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Voting is important because it gives you a direct say in who represents you and your opinions in the Australian parliament. It is a politician’s job to represent their community, and your vote is part of how we decide who gets that job!
Elected politicians decide what and how policy decisions and laws are made. This has a direct impact on everyday life – including on climate action, housing, education, healthcare, the economy, and human rights. It doesn’t just impact decisions made today but also shapes our world for future generations.
Voting is crucial for a functional and A form of government in which people in a country vote to elect officials to create laws and policies on their behalf.representative democracy. And, in Australia, it’s compulsory. Parts of our voting system can feel complex or confusing, but can become empowering once you understand a few terms and processes.
This resource will walk you through how our government and election systems work, enrolling to vote, deciding who to vote for, and everything you need to know on election day.
The upcoming Federal Election is being held on Saturday 3 May 2025.
How our government and election systems work
The first step to confident voting is understanding how our government and voting systems work, and what you’re actually voting people in to do.
In Australia we have three levels of government: federal, state and local. Each level has specific responsibilities, but they all work together to keep our country running. They also hold their own separate elections, and these happen at different times.
How the Victorian state government works
State and territory governments (for example, Victoria) are responsible for things like public transport, schools, hospitals, public housing, and prisons.
Structure of the Victorian Government
State and federal Parliaments both have 'two chambers' or 'two houses'. These two ‘houses’ are actually two groups of people elected to debate issues, pass laws and hold the government to account. There are two houses of Parliament so that power is not concentrated in one place and there are two separate groups of people to consider and debate bills and other matters of public interest.bicameral parliaments. This is made up of:
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the Lower House (called the Legislative Assembly), made up of 88 Members of Parliament (MPs) (one for each Victoria has 8 electoral regions, and each region is made up of 11 districts. For example, I might live in the Northern Metropolitan Region, and in the Northcote District.district in Victoria)
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the Upper House (called the Legislative Council), made up of 40 MPs (five for each region in Victoria)
Each MP will represent a A group which aims to have members elected to Parliament so they can have a say on how Australia is run. A party is an organisation that represents a particular group of people or set of ideas. Australians can form new political parties or choose to join a political party.political party or may be an A member who does not belong to a political party.independent. You can find a list of registered political parties in Victoria.
The party or coalition that wins the majority of members in the Lower House forms the Victorian Government.
Like with the federal parliament, the two houses are independent, and neither is more powerful than the other. Both groups of people are elected to pass laws, debate issues and hold the government to account.
While the federal parliament and most state parliaments in Australia have two houses of government, the Queensland parliament only has one house – the Legislative Assembly – making it unicameral (single-house).
The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory parliaments are also unicameral – both have one house called the Legislative Assembly.
How state elections work
Victoria has a fixed election on the last Saturday in November every four years to elect members of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly.
In a state election, you are voting for:
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one person to represent your district in the Legislative Assembly.
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five people to represent your region in the Legislative Council.
Sometimes there are vacancies in the Legislative Assembly outside of election times – for example, if an MP resigns – and an electorate is left without an MP to represent them. In this case, a A by-election is held if a vacancy occurs in the Legislative Assembly (e.g. because of a resignation, death, expulsion, or disqualification).by-election is held to elect someone new. Only voters in the relevant electorate will vote for their new MP.
If there’s a vacancy in the Legislative Council, a new MP will be chosen in a When both houses of parliament meet together for a specific purpose (e.g. the houses cannot agree on a bill, Parliament has an important visitor, or to select a new MP or Victorian Senator).joint sitting of Parliament. The new MP will be from the same political party as their predecessor.
How the Australian federal government works
Our federal government is responsible for making laws and policy decisions across Australia. They are directly responsible for things like Medicare, phone and internet service, universities, money (such as tax, banking rules, and support payments), immigration and defence.
Given the federal government provides more than half of state and territory governments funding, they also indirectly have a say in schools, hospitals, housing and prisons, through funding agreements.
Structure of the Federal government
The Federal government is made up of:
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the Lower House (called the House of Representatives), made up of 151 Members of Parliament, often shortened to ‘MPs’ (one for each At a federal election, you will vote for a person to represent your geographic area—known as an electorate—in the House of Representatives (often called the ‘people’s house’). There are 151 federal electorates. These electorates are population based, and each state or territory is divided into electorates which contain similar numbers of voters.electorate of Australia).
