Voting rules for the Senate have changed – this federal election you’ll have new ways to decide your preferences on your white Senate ballot paper.
You need to either:
- number at least six boxes above the line for the parties or groups of your choice, or
- number at least 12 boxes below the line for individual candidates of your choice.
It is amazing how powerful a piece of paper can be.
https://youtu.be/C0BN6GNkDTY
Voting is different this federal election
Above the line
If you vote above the line, you need to number at least six boxes from 1 to 6.
Place a 1 in the box above the party or group that is your first choice, the number 2 in the box above the party or group that is your second choice and so on until you have numbered at least six boxes above the line. You can continue to place numbers in the order of your choice in as many boxes above the line as you like.
Below the line
If you vote below the line, you need to number at least 12 boxes from 1 to 12.
Place a 1 in the box beside the candidate that is your first choice, and the numbers 2, 3, 4 and so on to at least the number 12. You can continue to place numbers in the order of your choice in as many boxes below the line as you like.
Your ballot papers will now include political party logos
At the 2016 federal election, your Senate and House of Representatives ballot papers will both look different. Parties who have registered a logo with the Australian Electoral Commission before the issue of writs for the election will have their logo printed on the ballot papers.
Voting in the House of Representatives has not changed. To make your vote count, you must number all boxes on the green House of Representatives ballot paper in the order of your choice.
Instructions on how to vote will be clearly displayed on your ballot paper.
Don’t worry if you make a mistake. You can ask for another ballot paper and start again.