About: Chanter v Blackwood

Chanter v Blackwood and the related case of Maloney v McEacharn were a series of decisions of the High Court of Australia, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns arising from the 1903 federal election for the seats of Riverina and Melbourne in the House of Representatives. Chanter v Blackwood (No 1), and Maloney v McEacharn (No 1), determined questions of law as to the validity of certain votes. In Chanter v Blackwood (No 2) Griffith CJ held that 91 votes were invalid and because this exceeded the majority, the election was void, while Chanter v Blackwood (No 3) dealt with questions of costs. In Maloney v McEacharn (No 2) more than 300 votes were found to be invalid and the parties agreed it was appropriate for the election to be declared void.