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the Upper House (called the Senate), made up of 76 Senators (12 for each state and two for each territory). The party or A coalition is formed when two or more political parties agree to work together to create a bigger group in parliament.coalition with the most seats in the House of Representatives become the government – including the Prime Minister (party leader), and Government Ministers are given a portfolio or area of responsibility in government. For example, the Minister for Environment will make decisions that will impact the environment.Ministers (MPs or Senators selected from the House of Representatives and the Senate).
To form a majority government, a party or coalition needs to win at least 76 seats in the House of Representatives. If no political party wins 76 seats on its own, we have what is called a When no party wins enough seats to form a majority government. In 2010, the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal National Party both won 72 seats, so neither of them held majority.hung parliament. If this happens, one of the major political parties (e.g. the Australian Labor Party (ALP) or the Liberal National Party (LNP)) will need to negotiate with smaller parties and independents to form a If no party wins 76 seats by itself, it can still form government by negotiating with smaller parties and independents until there are at least 76 MPs willing to work together and for what is called a minority government. This means no one political party can make decisions and pass laws alone, they need to work together with the other politicians in their minority government to pass laws. The most recent example of this in Australian federal politics was in 2010, when the Labor party successfully negotiated support from Independent MPs and other political parties to form a minority government.minority government.
Each MP serves a three-year term in line with the federal election cycle. Each Senator serves a six-year term on a rolling basis. This means half the senate changes every three years at each election, and is the why we vote for six Senators at a time.
The two houses are independent, and neither is more powerful than the other. Both groups of people are elected to pass laws, debate issues and hold the government to account.
The Senate and the House of Representatives both look at incoming law and policy, vote to make change, and hold the government to account (such as through Question Time and parliamentary committees).
But a key difference is that the Senate isn’t allowed to introduce any When a new suggestion is put forward in government.proposals, or When something is added to or changed in government.amendments to Parliament involving spending – only the House of Representatives can do that. A potential law must be passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before it becomes law.
How federal elections work
A ‘Federal’ means the government for all of Australia.federal election is held at least every three years, where Australians vote to decide who will represent us in the Federal Parliament.
The date of the federal election is not set in the same way it is for state and territory elections. Instead, the Prime Minister at the time gets to decide exactly what date the election will be held.
In a federal election, you are voting for:
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one person to represent your electorate in the House of Representatives. This person is called your Member of Parliament or MP.
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six people to represent your state or territory (e.g. Victoria) in the Senate. These people are called your Senators.
Sometimes there are vacancies in the federal parliament outside of election times – for example, if an MP resigns – and an electorate is left without an MP to represent them. In this case, a A by-election is held if a vacancy occurs in the parliament outside of the usual election cycle (e.g. because of a resignation, death, expulsion, or disqualification).by-election is held to elect someone new.
Only voters in the relevant electorate will vote for their new MP. If a Senator resigns outside of election times, then usually the political party they belonged to gets to choose who will replace them.
How the local government works
Local government (your local council or shire) are responsible for things like parks and recreation, libraries and community centres, some youth services, rubbish collection and recycling, rules about pets and parking.
How local elections work
There are 79 local councils in Victoria, established by state governments to look after the particular needs of a city or local community. The head of the council is the Mayor or Shire President.
During local government elections, people who live in the area vote for councillors, who then form the council. Depending on the structure of your council, you vote for varying numbers of people.
All voting in council elections is by post. Ballot packs are sent to enrolled voters from the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to complete and send back.
Enrolling to vote
How do I enrol to vote?
You can enrol in federal elections, state elections, by-elections and referendums by going to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website and completing this online form.
Here, you’ll also find information about voting eligibility, what information you need to enrol, and other ways to enrol.
To be able to vote in an election, you must be enrolled by a certain date (the ‘close of rolls’ date). To avoid being fined for not voting, you should enrol as soon as you can. You can do enrol when you turn 17 (but can’t vote until you’re 18).
How do I check my enrolment?
