3 May
OPTIONS
Forming federal Government
There are two houses in Federal Parliament: the House of Representatives and the Senate, which make the laws which govern Australia.
The members of both these houses are elected by the citizens of Australia as a representative democracy, to make decisions and laws on our behalf.
WHAT IS A FEDERAL ELECTION?
In Australia there is a federal election about every 3 years.
- A federal election is for the whole country.
- It’s how Australia’s government is chosen.
- On the election day, Australian people will vote.
- When you vote, you help to choose who is part of Australia’s government.
You must vote if you are:
• an Australian citizen and • aged 18 years old or older.
THE SENATE
The Senate is also called the ‘States’ House’ or the ‘House of review’. There are 76 senators in the Senate. All states are equally represented in the Senate regardless of their size or population. Each state elects 12 senators, and the ACT and NT elect two senators each. A candidate must gain a designated quota of votes to be elected to represent their state or territory.
The Senate - along with the House of Representativesreviews, debates and votes on proposed laws.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
At a federal election you will vote for a person to represent your geographic area—known as an electorate, electoral division or seat—in the House of Representatives (often called the ‘people’s house’). There are 151 federal electoral divisions. These electorates are population based, and each state or territory is divided into electorates which contain similar numbers of voters.
The House of Representatives is made up of people who have successfully stood for election for a House of Representatives electorate, known as Members of Parliament (MPs). A candidate must gain more than 50 per cent of the formal votes at a federal election (or by-election) to win their seat.
• The political party (or coalition of parties) that forms Government is the one that has won the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
• The Prime Minister is chosen by a vote of the members of the political party that has successfully formed Government at an election.
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT THIS FEDERAL ELECTION
Voters are reminded that Saturday 3 May is election day, and support is available to help you have your say in Australia’s future.
Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said it was important people understood how to cast a valid vote.
“All Australian citizens aged 18 and over must vote in federal elections.
Correctly completing both the House of Representatives and Senate ballot papers is the only way to make sure your vote counts,” Mr Pope said.
“The AEC has a range of information and services on its website to support people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds take part in the electoral process.”
Translations of the official guide to the 2025 federal election – along with a How to make your vote count factsheet – are available in 34 languages.
Translated information explaining how to complete ballot papers is also available at polling places, and some locations will have bilingual AEC staff available to help. There is also a Practise voting tool, and this is available in 12 languages.
Voters who can’t visit a polling place on election day may be eligible to attend an early voting centre or apply for a postal vote.
People voting by post can apply online. Applications must be received by 6pm Wednesday 30 April – so act quickly to ensure enough time to receive, complete and return your ballot papers.
Get the facts about Australia’s electoral system
The AEC is reminding all voters to be cautious about false information about Australia’s electoral system.
Mr Pope said that false and misleading information can spread quickly online.
“It’s really important to stop and consider things you see, hear or read about the voting process. If you think it might be false, then check or ignore it. Don’t share or repost. You can also report it to the place where you saw it,” Mr Pope said.
“If you’re not sure whether something is accurate, you can get the facts from the AEC website.”
The AEC’s Stop and Consider page has simple tips voters can use to identify and respond to false information about the electoral process.
More information
Translated resources are available on the AEC website at aec.gov.au/translated, and telephone interpreter services in your language are available at 1300 720 153.
VOTING ON POLLING DAY
ELECTION DAY IS SATURDAY 3 MAY 2025
You can vote at any polling place in your state or territory on polling day. Polling places are usually located at local schools, churches and community halls, or public buildings.
VOTING BEFORE POLLING DAY
Hundreds of early voting centres will be open progressively across the country from Tuesday 22 April 2025 and will run up to and including Friday 2 May. Check the opening dates as not all early voting centres are open for the entire two-week early voting period.
All early voting centres will be closed on Easter Monday, 21 April, and Anzac Day, Friday 25 April
HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT
On election day you will receive two ballot papers: a green one for the House of Representatives and a white one for the Senate.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
On the green ballot paper, you need to put a ‘1’ in the box beside the candidate who is your first choice, ‘2’ in the box beside your second choice and so on, until you have numbered every box.
You must number every box for your vote to count.
SENATE
On the white ballot paper you can choose to vote either above or below the line.
EITHER Above the line
If you vote above the line, you must number at least 6 boxes from 1 to 6. Place a ‘1’ in the box for the party or group that is your first choice, a ‘2’ in the box for the party or group that is your second choice and so on until you number at least six boxes. You may continue to place numbers in as many boxes above the line as you like.
OR Below the line
If you vote below the line, you must number at least 12 boxes from 1 to 12. Place a ‘1’ in the box beside the candidate that is your first choice, a ‘2’ in the box beside your second choice and so on until you number at least 12 boxes. You may continue to place numbers in as many boxes below the line as you like.
OTHER OPTIONS
You can vote early either in person or by post if on election day you:
• are outside the electoral division where you are enrolled to vote
• are more than 8km from a polling place
• are travelling
• are unable to leave your workplace to vote
• are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
• are a patient in hospital and can’t vote at the hospital
• have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
• are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
• are a silent elector
• have a reasonable fear for your safety.
Early voting centres are open in the weeks leading up to election day and their locations and opening times will be published at www.aec.gov.au.
To vote by post you can apply online or pick up a postal vote application form at any AEC office.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
You can learn more about the electoral system and about enrolment and voting at www.aec.gov.au.
Large print and e-text formats of this brochure are available at www.aec.gov. au/your-vote.
Translated versions are available from www.aec.gov.au/translated.
For information about enrolment, voting and elections in other languages call the number listed next to your preferred language.
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS):
• TTY users phone 13 36 77 and ask for 13 23 26.
• Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 and quote 13 23 26. Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 13 23 26.
