Australians are heading to the polls today to decide which party they want to lead the country.
Here's everything you need to know about voting in the 2025 federal election.
Tap on a link below to be taken straight to that section:
What time do polls open?
Polling places are open from 8am, local time.
You have until 6pm to vote — remember, it's compulsory.
Early numbers from counting will begin coming in shortly after east coast polls close. It's expected we will know a result later tonight.
Where are the voting centres near me?
The best way is to check out the AEC's website.
You'll be able to find a voting location based on your locality, suburb or postcode here.
Chances are that you'll be able to spot your voting centre pretty easily as you get close to it, as there'll be election signs and party volunteers hanging around the entrance.
What do you need to bring to vote?
Nothing! Just yourself.
AEC staff will ask you a few questions before handing you two ballot papers. They are:
- What is your full name?
- Where do you live?
- Have you voted before in this election?
What electorate am I in?
You can find your electorate by entering your address into the AEC's 'Find my electorate' tool.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page, enter your suburb, locality or postcode and hit the purple "find" button.
What are the main parties offering?
Tax cuts, cheaper fuel and home-buying help schemes are among the policies on offer at this year's election.
Here are some policy guides and explainers written by the ABC's political reporters to help you decide:
How can I work out who to vote for?
The ABC's Vote Compass tool might be able to help with that.
It'll ask you a bunch of questions about topical policies.
Then, using your answers, it'll show you how closely your views align with the major parties running candidates in your electorate — which may help you decide who to vote for.
But remember: Who you vote for is entirely your decision.
You can see it here:
What to do in the polling booth
You'll be handed two ballot papers at the polling station.
The small green one is for the lower house, called the House of Representatives, and the big white one is for the upper house, called the Senate.
The small one is what you'll use to elect a member for your local area and the big one is where you'll elect the senators you want to represent your state.
You have to fill them out correctly, otherwise they'll be invalid and will not be counted.
How to fill out your House of Reps ballot
Your local area is included in an electorate, one MP represents one electorate and there are 150 of these — also called seats — in the House of Representatives.
Whoever gets at least 76 seats in the lower house can form a majority government, if no-one gets that amount then a minority government can be formed by major parties joining with minor parties or independents.
To select who you want to represent your seat, you need to number every box in order of the candidate you prefer the most, to the one you like the least.
You can't use a tick, a cross or write an answer. You must number every box in order of your preference for your vote to be counted.
If you draw on your ballot and obscure the numbers, there is a risk that it may be ruled ineligible.
How to fill out your Senate ballot
States get 12 senators, territories get two. Territory senators have to contest every election but state senators get six-year terms so only half contest each time.
There are two options for filling out this bigger ballot: voting above or voting below the line.
Voting above the line is quicker. To do this, you need to number at least six boxes in order of who you most want your vote to go to.
You can number all the boxes if you like, but you must number at least six.
If you want to have even more control over which specific people your vote will flow to, use the below-the-line method.
If you choose this option, you must number at least 12 boxes in order of your preference.
Again, you can number all of them if you like, but you must do at least 12.
Just like with your lower house ballot, if you obscure your numbers with drawings, you run the risk of it not being counted.
Once you've filled out both your pieces of paper, just take them over to the ballot boxes and put them in!
I've just been handed a 'how-to-vote' card. Do I have to use it?
No.
How-to-vote cards are just guides from parties, independents or interest groups on how they would like you to vote.
You do not have to follow someone's how-to-vote card to give them your vote. You just need to preference them first if they're your first choice to represent you.
If there's someone you like more, then you would preference them first and then list your second and third choices and so on until you've filled out your vote.
Choosing your own preferences is the best way to make sure your vote is in line with your values and what you want for your community.
Can I vote online?
No.
I have access needs. What should I do?
If you want to vote in person, the AEC has a list of accessible polling places available here.
Translation and braille services are available if you need them. You can find out more about them here.
What if I am overseas?
If you're not in the country on election day, the AEC does operate polling booths in some countries listed here.
When are postal votes due?
If you have applied for a postal vote and received your postal vote pack in the mail, then you must have completed your ballot paper, had it witnessed and placed it in the return envelope before the close of polling on election day.
You then have 13 days to return the completed vote to the AEC. The AEC must receive it no later than 5pm on May 16, 2025.
What issue matters to you this federal election? What questions do you have?Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.
