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Federal election 2025 | Ballot paper explained

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An Australian Electoral Commission sign will indicate where people can vote in the federal election. Photo by AAP

Walking into the polling booth on Saturday, May 3, voters will be handed two pieces of paper that will help decide what two rooms of Canberra look like in the coming years.

The first, a small green ballot, will determine who will represent Nicholls and Farrer in the House of Representatives — the people’s house, where government is formed.

The second, a larger white ballot, will decide Senate seats — crucial for reviewing legislation and representing state interests.

Nicholls ballot allocations

Kim Travers of Flowerdale, Australian Labor Party

Paul Bachelor of Echuca, Family First Party

Glen Francis Floyd of Maldon, Trumpet of Patriots

Aaron Tyrrell of Invergordon, One Nation

Sam Birrell of Shepparton, The Nationals

Jeff Davy of Numurkah, Australian Citizens Party

Shelby Eade from the Melbourne suburb of Altona, Greens

Farrer ballot allocations

Sussan Ley of Albury, Liberal Party of Australia

Glen Hyde of Tocumwal, Australian Labor Party

Michelle Milthorpe of Albury, independent

Richard August Hendrie of Lavington, Greens

Emma Hicks of Springdale Heights, One Nation

Peter Sinclair of Holbrook, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party

David O’Reilly, Gerard Rennick People First Party

Rebecca Scriven of Albury, Family First Party

Tanya Hargraves, Trumpet of Patriots

An example of what the House of Representatives ballot will look like. Photo by Contributed

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives slips will have the seven candidates for the seat of Nicholls and the nine candidates for Farrer, respectively, listed in the order in which they were randomly selected.

Beside each candidate’s name, you’ll find a box.

Number these boxes from ‘1’ down, with ‘1’ being your top choice, to indicate your voting preference. Number all boxes.

An example of what the Senate ballot will look like. Photo by Contributed

Senate

The Senate ballot features a number of parties and candidates, divided into two sections.

Voters can choose how to cast their vote using either section.

The two ways to vote for the Senate are above the line, or under the line.

Voting above the line, voters order the parties they would like to see in the Senate seat.

Voters need to order at least six of the 18 parties in order of their preference.

These votes allow the parties to choose who they want to represent their parties in the Senate.

However, there is a way for the voter to specifically choose who they want in the seat, and that is by voting beneath the line.

Voting beneath the line includes numbering at least 12 of the individual candidates in ascending order.

Essential information

Polling booths across Nicholls and Farrer will open at 8am on Saturday, May 3, and close at 6pm.

Votes must be in before 6pm that day.

Various accessibility services will be available at different locations, including Virtual Auslan interpreters for hearing-impaired voters and assisted wheelchair access.

For more information on the candidates and what your preferences may be, visit abc.net.au/news/vote-compass or myplan.buildaballot.org.au