Comparing voting systems: Australia’s preferential, US electoral college & the Philippines' popular vote

Members of the public casting their vote at Kelmscott Senior High School on election day of the Canning by election in Kelmscott, Western Australia on Saturday Sept. 19, 2015. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright) NO ARCHIVING

Source: AAP

In the US, elections are decided through an electoral college system, in the Philippines through a popular vote, while Australia uses a preferential voting system. Let’s explore the process and differences among these systems.


Key Points
  • The United States recently held its elections, while the Philippines is set for midterm elections in 2025 and the presidential election in 2028, which occurs every six years.
  • Australia’s next federal election will take place in 2025, typically held every three years, with the date determined by the Governor-General upon the government’s request.
  • Australia’s preferential voting system requires voters to rank candidates by preference on their ballots in both houses of parliament. Voters assign numbers to candidates based on their preferred choices, ensuring that even if a voter's top choice doesn't win, their preferences are still counted in subsequent rounds of counting.

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Comparing voting systems: Australia’s preferential, US electoral college & the Philippines' popular vote | SBS Filipino