How to vote
When voting at a State general election you will receive two ballot papers – a small one for the Legislative Assembly and a larger one for the Legislative Council.
See the how to make your vote count guide, and the video resources below to guide you through completing your ballots.
How to Mark Your Legislative Assembly Ballot
The Legislative Assembly (Lower House) has 59 members and each member represents a different area called a district where people live.
The system of voting for the Lower House, is called full preferential voting. This means you must number every box on the ballot paper in the order of preference.
How to Mark Your Legislative Council Ballot
The Legislative Council (Upper House) has 37 members and they are elected by people from all over the state.
The system of voting for the Upper House is called optional preferential voting. This means you can vote either above the line (number one or more party/group options) or vote below the line (number at least 20 individual candidates, in order of preference).
Informal votes
Ballot papers are informal if they:
- are blank;
- do not show preferences according to instructions or legislative requirements;
- do not make the voter's intention clear;
- are marked in a way which identifies the voter.
Informal ballot papers do not contribute to the election of a candidate and are not included in calculating the quota or the absolute majority required for election.
If a ballot paper is not marked correctly but gives a clear indication of the voter's intention as to the order of preferences the ballot paper may be formal. It is the Returning Officer's responsibility to decide whether the elector has sufficiently shown his or her intention, and whether a ballot paper is formal or informal.
Visiting a polling place
Polling places are established in open and public places, often schools and community halls. When you approach the polling place, election campaign workers will often be handing out how-to-vote cards for their candidates. These cards show the party, group or candidate's suggested preferences that support their interests. You do not have to follow or take a How -To-Vote card into a polling place.
When you arrive at a polling place you should make yourself known to the Queue Controller or an Issuing Officer. They will then direct you where to go based on the type of vote you need to lodge.
Ordinary vote
For electors voting within their electoral district.
Absent vote
For electors voting outside their electoral district. Electors will be assisted by officers to establish which district they are enrolled in before being issued with papers for their district and whole of State electorate.
Provisional vote
For electors who cannot be found on the roll, but believe they are entitled to vote, or have had their eligibility to vote questioned by a scrutineer. Electors sign a declaration before receiving their ballot papers, and their eligibility will be verified prior to the ballot papers being included in the count.
Enrolling and voting during polling
Electors who are not on the electoral roll have the opportunity to enrol on the day that they cast their vote. Electors will be given a provisional vote and will need to provide identification information. Then their enrolment will be processed prior to the ballot papers being included in the count.
Seeking assistance
It is the right of every elector to cast their vote in an environment which provides for a secret and independent ballot.
However, you may seek assistance at any time from a polling official. If you do not understand the process, are unable to or have difficulty writing or need any other assistance, ask the Presiding Officer.