How to Vote and How the Preferential Voting System Works in Australian Federal Elections
This is Quark Beat's Simple How to Vote Guide on Voting in Commonwealth of Australia Elections. Section One covers the House of Representatives (Lower House) & Section Two Contains information about voting in Senate (Upper House of Review) Elections. This was compiled with the Assistance of Grok xAI. Elections in Australia are conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission and the Graphics on this page are from their website.
Australian federal elections use a preferential voting system, where you rank candidates or parties in order of preference to ensure winners have majority support (over 50% of the vote). Voting is compulsory, and you’ll use two ballots: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Here’s your complete guide:
Check Your Enrolment
Ensure you’re enrolled to vote with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). You must be an Australian citizen, 18 or older, and registered by the deadline (usually 8 pm, 7 days before election day).
Find Your Electorate
Confirm your electorate (voting area) on the AEC website using your address.
Know the Election Date
Federal elections are typically held every 3 years. Check the AEC for the next date or if a by-election is scheduled.
Voting Options
In Person: Vote on election day (always a Saturday) at a polling place in your electorate, open 8 am to 6 pm.
Early Voting: Vote at an early voting centre if you can’t make it on election day (starts about 2 weeks prior).
Postal Vote: Apply for a postal vote via the AEC if you’ll be away or unable to attend in person.
What to Bring
No ID is required, but bring something with your name and address (e.g., driver’s license) if you’re unsure or voting outside your electorate.
Voting Process
You’ll get two ballot papers. The Lower House Election elects your local MP in the House of Representatives and the Upper House Election is the Australian Senate said to be designed constitutionally as the States House of Review!
House of Representatives (Lower House)
House of Representatives Ballot
below: AEC House of Representatives Vote Counting Guide
House of Representatives (Green Paper)
What You’re Voting For: One Member of Parliament (MP) for your local electorate (e.g., Curtin, Sydney)—151 seats total across Australia.
How to Vote: Number every box (1, 2, 3, etc.) next to all candidates, from your favourite (1) to least favourite (last number). This is full preferential voting and is required.
Watch Out: No skips, repeats (e.g., two 1s), or blanks—otherwise, your vote is informal and won’t count. A “donkey vote” (e.g., 1, 2, 3 down the list) still counts but gives your top pick to whoever’s listed first, often favouring big parties.
How Votes Are Counted (Instant Runoff Voting):
Count all "1" votes. If someone gets over 50%, they win.
If no majority, eliminate the candidate with the fewest "1" votes.
Redistribute their votes to the next preference (e.g., "2").
Repeat until one candidate has over 50%.
Example: Candidates: A (40%), B (35%), C (25%). C is eliminated; votes split 20% to A, 5% to B. New tally: A (48%), B (37%). A wins.
Outcome: The winner has majority support after preferences.
Australian Senate (Upper House aka House of Review)
Senate Ballot
below: AEC Australian Senate Guide
Senate (White Paper)
What You’re Voting For: Senators for your state or territory—6 per state and 2 per territory (ACT/NT) in a half-Senate election, totalling 40 seats (76 senators overall).
How to Vote: Pick one method—don’t mix them, or your vote’s informal:
Above the Line: Number at least 6 party boxes (1 to 6) in order of preference. Since 2016, your numbers decide the flow (not party tickets). Numbering all boxes keeps your vote active longer.
Below the Line: Number at least 6 candidates (1 to 6), but the real protest vote is numbering every single box (e.g., 1 to 80+). This keeps your vote alive to the end, forces the AEC to count every preference, and can decide the final seat. Don’t waste it with a “1” and nothing else—that’s a donkey vote that makes it easy for big parties to dominate.
Watch Out: Skipping numbers or mixing above and below makes your vote informal. A donkey vote (e.g., 1–6 straight down) counts but often helps the top-listed candidates—usually the big players.
How Votes Are Counted (Single Transferable Vote - STV):
Decide the Winning Number (Quota): The AEC calculates a quota—the votes needed to win a seat—using: (Total Votes ÷ (Number of Seats + 1)) + 1. Example: 100,000 votes, 6 seats → Quota ≈ 14,286.
Count First Choices: Tally all "1" votes. Candidates with at least 14,286 votes are elected.
Share Extra Votes: If someone gets more (e.g., 20,000), their extra 5,714 votes go to the next preference (your "2") at a reduced value (like 0.286 per vote).
Knock Out the Lowest: If seats remain, eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes (e.g., 2,000). Their votes move to the next preference (your "2" or beyond) at full value.
Keep Counting in Rounds: Repeat—check quotas, share extras, eliminate the lowest—round after round until all 6 seats are filled. It’s like a knockout game where votes shuffle until the winners are set.
Outcome: Senators are elected proportionally. Numbering all boxes below the line ensures your vote shapes every seat.
Submit Your Vote
Place your completed ballots in the ballot box at the polling place.
Key Tips
Voting is compulsory—fines apply if you don’t vote without a valid reason.
Informal votes (skips, repeats, mixing methods) and donkey votes waste your power. Number every box—especially in the Senate below the line—to make them work for it!
Check AEC.gov.au for updates, locations, or candidate details.
Polling places often have sausage sizzles—grab a snag and enjoy the tradition!
Key Features of Preferential Voting
No Wasted Votes: Your vote flows to your next preference if your top pick can’t win.
Majority Support: Winners need broad approval.
Managed by the AEC: It’s transparent, but Senate counts take longer due to preferences.
That’s it! You’re ready to vote, make your voice heard, and maybe enjoy a snag on election day.
Practice Voting in the 2025 Australian Election with Preston Henshaw
Preston Henshaw from Australians of X on X.com wrote a website to help you understand how to vote in the 2025 Election learntovote.online. Vote in the Senate (the big white ballot) and in the HoR (the green ballot) and track your preferences to see how YOU HAVE FULL CONTROL over your preferences!
It’s important for our democracy that you understand "How to Vote" so that YOU can make YOUR vote under conditions of informed consent!