You can check your enrolment or update your details by completing this form. Here, you can find out your Federal Division, State District, State Region, Local Government Area and Local Ward.
You must update your address if you move house. Any changes you make to your details through AEC will automatically apply to all federal, state and local council elections.
You can also contact the AEC if you’re unsure about something.
Deciding who to vote for
Your vote is powerful and belongs to you! It should represent your own values and the matters you want to see action on. For this reason, it’s useful to learn what the different People who run in an election to represent you in government.candidates stand for, see what they say about young people, and if they’re planning to take action on things that matter to you and your future.
Who are the different political parties and what do they stand for?
The two major parties in Australia are the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia. However, the Liberal Party and the National Party of Australia (which is a minor party) are currently joined in a Coalition. This is one good example of how minor parties can still be powerful in parliament even if they cannot form government.
Minor parties and independents can also still win seats and have a large influence on whether certain legislation passes.
It’s important that you know who your local candidates are and what their campaign is, so that you can make an informed choice with your vote. One of the best ways to find out is by visiting their website. For political parties, you can find their policies, current members, and become a member of the party if that interests you.
Another great way to learn more about your local candidates is to search for an official social media page, like a Facebook, X, Instagram or TikTok page. You can learn a lot about a candidate’s campaign and Principles or actions that the candidate or party say they'll commit to if elected.policies by looking at their posts or reading comments from supporters or people who agree or disagree with the candidate.
Alternatively, following the news is a great way to learn about the everyday operations and campaigns that candidates are running, and to understand what they stand for.
The role of minor parties and independents
What is a minor party?
Minor parties are other smaller political parties that do not expect to get enough votes to form government on their own and become the party in charge. Some examples are the Greens or the Jacqui Lambie Network.
What is an independent?
An independent is someone who does not belong to a political party. An independent can be elected to either the House of Representatives or to the Senate just like candidates from political parties.
Independent and minor party representatives are often called ‘crossbenchers’. This is because they usually sit in the A group of seats in the middle of parliament, between the seating sections of the government on one side and the opposition on the other.crossbench.
Why are minor parties and independents important?
- They add to debate on bills introduced by both the government and opposition, and can also introduce A bill introduced by someone in parliament who isn’t a Minister, meaning it’s not backed by the government.private bills on issues they feel aren’t being addressed in Parliament.
- They sometimes hold the ‘balance of power’ when a matter is being voted on in Parliament. This is what happens when the opposition does not support a bill so the government needs some or all of the crossbenchers’ votes to pass it (normally when there’s a minority government). The federal government will likely negotiate with them to try and get their support. When crossbenchers hold the balance of power, their vote can be the deciding factor on whether a bill is passed or rejected.
- When there is a When neither of the major parties gets an absolute majority (76 seats).hung parliament, minor parties hold a lot of power. They can form a coalition with a political party in order to form the government.
Find out who the candidates are in your electorate
One of the two things you vote for in a federal election is which candidate will become the MP who represents your electorate. If you’re not quite sure what that sentence means, no problem – let’s break it down below!
1. What is an electorate?
An electorate is an area of land where the boundaries are decided based on the population within it. That means the boundaries of each electorate are drawn in such a way that each one will have around the same number of people. This makes sure that everyone has the same voting power. Basically, the more people live in an area, the smaller the electorate is, and vice versa. Each electorate has a name, and an MP who represents them in Parliament’s House of Representatives.
Sometimes the boundaries of an electorate can change year to year in a process known as redistribution. This happens when populations within an electorate change, and the boundaries have to be widened or shrunk to maintain fair voting power.
2. Find out which electorate you live in
The Australian Electoral Commission has a resource that shows which electorate you live in. You can search by locality, suburb or post code. It shows which electorate you were a part of in the last election, and if redistribution has happened, it will show what your electorate is in the next election.
3. Figure out who’s running for your electorate and decide who you want to vote for
The next step is to look at the candidates running for MP in your electorate. There are many options to choose from and it’s important to base your vote on your own values and priorities, and not anyone else’s.
The Australian Electoral Commission has a page where you can look up all the candidates for your electorate.
How do I decide who to vote for?
