Damon Mcknight
The Australian Senate is elected both proportionally and preferentially, with each of the six states electing 12 senators. The proportional representation system in Australia means that parties can expect to receive a percentage of seats that reflects their vote share. However, each state has an equal number of seats, resulting in the distribution of seats being non-proportional to the total Australian population. This means that less populous states are proportionally stronger in representation compared to more populous states. While proportional representation is used in elections for the Australian Senate, several state Legislative Councils, and the Tasmanian Parliament, there are calls to introduce it for elections to the House of Representatives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of senators | 76 |
| Number of senators elected from each state | 12 |
| Number of senators elected from each territory | 2 |
| Term of senators from each state | 6 years |
| Term of territory senators | Same as the duration of the House of Representatives |
| Voting system | Preferential |
| Ballot type | Paper |
| Number of members in the House of Representatives | Variable, 150 seats contested in 2025 |
| Average number of electors per seat in 2022 | 117,000 |
| Number of members elected from each state | Minimum of 5 |
| Number of members elected from each territory | Minimum of 1 |
| Voting system | Preferential |
| Ballot type | Paper |
| Proportional representation in Senate | Yes |
| Proportional representation in House of Representatives | No |
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What You'll Learn
- The Australian Senate is elected proportionately and preferentially
- Each state has an equal number of seats, so distribution is non-proportional to the total population
- The composition of a Legislature reflects the proportions of votes received by candidates
- Robson Rotation: a process of rotating candidate names within a column
- The Australian Constitution states that the number of members chosen should be in proportion to the respective numbers of their people
The Australian Senate is elected proportionately and preferentially
The Australian Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Australian Parliament, with the House of Representatives being the lower house. The Australian Senate has 76 members, with 12 senators elected from each of the six Australian states, and two each from the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Senators are popularly elected under the single transferable vote system of proportional representation in state-wide and territory-wide districts.
The Senate voting system was changed in 2016 to abolish group voting tickets and introduce optional preferential voting. An "above the line" vote for a party now allocates preferences to the candidates of that party only, in the order in which they are listed. If, instead, voters choose to vote for individual candidates in their own order of preference "below the line", at least 12 boxes must be numbered.
The number of senators to be elected determines the 'quota' that guarantees election under quota-preferential voting (Single Transferable Voting). To be elected to the Senate, a candidate needs to gain a quota of the formal votes. The quota, or number of votes required to be elected, in NSW at the 2013 federal election was 625,164. During the distribution of preferences, after each step where ballot papers are moved, they are counted. This is known as "a count", and there are many counts in a Senate election.
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Each state has an equal number of seats, so distribution is non-proportional to the total population
Australia's Senate is elected both proportionally and preferentially. However, each state has 12 senators, meaning that the distribution of seats to states is non-proportional to the total Australian population. This results in the less populous states having proportionally stronger representation for their population compared to the more populous states. Tasmania, for example, is granted more seats than it would be entitled to otherwise.
This is a result of the Australian Constitution, which grants each state a minimum of five seats in the House of Representatives. This was established in 1900 in a newly federated Australia. This was done to maintain the smaller states's overrepresentation in the lower house.
There have been calls to change the voting system to a proportional representation system. This would mean that parties, groups, and independent candidates would be elected to parliament in proportion to the number of votes they receive. This would reflect the reality that major political parties are in decline and that the electorate increasingly favours multiple parties and independents.
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The composition of a Legislature reflects the proportions of votes received by candidates
Australia's system of proportional representation (PR) in elections for the Senate, several state Legislative Councils, and the Tasmanian Parliament, ensures that the composition of a Legislature reflects the proportions of votes received by candidates. This is achieved through three main types of PR electoral systems:
- First, under the STV (Single Transferable Vote) system, each vote can be transferred between candidates in the order of the voter's preferences. A candidate is elected when their total number of votes equals or exceeds the quota, which is calculated using a formula that takes into account the total number of formal votes and the number of candidates to be elected. This system allows for a more accurate representation of voter preferences, as votes can be distributed to multiple candidates.
- Second, the ballot papers used in Australian STV elections can vary depending on legislative requirements. For example, ballot papers may include party or group ticket voting squares, and candidate names may be ordered alphabetically or by Robson Rotation, which ensures equal positioning for all candidates.
- Third, in the Senate and Upper Houses of New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia, voters can choose to vote for individual candidates or for a particular party or group ticket. This provides flexibility and allows voters to express their preferences at a more granular level.
