Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Election 2019: How does Australia's preferential voting system work?

Vote counting

Vote counting Source: AEC

SBS News In Depth
View Podcast Series
Download the SBS Audio appAvailable on iOS and Android

The election date is set for May 18th - and voters are encouraged to number every other box on the green House of Representatives ballot paper as well as their first choice,

Share

Latest podcast episodes

Dan Harris and his son prepare a batch of cupcakes
Kylie Evans wearing a floral print dress stands behind the milk bar counter.
People walk past the ASX building in Martin Place, Sydney.
People watch screens on devices including computers and mobile phones.

Recommended for you

An illustration of an older woman holding a large coin, standing next to an older man, who rests his hand on another oversized coin positioned atop a stack of coins. The couple stands in front of a backdrop of residential buildings
A reddish moon during a total lunar eclipse in the night sky.
A composite image shows mostly empty grocery store refrigerator shelves with a customer notice stating that increased demand has caused supply shortages for some yoghurt products.
A grey-haired man gestures with his hand. With two canadian flags blurry in the background.
A composite image divided into two main sections. On the left, a cutout of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu shaking hands is layered over a background showing a poster of Netanyahu being burned. In the burning poster, text is partially visible, including the word “TERRORIST.“ On the right, a large Iranian flag flies prominently on a flagpole overlooking a dense, hazy urban cityscape with light-colored buildings stretching toward distant mountains. The two sides of the image are stylistically distinct, contrasting the political alliance of the leaders with the regional opposition and the landscape of Iran.
Several travellers are seen milling about in an dimly lit airport terminal.
Ultrasound scanning of intestines, abdominal cavity, right lobe, liver, bile ducts, gallbladder.
A person's arm reaches toward a row of four fuel pump nozzles labeled E10, 95, 98, and Diesel at a gas station.

Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world