You’re voting for people to create laws and policies on your behalf – so it’s important to think about what’s important to you, what policy changes you’d like to see, and who you want representing your interests and values.
Here’s some online resources to help you find out more about the various political parties and candidates:
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ABC Vote Compass - Explore how your views compare to parties and candidates.
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Build a Ballot - A web-based tool that helps young people in particular to create a personalised voting plan.
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They Vote for You–You can search for federal MPs and Senators to see how they have voted in the past on issues that are important to you.
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how2vote – You can generate a how2vote card based on real data from federal parliament. Here, you can see how politicians have voted in the past on issues you care about.
Look out for mis and dis information in political advertising and electoral information
More than ever, we are experiencing two forms of incorrect information: False, misleading or biased information that is knowingly or intentionally spread.disinformation and The spread of false information, regardless of an intention to mislead.misinformation. Unlike commercial advertising laws, Australia’s political advertising laws don’t prohibit misleading or deceptive claims.
In the age of social media, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and A video, image or sound in which a person's face, body, or voice has been digitally altered to appear differently, often used maliciously or to spread false information.deepfakes, it’s even more important to be critical of information and where it’s come from. Disinformation has a very real power to influence our elections, and the best way to slow its spread is learning how to spot it.
Here’s some online resources to help you spot disinformation:
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AEC Voter's guide: Communication tactics catalogue – this outlines communication tactics to support people to identify incorrect information.
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AEC Disinformation register – this is a tool listing pieces of disinformation the AEC has discovered regarding the electoral process.
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How to spot and respond to misinformation and disinformation– A resource put together by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House with tactics to help you navigate false information.
How your vote is counted: preferential voting
When it comes to voting on election day, the ballot papers will differ slightly depending on which level of government you are voting for. In Australia, we use a system known as ‘preferential voting.’
What is preferential voting, and how does it work?
Preferential voting is a system where voters rank the candidates listed on their ballot paper in order of preference. This gives voters a say on who they want to win, but also who they don’t want to win.
You put number 1 next to the person you would most like to be elected. You put your second preference as number 2, and so on.
The preferential counting system is a way of counting votes in an election when there is one person to be elected. This is used in the following levels of government:
- lower house at state level (Legislative Assembly)
- lower house at federal level (House of Representatives)
- local council elections for a single-member a specific geographical area within a Local Government Area (LGA) used for the election of councillors. These areas are established by state and territory governments to divide the LGA into smaller, more localised districts for electoral purposes.ward
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) and the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) take the following steps:
- First, they count all the first preference votes. A candidate must achieve more than 50% of the first preference votes to win, known as an 'absolute majority'.
- Second, if no candidate achieves an absolute majority, the person with the lowest number of first preference votes is dropped out.
- Third, they go back to the ballot papers of everyone who put that candidate first, count their second preference votes and add them to the tallies of the remaining candidates. This continues until a candidate wins over 50% of votes.
Proportional representation is another way of counting votes in an election requiring more than one person to be elected. This is used in the following levels of government:
- upper house at state level (Legislative Council)
- upper house at federal level (Senate)
- local council elections
Here, a candidate needs to win a quota — a set proportion of the electorate’s votes - and the quota varies according to the number of candidates to be elected. The VEC and the AEC take the following steps:
- First, they will distribute ballot papers to candidates according to first preference, and the quota is calculated from the total vote.
- Second, if a candidate receives exactly a quota of votes, they are elected, and their ballot papers are set aside.
- Third, if a candidate has more votes than the quota, then they are elected. The ‘surplus’ votes (votes over the quota) are distributed to the other candidates according to preferences. Following distribution of each surplus, any candidate who reaches the quota is elected and resulting surplus again passed on.
- Fourth, once all surplus votes have been distributed, the candidate with the least votes is dropped out, with their votes passed onto continuing candidates according to voters’ preference. This continues until another candidate reaches the quota.
It's important to think about how you order your preferences, because they really count – around half of the Lower House and council electorates are won on preferences.
Voting on the day
Different types of voting
There are two types of preferential voting which are used depending on which level of government you’re voting for.