The Australian Senate, with 76 members, is elected both proportionally and preferentially, ensuring that each state is represented equally. However, this can lead to less populous states having stronger proportional representation compared to more populous states. Additionally, the House of Representatives, with a variable number of members, uses a preferential voting system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference. This system has been in place since the 1918 Swan by-election and ensures that the composition of the Legislature reflects the preferences of the voters.
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Robson Rotation: a process of rotating candidate names within a column
In Australia, Robson Rotation is the process of rotating candidate names within a column on ballot papers for an election. It was named after Neil Robson, a former Liberal member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, who introduced the process to the Tasmanian Parliament in 1977 or 1979. The Robson Rotation method aims to spread the advantage of being listed near the start of the ballot equally among all candidates. This is particularly relevant in Australia, where the combination of single transferable votes and compulsory voting leads many politically apathetic voters to rank candidates in the order listed on the ballot paper.
The Robson Rotation method was first used in the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the 1980 Denison by-election. It was later adopted by the Australian Capital Territory in 1995. The ballot paper groups and lists candidates in columns with their party name written at the top. Columns on the right-hand side of the ballot paper are reserved for independent candidates or candidates from a party that has nominated only one candidate for the election.
The Robson Rotation method is used in conjunction with the Hare-Clark electoral system in Tasmania. This system was proposed by Englishman Thomas Hare in 1856 and later modified by Tasmanian Attorney-General Andrew Inglis Clark. It was adopted as Tasmanian law in 1896 and has been used statewide since 1907. The Hare-Clark system involves displaying multiple columns of candidate names on the ballot paper, with each registered political party nominating candidates to appear in a single column under the party name.
The Robson Rotation method ensures that no candidate has an advantage over others by appearing in the same position on every ballot paper. This helps to prevent the manipulation of group voting tickets, which can occur when the numbers of voters in electorates are not equal. While Robson Rotation aims to create a fairer voting system, it is important to note that ballot papers and votes are different. Ballot papers are the medium through which candidates receive votes, and the value of a ballot paper can change during the counting process.
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The Australian Constitution states that the number of members chosen should be in proportion to the respective numbers of their people
The Australian Constitution, established in 1900, states that the number of members chosen for the House of Representatives in each state should be in proportion to the population of that state. This is known as the "one vote, one value" principle, which aims to ensure that each electorate within a state has approximately the same number of voters. However, it is important to note that each state is guaranteed a minimum of five seats, which can result in overrepresentation of smaller states in the lower house.
The Australian Senate, on the other hand, has a set number of 76 members, with each of the six states electing 12 senators, regardless of population size. This leads to a non-proportional distribution of seats to states when considering the total Australian population. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory (NT) each elect two senators, while other Australian Territories with small populations are represented by these senators as well.
The Australian electoral system uses preferential voting, also known as full-preferential voting, for the House of Representatives and the Senate. This means that voters rank candidates in order of preference, and multiple counts of ballot papers may be required to determine the winner based on the quota of formal votes. This system allows for the transfer of surplus votes and fractional transfer values, where a fraction of a vote can be used to elect one candidate, with the remaining fraction distributed to other candidates.
While the Australian Constitution emphasizes proportional representation in the House of Representatives, there have been discussions about introducing proportional representation for the lower house as well. Proportional representation is used by approximately half of the world's democracies and would better reflect the changing political landscape, with the rise of multiple parties and independent candidates. It would also address the issue of certain political parties being under-represented in the House of Representatives.
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Frequently asked questions
Proportional representation ensures that the composition of a legislature reflects the proportions of votes received by candidates on a state-wide basis. This makes the election results more representative of the voters' preferences.
In Australia, proportional representation is used in elections for the Senate, state Legislative Councils, and the Tasmanian Parliament. The Single Transferable Vote (STV) system is used, where each vote can be transferred between candidates in the order of the voter's preferences.
Under the STV system, a candidate is elected when their total number of votes equals or exceeds a quota. The quota is calculated using the formula: (total number of formal votes) / (number of candidates to be elected + 1) + 1. This ensures that each vote carries equal weight.
The STV system allows for a more nuanced representation of voters' preferences, as votes can be transferred between candidates. This can lead to a wider range of parties and independent candidates being elected, reflecting the reality of multiple party support among voters.
One potential downside is that the STV system can result in "preference deals" or legitimate manipulation of group voting tickets. This can occur when multiple candidates are running for a single party, and voters' preferences are not truly represented. Additionally, the STV system can be complex and time-consuming, requiring multiple counts and transfers of votes.
