tools and techniques to improve the accuracy of electoral forecasting, optimise resource allocation, and enhance the overall efficiency of the electoral process for both the AEC and the voting public,’ Associate Professor Johnstone says.
Streamlining the voting process and voter experience
The system, designed in close collaboration with the AEC, will enable proactive staffing decisions, ensuring that the right staff are allocated to the right tasks at the right time, while ensuring safe working hours for staff.
Associate Professor Johnstone says one of the key benefits of IISRI’s solution is its ability to estimate completion times for electoral tasks, assisting the AEC to better plan its resources, reduce delays and improve the overall efficiency of the electoral process.
‘It will enable the AEC to streamline its operations, reduce wait times and improve the voter experience. The planned workforce approach also enables the AEC to better manage its resources, reducing staffing costs and improving operational efficiency.
‘Importantly, it will also reduce waiting times for Australian voters and make it easier and more convenient to cast a vote.’
With their expertise in developing and implementing complex scheduling systems, the IISRI team, including Dr Burhan Khan, Dr James Zhang, Dr Anwar Hosen, Professor Doug Creighton and Mr Jo Cho, have worked closely with the AEC to address their unique challenges.
As the AEC continues to evolve and adapt to changing electoral landscapes, Deakin’s scheduling solution is set to play a critical role in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the electoral process.
About Associate Professor Michael Johnstone
Associate Professor Michael Johnstone is an expert in systems dynamics, modelling, and simulation for decision support, with a particular focus on digital twin research. He has extensive experience in applying agent-based modelling and simulation-based optimisation techniques to develop digital twins in various domains, including manufacturing, logistics, airports, warehousing and mining.
- Delivered major multi-disciplinary research projects to government agencies, leveraging digital twin technology to provide valuable insights and decision support.
- Collaborated with organisations such as the Office for Transport Security, the Department of Transport and Regional Services and the Department of Defence.
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