Full preferential voting
This is where you number all the boxes in the order that you prefer, from most to least preferred. If you don’t number every box, your vote will not be counted. This type of voting is used in council elections and the lower houses of state and federal parliament (the Legislative Assembly and the House of Representatives).
Optional preferential voting
This is where you don’t have to fill in all the boxes on the ballot paper, instead you must choose to vote either ‘above the line’ or ‘below the line’. This type of voting is used in the upper houses of state and federal parliament (the Legislative Council and the Senate). The amount of boxes you preference depends on whether it’s a state or federal election.
Above the line:
Voting above the line means your preferences will be decided by the group voting ticket.This means different candidates (often from the same party) decide who they’d prefer among them to be elected to the Upper House. They then publish this list of preferences as a ‘group voting ticket’.
When you vote above the line, you’re effectively saying you agree with the preferences listed by that group.
Below the line:
Voting below the line means you have control over all your preferences (which individual candidate you’d like to be elected). The number of boxes you must fill out depends on whether you’re voting in a state or federal election (see below).
Filling out federal ballot papers
There are two ballot papers for Australia’s federal election – one for the lower house (House of Representatives), and one for the upper house (Senate).
The Lower House (the green ballot paper) uses full preferential voting. In this system, you number a preference for every candidate.
Practice how to vote online using the House of Representatives ballot paper.
The Upper House (the white ballot paper) uses optional preferential voting. In this system, you can choose to number your votes:
- Above the line – you must number at least six boxes for a group voting ticket of your choice.
- Below the line – you must number at least 12 boxes for the individual candidates of your choice. If you don’t do this correctly, none of your votes are counted towards any candidate.
Practice how to vote online using the Senate ballot paper.
Remember, it’s okay if you make a mistake while filling out your ballot paper – you can simply ask for a new one.
Filling out state ballot papers
There are two ballot papers for state elections – one for the lower house (Legislative Assembly) and one for the upper house (Legislative Council).
The Lower House (the green ballot paper) uses full preferential voting. In this system, you number a preference for every candidate (you need to number every box in the order of your choice).
The Upper House (the white ballot paper) uses optional preferential voting. In this system, you can choose to number your votes:
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Above the line – You write the number 1 in the box for the group/party you want to support and leave the rest of the ballot paper blank.
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Below the line – You must write a number 1 in the box for your most-preferred candidate and continue to number at least five boxes on the ballot paper in the order you prefer (you can keep numbering more if you wish).
Learn more on the VEC website.
Remember, it’s okay if you make a mistake while filling out your ballot paper – you can simply ask for a new one.
Filling out local ballot papers
There is one ballot papers used for local elections, and full preferential voting is used. In this system, you number a preference for every candidate.
Find out more on the VEC website.
Remember, it’s okay if you make a mistake while filling out your ballot paper – you can simply ask for a new one.
How to find my nearest voting centre
Voting centres are places you can go to cast your vote in-person on election day if that’s accessible for you. They’re usually open from 8 AM to 6 PM on election day, and located at places like schools, community halls, churches, or public buildings.
A full list of voting centres will be available by the end of April. You can find your nearest voting centre on the Australian Electoral Commission website. They provide everything you’ll need to vote so you only have to bring yourself.
You can vote at any polling place in your state or territory on election day – you don’t have to go somewhere in your electorate.
If you’re travelling in a different state or territory to where you are enrolled, you still need to vote at a voting centre there. The exception is if you have notified the AEC that you will be travelling during the entire election period. In this case it’s not compulsory to vote, but you can still vote at a voting centre in your travels, by postal vote or at an early voting centre.
What happens at a voting centre?
- When you arrive at a voting centre, there will probably be lots of people trying to give you ‘how to vote’ cards. These are created by different parties and candidates to suggest an order of preferences that suit them. You can take these cards and copy them or you can say no – it’s up to you! You decide your preferences.
- When you get inside, an election official will ask you for your details, confirm your electorate and give you two ballot papers - one for the House of Representatives, and one for the Senate.
- You will be directed to a voting booth so you can fill in your ballot paper privately.
- Read the instructions on your ballot paper carefully and follow them so your vote can be properly counted. For more information, see our section above about how to fill out your ballot paper.
