Judge Dismisses Calls for ‘Cross’ to Be Counted as ’No' Against Changing the Constitution

“A cross could indicate agreement, disapproval or an unwillingness to answer the question at all, while a tick was not,” said Justice Steven Rares.

A man walks past a billboard on a side of a church advocating a Yes vote in an upcoming referendum in Melbourne, Australia on Aug. 30, 2023. William West/AFP via Getty Images

A legal challenge for an “X” to count as a “No” vote on ballots in the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has been dismissed by a judge this week. 

On Wednesday, Justice Steven Rares ruled in favour of the Australian Electoral Commission against an application by the deregistered United Australian Party (UAP) to make crosses a valid vote.