Filling in your ballot paper
When you arrive at a polling place, an official will ask for your name and address and mark you off the electoral roll.
If your polling place has electronic voting you can choose to vote that way or to vote with a ballot paper.
Electronic voting includes the option to read instructions in your preferred language. The system guides you through filling in your ballot paper. With electronic voting you can’t accidentally cast an informal vote.
Read about electronic voting.
If electronic voting isn’t available, the official will give you a ballot paper.
You can then make your way to one of the voting booths.
The ballot paper
The ballot paper will have the name of your electorate on it. It will also have columns with lists of candidate names and boxes next to them.
Most columns are party columns and list the candidates running for that party.
On the right side of the ballot paper there may be 'ungrouped' columns. These columns list:
- independent candidates
- a party candidate if the party is only running one candidate in that electorate.
The image is a sample ballot paper for the Electorate of Yerrabi with circled text and lines pointing to explainer text. The sample ballot paper reads along the top 'Ballot Paper', 'Election of 5 Members', '2016', 'Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory'.
The next line is the title 'Electorate of Yerrabi'. The line under that reads 'Number five boxes from 1 to 5 in the order of your choice'. There is a circle around the word 'five' with a line pointing to explainer text that reads, 'This tells you the minimum number of candidates you should vote for'.
The next line of text reads 'You may then show as many further preferences as you wish by writing numbers from 6 onwards in other boxes'.
Under this are seven columns. Each column has a heading, then vertically underneath there are boxes with labels to the right of them.
The first six column headings in order are 'A PARTY 1, B PARTY 2, C PARTY 3, D PARTY 4, E PARTY 5, F PARTY 6'. The labels next to the boxes in each column reads 'Candidate ONE' then 'Candidate TWO' then 'Candidate THREE' and so on up to a maximum of 5 in some columns.
The first 6 column headings are all circled with lines pointing to explainer text that reads, 'These are “party” columns, listing candidates nominated by registered political parties, with two or more candidates.'
The seventh column heading is 'UNGROUPED'. This is circled with a line pointing to explainer text that reads, 'This is the “ungrouped” column, listing independents, non-registered party candidates and candidates nominated by registered political parties that have only one candidate (if any).'
There are 4 boxes in this column, the label next to the first reads 'Candidate ONE INDEPENDENT', the second 'Candidate TWO', the third 'Candidate THREE INDEPENDENT', the fourth 'Candidate FOUR PARTY 7'.
At the bottom of the sample ballot paper is a line of text reading 'Remember, number at least five boxes from 1 to 5 in the order of your choice'.
Marking your preferences
In Australia we use numbers to mark our preferences on the ballot paper.
Clearly write the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on, in the boxes next to candidate names in the order of your choice.
For the candidate you like best, write the number '1' in the box next to their name. For the person you like second best write '2' and so on.
To make the most of your vote you should number at least 5 boxes as there are 5 candidates to elect in each electorate.
You can keep numbering the candidates of your choice and you can fill in every box if you like.
If you only write '1' next to one candidate your vote still counts.
Common mistakes
There are some common mistakes that people make which unfortunately mean their vote can't be counted.
- Using ticks or crosses: make sure you only use numbers and write clearly.
- Not voting for any candidates: if you don't write a '1' in the box next to at least one candidate your vote won't be counted.
- Using the same number twice: a common mistake is numbering each candidate in a column 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and then repeating these numbers in the next column, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Each number should only appear once on your ballot paper.
- Writing their name: don't write your name on the ballot paper. If you can be identified by anything you write on your ballot paper, your vote can't be counted. Voting in Australia must be secret.
If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, return it to a polling official and ask for another paper.
Lodge your vote
Once you've finished your vote, fold it in half and place it in the ballot box slot as you leave the polling place.
Polling places close at 6pm and then the counting starts.
Read about vote counting.