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Intention

The intention of your campaign may not be to influence voters. For example, you might run a campaign with one or more of the following intentions: 

  • raising awareness of an issue
  • influencing political parties to adopt a policy in their manifestos
  • campaigning for or against government legislation
  • providing information to voters
  • encouraging people to register to vote
  • encouraging people to vote, but not for anyone in particular

It is important to consider how a reasonable person would see your activity and whether they would think the purpose of your campaign is to influence people to vote a certain way at an upcoming election. Whatever the goals or intentions of your campaign, it may be that a reasonable person would see it as having a different intention, or a further intention.

Even if your intention is something else, your campaign will still meet the purpose test if it can be reasonably regarded as intended to influence voters to vote for or against a political party, one or more party list candidates, or a category of candidates. 

For example, your intention may be to influence political parties to adopt a policy. If you go about this by identifying and promoting parties and candidates who have already adopted the policy, then this will meet the purpose test.

Last updated: 19 August 2025