In short:

A high number of informal votes in a rural NSW electorate with a record number of candidates has been labelled "shameful" by the region's MP.

By May 6 more than 11,000 informal votes had been recorded in the Riverina electorate, accounting for more than 10 per cent of the voter turnout.

What's next?

Riverina MP Michael McCormack and political scientist Dominic O'Sullivan say the voting system should be reformed.

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[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

There are two reasons why people place Informal Votes;

Ignorance (they don’t know how our great Australian Preferential Ballot works)
No confidence (they do not feel that any candidate can represent their interests.

Given the fact that voters had 13 different candidates to choose from, and still voted informally, I think that it may be the first reason. I think that Old Mate now has a mandate to invest in education for his constituents so they now how our Australian Preferential Ballot works for next time.

https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-31496-250.htm