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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 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.

The Nicholls candidates for the House of Representatives are:

Kim Travers — Labor Party

Paul Edward Bachelor — Family First

Glenn Francis Floyd

Aaron Tyrrell — One Nation

Sam Birrell — National Party

Jeff Davy — Australian Citizens Party

Shelby Eade — Greens

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

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives slip will have the seven candidates for the seat of Nicholls listed in the order they were randomly decided on.

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

Number these boxes from ‘1’ to ‘7’, with ‘1’ being your top choice, to indicate your voting preference.

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

Senate

The Senate ballot features 18 parties and 65 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 65 individual candidates in ascending order.

Essential information

Polling booths across Nicholls 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