Make Your Senate Vote Count
Your Guide to Voting Above the Line in the Senate
Voting in the Senate is an essential part of Australia's democratic process. This guide explains how to vote above the line on the Senate ballot paper, ensuring your vote is valid and reflects your preferences.
Make Your Senate Vote Count
What is Above-the-Line Voting?
On the Senate ballot paper, you will notice a thick black line dividing the paper into two sections:
-
Above the line: Boxes representing political parties or groups.
-
Below the line: Boxes for individual candidates.
-
You can vote either Above or Below – not both
When voting above the line, you vote for political parties or groups rather than individual candidates. Your preferences are then distributed to candidates in the order that party or group has listed them.
Check out this quick explainer video
Steps to Vote Above-the-Line
Make Your Senate Vote Count
1. Locate the Above-the-Line Section
At the top of your Senate ballot paper, you will see boxes with party or group names. These represent political parties or groups running for election.
3. Avoid Common Mistakes
-
Do not repeat numbers.
-
Do not skip numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4 instead of 1, 2, 3).
-
Do not vote both above and below the line. If you do, only your below-the-line vote will count (if valid).
2. Number at Least Six Boxes
-
Write the number 1 in the box of your first-choice party or group.
-
Continue numbering boxes in order of your preference (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.).
-
You must number at least six boxes for your vote to be valid. You can number more than six if you wish to express additional preferences.
4. Submit Your Ballot Paper
Once you have completed numbering your preferences above the line, fold your ballot paper and place it in the ballot box.
Benefits of Voting Above-the-Line
-
Simplicity: Voting above the line requires fewer numbers compared to below-the-line voting.
-
Time-Efficient: You only need to number six boxes (or more if desired), making it quicker than numbering individual candidates below the line.
Key Points to Remember
Number at least six boxes above the line.
More than six boxes can be numbered if you wish to express further preferences.
Your preferences flow within each party or group based on their pre-determined order of candidates.