I've carefully analysed all the candidates and can confidently say the party you should vote for is... just kidding! If you thought I was about to solve your political dilemmas for you, you're out of luck, but I'll help you navigate how to find the perfect candidate for YOU.
Hold on to your pants, we're going to ride the wave of democracy all the way through to the other side of this federal election.
Image source: Supplied.
Know what matters to you
Start by picking 1-3 issues you're passionate about. Climate change? Education? Whether pineapple belongs on pizza? (That last one isn't technically a federal issue, but it probably should be.)
Think about it: what keeps you up at night? What makes you rant at family dinners? That's your political compass right there. Maybe it's housing affordability, or perhaps you're passionate about healthcare. Whatever it is, identifying your key issues will help cut through the political noise faster than a hot knife through democracy sausage.
Don't worry if your issues seem too niche. There's probably a minor party dedicated entirely to your obscure passion. "The Party for People Who Think Bin Night Should Be Standardised Nationally" probably exists somewhere on that giant Senate ballot.
Where to get information
Don't just copy your parents' voting habits. "Because Mum and Dad always vote that way" ranks right up there with "because their logo is pretty" as a terrible voting strategy.
The best source? The candidates themselves. As an undecided voter, you're like political gold. Call them up! Most candidates will drop everything faster than a hot potato to talk to an actual undecided voter. It's like spotting a unicorn for them. Put them on the spot. Grill them on the topics you're passionate about and see who comes out on top.
If you're feeling particularly mischievous, tell each candidate you're leaning toward their opponent and see how they react. Their response might tell you more than their carefully crafted policy statements ever could. Political theatre at its finest!
Finding your electorate
Hold up! Do you even know which electorate you live in? Don't feel bad – many Australians couldn't point to their electorate on a map if their flat white coffee depended on it.
Check the AEC website to find your electorate and they have collected a list of all the candidates – just search for your suburb or postcode. Knowing your electorate is Politics 101. It's like knowing your star sign, but actually useful in real life.
Understanding Australia's political landscape
Only three parties in Australia are big enough to actually form government: the Coalition (Liberal and National parties) and Labor party.
If choosing who runs the country is a priority for you, voting for independents and minor parties is a bit like bringing a spork to a knife fight – well-intentioned but possibly missing the point. But this is where preferences come to the party.
That said, independents and minor parties can hold the balance of power when parliament is closely divided. The balance of power occurs when neither major party holds a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, giving crossbenchers (independents and minor parties) decisive influence over legislation.
These kingmakers can determine which bills pass or fail, forcing the government to negotiate and compromise. Think of them as the spice in your political curry – a little goes a long way. Just look at the ‘Teal independents’ who shook up the last election faster than a Bunnings’ sausage sizzle draws a crowd.
The preference system
Australia's preference system is clever, unlike certain other voting systems that shall remain nameless (looking at you, US electoral college). It's like dating – you rank your options from "dream candidate" to "if the zombie apocalypse comes, I guess you'll do."
Your vote isn't wasted if your first choice doesn't win. It just moves on to your second choice, like political speed dating. "Sorry, the Labor candidate didn't get enough votes, but hello there, Greens!" This system means you can vote with your heart first and your head second.
The preference system also explains why candidates hand out how-to-vote cards more aggressively than gym salespeople with monthly targets. They're not just suggesting who to put as #1 – they're planning your entire dating hierarchy for you.
On election day
When you go to vote, you'll receive two ballot papers:
The Green Ballot: Think "green carpet" in the House of Representatives. You must number every box. Skip a number or duplicate a number, and congrats – you've just created an informal vote that counts for absolutely nothing except wasting trees.
The White Senate Ballot: This paper will be approximately the size of a small tablecloth with enough names to fill a phone book. It'll have a thick black line through it. You have two options:
- Above the line: Number at least 6 boxes above the thick line, which is like using the "express checkout" of democracy. This means you're voting for parties rather than individual candidates, perfect for those who think "who has time to research 97 random Senate candidates?"
- Below the line: Number at least 12 individual candidates below the thick line, which is like choosing to do your taxes by hand when there's perfectly good software available. This option is for political enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists, and people with nothing better to do on a Saturday.
Remember: You can only choose one option – don't go writing above and below that thick line, you party animal!
Conclusion
Democracy: it's like being forced to choose which restaurant the whole family eats at for the next three years. Sure, you might end up somewhere that serves your least favourite dish, but at least you got a say – and that's more than most people throughout history can claim.
Remember, voting is both a privilege and a responsibility. Yes, that sounds like something your Year 9 civics teacher would say, but they weren't wrong. Your single vote might seem as significant as a drop in the ocean, but oceans are made of drops.
So do your research, know your issues, find your electorate, understand your preferences, and mark those ballots like your future depends on it – because in many ways, it does. At the very least, you'll earn the right to complain about the government for the next three years. And isn't that what being Australian is all about?
Happy voting on May 3! May your lines be short, your decisions informed, and your democracy sausage perfectly grilled with just the right amount of onions.
Want to learn more about the upcoming Australian federal election? Check out Hireup's 2025 Election Hub for everything you need to know.
Elly Desmarchelier
Elly Desmarchelier is a disability rights campaigner.