Preferential Voting
Did you know there’s no such thing as "wasting" your vote in Australia? It’s all thanks to a clever system called preferential voting. Let’s break it down and see how it works.
What is preferential voting?
Preferential voting is a system designed to reflect the majority’s views by taking your ranked preferences into account. This means that every vote — whether it’s your first, second, or even fourth preference — can make a difference.
The beauty of this system? You can vote for the candidate or party you believe in without worrying that your vote won’t count.
How does that work?
When you vote for the House of Representatives in Australia, you must preference all of the candidates for your electorate with 1 as your favourite. A candidate wins if they have an absolute majority of 51% of first preference votes. Simple.
However, say there are three candidates and none of them reach over half of the number one votes.
When this happens, the candidate with the least amount of votes is removed from the running and their votes are reassigned. In this case, everyone who voted Orange as number one will now have their votes redistributed to their second preference: Green or Purple.
Now, Purple has achieved over a 51% majority and they’ve won!
Why your preferences matter
Your second, third, or even fourth preference can help determine the winner, making preferencing a strategic and impactful choice.
- No wasted votes: Voting for a smaller party or independent isn’t a “throwaway.” If they don’t win, your vote is redistributed to your next preference.
- Make your voice heard: Supporting a climate-friendly or progressive candidate — even if they don’t win — shows major parties where voter priorities lie. This data influences future policy decisions.
- Funding for small parties: Independents and smaller parties that receive more than 4% of first preference votes gain additional funding for future elections, strengthening their impact.
How to make the most of preferential voting
- Rank All Candidates: Ensure you number every box on the ballot.
- No wasted votes: If you favour a smaller party or independent, you can put them first followed by the next party or candidate of your choice. That means you can still vote for a candidate that you might not expect to win without wasting your vote.
- Vote Your Values: Ultimately, your preferences should reflect the order of candidates or parties you truly support.
