The Federal Parliament recently passed changes to the voting method for electing Senators across the whole of Australia. The changes will apply at the 2016 federal election.
Clear instructions will be included on the Senate ballot paper advising you how to record your vote on the ballot paper.
To vote for Senators at the 2016 federal election, you must fill in your ballot paper in the order of your choice.
You can do this by voting either above the line or below the line.
VOTING ABOVE THE LINE
If you vote above the line, you must number at least six boxes from 1 to 6.
By voting above the line, your preferences will be distributed in the order that the candidates appear below the line for the party or group you have chosen.
Your preferences will first be distributed to the candidates in the party or group of your first choice, then to candidates in the party or group of your second choice and so on, until all your preferences have been distributed.
VOTING BELOW THE LINE
If you vote below the line, you must number at least twelve boxes from 1 to 12.
By voting below the line, your preferences will be distributed to the individual candidates as numbered on your ballot paper, in the order of your choice.
YOUR BALLOT PAPERS WILL NOW INCLUDE POLITICAL PARTY LOGOS
At the 2016 federal election, your Senate and House of Representatives ballot papers will both look different. Parties who have registered a logo with the Australian Electoral Commission before the issue of writs for the election will have their logo printed on the ballot papers.
THE SAME RULES APPLY
Voting in the House of Representatives has not changed. To make your vote count, you must number all boxes on the green House of Representatives ballot paper in the order of your choice.
Instructions on how to vote will be clearly displayed on your ballot paper.
Don’t worry if you make a mistake. You can ask for another ballot paper and start again.