There are 3 different elections in Australia
FEDERAL ELECTIONS
STATE ELECTIONS
LOCAL ELECTIONS
At federal elections you vote
for people to represent you on
At state elections you vote
for people to represent you on
At local elections you vote
for people to represent you on
NATIONAL issues like:
STATE issues like:
LOCAL issues like:
• tax • trade • welfare • environment
• defence • immigration
• schools • transport • housing
• roads and traffic • hospitals
• libraries • local roads • parks
• ovals • garbage collection
Australia
is divided into
federal electoral divisions.
New South Wales
New South Wales
state electoral divisions.
local government areas.
Voters in each division choose one person
to represent their division in the Australian
government’s House of Representatives.
Voters in each district choose one person to
represent their district in the state government’s
Legislative Assembly.
These are also known as council areas.
Voters in each area elect people to represent
them on their local council.
Voters in each state also choose people to
represent their state in the Australian Senate.
The Senate reviews and debates the laws put
forward by the House of Representatives.
Voters also choose people to represent
them in the state Legislative Council.
The Legislative Council reviews and debates
the laws put forward by the Legislative Assembly.
Voters in some areas also vote to elect
their mayor. In other areas, the mayor
is chosen by the elected councillors.
The federal government works from
Parliament House in Canberra.
The state government works from
Parliament House in Sydney.
The local government works from
the Council offices in your local area.
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LOCAL ELECTIONS
2 houses of government
2 ballot papers
2 houses of government
2 ballot papers
Every local government area
is different.
Always use numbers to show your choices.
Always use numbers to show your choices.
At local elections, you must follow
the instructions on the ballot paper.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
ISS
IC E R’S
Beachville
You must put a number ‘1’
next to your first choice.
If you want, you can show more
choices by putting a number ‘2’
next to your 2nd choice, then a
number ‘3’ and so on. It is up to
you how many choices you show.
Place the number “1” in the square opposite the name of the
candidate for whom you desire to give your first preference vote.
You may, if you wish, vote for additional candidates by placing
consecutive numbers beginning with the number “2” in the
squares opposite the names of those additional candidates in the
order of your preferences for them.
Fold the ballot paper so that the vote cannot be seen, and put
it in the ballot box or in the envelope provided as appropriate.
CANDIDATES
SANDS, Barbara
TAN, Emily
INDEPENDENT
WAXMAN,Nigel
SURFERS UNITED PARTY
SHIELDS, Ray
WHITE PARTY
BURN, Ben
RED PARTY
or
Place the numbers “1”,”2”,”3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”,
“9”, “10”, “11”, “12”, “13”, “14” and “15” in the squares
opposite the names of 15 candidates in order of your
preferences for them. You may if you wish, vote for
additional candidates by placing consecutive numbers
beginning with the number “16” in the squares opposite
the names of those additional candidates in the order
of your preferences for them.
BALLOT PAPER
GROUP A
NO FUN PARTY
GROUP B
PURPLE PARTY
GROUP A
GROUP B
NO FUN PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
NORTON, Mick
NO FUN PARTY
COOPER, Dianna
NO FUN PARTY
FLYNN, Monica
GROUP C
GROUP E
GROUP E
OASIS PARTY
PARRY, Tony
GRIST, Leslie
JONES, Lilly
PURPLE PARTY
BORGAN, Boris
OASIS PARTY
CHURCH, Peter
GIFFORD, Nellie
JANSEN, Robert
OASIS PARTY
INDEPENDENT
NO FUN PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
O’HARA, Lynda
ZOWIE, Mandy
WILSON, Steve
JACK, Kerry
CLIFFORD, Greg
GRAY, Peter
LALLARD, Gordon
TURCH, Robbie
VORGAN, Sylvia
SMITH, Veronica
HO, Jill
JIMMSON, Alice
GUERRIN, Lily
RICKSON, Janet
NO FUN PARTY
NO FUN PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
I SS
OASIS PARTY
GROUP C
CARRICK, Annie
PURPLE PARTY
LS
NG O
UI
either
Place the number “1” in the square above the group
of candidates for whom you desire to vote. You may
if you wish, vote for additional groups of candidates
by placing consecutive numbers beginning with the
number “2” in the squares above the additional groups
of candidates in order of your preferences for them.
