How does preferential voting work in Australia?

Voters posting their votes at Byford North polling station on election day during the Canning by election, Western Australia, Byford, Western Australia, Saturday Sept. 19, 2015. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright) NO ARCHIVING

Australia, Saturday Sept. 19, 2015. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP

When you vote for the House of Representatives in this year’s federal election, there’s a lot more to it than considering which party you like the most.

The green ballot paper is for you to elect a candidate for your electorate. If your favourite candidate receives more than half of all ‘1’ votes, then they win. If not, that’s when your ‘2’ and ‘3’ votes count.

This visualisation explains how it works. Note: this is for the House of Representatives (lower house) only, not the Senate (upper house).