- Submit your ballot paper in the ballot box and go get your democracy sausage!
If you need any help, election officials are available to answer questions about the voting process. They can’t tell you who to vote for, and they do not work for any political parties.
Accessibility information and options
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) provides assistance to disabled people to make sure voting is accessible. Ahead of the election, the AEC’s official election guide can be provided in braille, audio and large print. The AEC also has a series of Easy English guides.
A list of voting centre locations has been published by the AEC. Each location is given an accessibility ratings for:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Auslan interpreting assistance
- Alternate quiet rooms for voting
- Hearing loops
- Text to speech pen
On the AEC website, you can click on detailed accessibility info to find out more about its specific accessibility features.
If voting on election day will not be accessible for you, see our section below on early voting options – including early voting, postal voting, mobile polling and telephone voting.
If you need audio and verbal options
To learn about the election process with audio, the AEC website has a ‘Read Speaker’ button on each page that will read the content aloud.
To cast your vote verbally, you can use the AEC’s phone voting service. More information will be available in the next few weeks.
If you are Deaf, deaf or hard of hearing
You can contact the AEC via the National Relay Service (NRS). The NRS is available 24 hours a day, every day, and you can choose from one or more relay call types depending on what you need. Deaf, deaf or hard of hearing people can go to a voting centre which has Auslan interpreters or information in Auslan interpreted videos.
If you can attend a voting centre but cannot enter
A polling official can bring you ballot papers outside for you to complete. There must also be a second witness – for example a friend, family member or support worker who comes with you.
If you can complete the ballot paper yourself, they must give you privacy while you do so. After your vote is complete, your witness must accompany the polling officer to submit your ballot papers in the ballot box.
If you want assistance completing your ballot papers
If you want help to complete your ballot papers, there must be a polling official to help you and a witness – for example, the Officer in Charge. You will tell them how you want them to write your vote and they must not say anything that will influence your vote (even if you ask). You should also have the opportunity to check your ballot papers to make sure they’re filled out correctly.
What if I can’t get to a voting centre on election day?
Voting in person on election day is not your only option. You can vote early if on election day you will be:
- outside the electorate that you’re enrolled to vote in
- more than 8km from a polling place
- travelling
- unable to leave your workplace to vote
- seriously ill (including mental illness) or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
- a patient in a hospital and can’t vote from there (note some hospitals do have mobile voting options)
- religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
- in prison serving a sentence of less than three years, or otherwise detained
- are a Someone whose address does not show up on the electoral roll.silent elector. You can apply to be a silent elector if you believe that having your address on the public electoral roll could put you or your family’s safety at risk.
- have a reasonable fear for your safety.
If you can’t get to a voting centre due to your disability, you may be eligible for any of the options below. The AEC also has several resources and services available. Visit their page for people with disability or mobility restrictions for more information.
If you’re overseas on election day, you can vote at an overseas voting centre or by post.
Early voting options
In person
You will be able to vote at specified early voting centres from Monday 9 May. A list of all early voting centres is available.
Mobile voting
AEC mobile polling teams (mobile as in they move around, not mobile phones) visit many voters who aren’t able to get to a polling place. They usually set up in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and remote areas of Australia during the election period.
If you are blind or have low vision, you can cast your vote through the AEC’s phone voting service.
1. Call to register
You need to call 1800 913 993 to register for telephone voting before you can vote. You will be asked questions to check your details on the electoral roll, and you will also be asked to choose a PIN.
2. Call to vote
Once you have received your registration number and chosen your PIN, you will need to call 1800 913 993 again to cast your vote.
When you call, to protect your privacy, you will be asked for your registration and PIN rather than your personal details to mark you off the electoral roll. This means your vote remains secret.
People working in Antarctica, or on a ship that is in transit to or from the Antarctic, are also eligible for phone voting!
Postal votes
If you can’t get to a voting centre due to other barriers, you can apply to vote via the post. You might be eligible for this for reasons like:
- geographic distance including overseas travel
- lack of available transport
- caring responsibilities for someone who is seriously sick
- religious beliefs
- serving in the defence force
The full eligibility list is on the AEC postal vote page.
This page was last updated on 24 April 2025.