New South Wales Election of 21 Members of Legislative Council
INITIA
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
You may vote in
one of two ways:
There are two ways you can vote.
Above the line
You can just put a number ‘1’ in a box, above
the thick black line, for the party or group of your
choice. By doing this you are following the choices
of candidates decided by that party or group.
OR
Below the line
You can choose to number every box below the thick
black line. Put a number ‘1’ next to your first choice,
‘2’ next to your second choice and so on until you
have numbered every box.
You will get one or more ballot papers
at a local government election.
Every council is different.
You may also be asked to say YES or NO
to a question that affects your local area.
This is called a poll or referendum.
Every council has a mayor and a number of councillors.
Some council areas are divided
into smaller areas called ‘wards’.
ICER’S
FF
SENATE
LS
FF
You must put a number in every box.
Put a number ‘1’ next to your
first choice.
Then you must put number ‘2’ next
to your second choice and so on until
you have numbered every box.
BALLOT PAPER
Legislative Assembly Election
Electoral District of
IN G O
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
INITIA
STATE ELECTIONS
U
How to vote at the 3 different elections
FEDERAL ELECTIONS
OASIS PARTY
OASIS PARTY
OASIS PARTY
INDEPENDENT
There are two ways you can vote.
Above the line
Vote for a group by putting a number ‘1’ in a square
above the thick black line. You can show more choices if
you want. By doing this, you are voting for the candidates
listed below that square, in the order they are listed.
OR
Below the line
Vote for your choice of candidates below the line by
numbering at least 15 squares. Put a number ‘1’ next
to your first choice. Then you must put number ‘2’,
then number ‘3’ and continue until number ‘15’.
You can show more choices if you want.
NELSON, Debbie
NO FUN PARTY
FRENCH, Mike
NO FUN PARTY
DANGAR, Peter
ACARIA, Mike
FARNSWORTH, Drina
GRAHAM, Les
HORTON, Luke
PURPLE PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
NO FUN PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
VINE, Laurie
JECOVIC, Peter
CRAY, Lee
PORTER, Harry
MOORE, Chris
BARRETT, Joe
WHITE, Jason
ORSON, Jacob
JACKSON, Joanne
NO FUN PARTY
JOHNSON, Terry
NO FUN PARTY
GILLS, Jane
NO FUN PARTY
JACKSON, Ollie
PURPLE PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
RAMGATE, Alan
OASIS PARTY
DAWN, Paris
OASIS PARTY
SCOTS, Laurence
OASIS PARTY
FISHERS, Tammy
OASIS PARTY
ANNAN, Mike
OASIS PARTY
POTTS, Eric
OASIS PARTY
NO FUN PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
LANYARD, Jane
LEE, Ray
RUBEN, Tony
JARROD, Greg
NGUAN, Jarrod
PATTON, Karen
COLLY, Lydia
PRINCETON, Leila
YOUNG, Gillian
TERRY, Inga
JORGAN, Nel
WILLOW, Carol
NO FUN PARTY
NO FUN PARTY
FRANK, Gina
NO FUN PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
PURPLE PARTY
EAGAN, Rowena
OASIS PARTY
OASIS PARTY
OASIS PARTY
CONNELL, Frank
OASIS PARTY
If you are an Australian citizen and 18 years
or older, you MUST put your name on the
list of voters (this is called enrolling) and you
MUST vote at federal, state and local elections.
AT ALL ELECTIONS:
• Alwaysusenumberstomakeyourvotecount.
• Followthedirectionsontheballotpaper.
• Askforassistanceifyouarenotsure
what to do.
 1300 135 736 NSW Electoral Commission
 13 23 26 Australian Electoral Commission
For help in your language, use our free telephone
interpreter service by phoning 13 14 50.
www.election.nsw.gov.au
5•2010
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