The short answer

complete a House of Representatives ballot

Follow the instructions printed on that ballot paper and express a complete order of preference as required. Do not copy a social-media graphic if it conflicts with the official paper.

This guide explains the federal position first. State, territory and local elections can use different rules, dates and ballot systems, so the commission named on your election material is the final operational source.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

Evidence review

What the House of Representatives ballot paper looks like

The House of Representatives ballot paper is printed on green paper and lists every candidate standing in your electoral division. Next to each candidate's name is their party affiliation or the word Independent, a small box for numbering, and in many cases a party logo or a head-and-shoulders photograph of the candidate if they have submitted one. The ballot paper includes a formal instruction telling you to number every box in the order of your preference, starting with the number one. The candidates appear in a randomised draw order determined after the close of nominations, not in party order or alphabetical order. The ballot paper also carries the official mark of the Australian Electoral Commission and the name of the division and the election. If your ballot paper looks different from the description above or contains extra marks, ask a polling official for a replacement before placing it in the ballot box.

The green colour of the House ballot paper is not decorative. It is a deliberate visual cue designed to help voters distinguish the House ballot from the white Senate ballot paper quickly and reduce the risk of placing a ballot in the wrong box. The colour has been standardised across federal elections for decades and is specified in the AEC's election operations manual. If you are voting at a polling place and are unsure which ballot is which, a polling official can confirm the colour of each paper without seeing how you have filled it out. Mobile polling teams, early voting centres and overseas voting locations use the same standard green ballot paper, though the logistics of producing and distributing millions of them means the exact shade may vary slightly between print runs.

Evidence review

Step-by-step: how to fill out the green ballot paper

Start by reading the instructions printed at the top of the ballot paper. These are the authoritative instructions for that specific election. The standard instruction requires you to write the number 1 in the box next to the candidate you most prefer, then continue numbering all remaining boxes in sequence: 2, 3, 4 and so on until every box has a number. Use a pencil provided in the polling booth if one is available, but a pen is also acceptable. Write clearly and place each number entirely inside the box. Do not use ticks, crosses, or any other marks. Do not skip any box. Do not write the same number more than once. After completing the numbering, fold the ballot paper so your vote cannot be seen and place it in the House of Representatives ballot box. Polling officials can help you if you are unsure, but they cannot direct your candidate preference.

Evidence review

What happens if you do not number every box

A House of Representatives ballot paper that is not fully numbered is at risk of being informal. Under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, a formal vote requires the voter to express a valid sequence of preferences. If you number only some boxes, leave a box blank, or repeat a number, the ballot paper may be set aside during the count. The AEC applies a savings provision for House ballots where a voter's intention is clear despite a numbering error. For example, a ballot paper that has one box left blank but the sequence is otherwise clearly consecutive and complete may still be admitted to the count at the discretion of the Divisional Returning Officer. However the safest approach is to number every box. You cannot assume a partial numbering will be rescued by the savings provision. If you realise you have made a mistake, return the ballot paper to a polling official and request a replacement before putting it in the ballot box.

Evidence review

Difference between House and Senate ballot papers

Federal elections require you to fill out two separate ballot papers. The green House ballot paper elects one member to represent your local division. The white Senate ballot paper elects senators for your entire state or territory. The voting systems are different: the House uses full preferential voting, meaning you must number every box in order. The Senate ballot paper gives you a choice between voting above the line by numbering at least six boxes for parties or groups, or voting below the line by numbering at least twelve boxes for individual candidates. Do not apply Senate voting instructions to the House ballot or vice versa. Each ballot paper carries its own printed instructions, and the ballot boxes are also colour-coded green for House and red (or another colour depending on the state) for Senate.

Evidence review

How-to-vote cards and social-media advice

Outside polling places, party volunteers and candidate supporters may hand out how-to-vote cards showing how a particular party or candidate recommends you fill in your ballot paper. These are suggestions only. You are not required to follow any how-to-vote card, and polling officials will not check or enforce compliance with them. Social media posts and messaging apps may also circulate ballot-paper advice during an election period. Some of this advice may be inaccurate or deliberately misleading. The only instructions you must follow are those printed on the ballot paper itself. If a how-to-vote card or social media post conflicts with the printed instructions, the printed instructions on the ballot paper take precedence. The AEC can and does issue corrective statements when it identifies widespread misinformation about ballot paper completion.

Common questions

Before you rely on the answer

Can I just put a 1 next to my preferred candidate and leave the rest blank?

No. The House of Representatives uses full preferential voting, meaning you must number every box in the order of your preference. A ballot paper with only one number marked is likely to be informal and your vote will not be counted.

What if I use a pen instead of a pencil?

A pen is acceptable. Pencils are provided in polling booths for practical reasons including not running out of ink, but there is no requirement to use pencil. Ballot papers filled out in pen are still formal as long as the numbering is clear.

Does following a how-to-vote card make my vote informal?

No. A vote is assessed on whether it complies with the instructions printed on the ballot paper, not on whether it matches any party's how-to-vote card. You can follow a card, ignore it entirely, or follow parts of it, as long as you number every box.

Source spine

Primary material used for this guide

Review trigger: The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 is amended in a way that changes ballot paper formality rules or the savings provision; the AEC issues new ballot-paper instructions for a federal election that differ materially from the current standard.

Archive note: This article describes the standard federal House of Representatives ballot process as at July 2026. Individual election ballot papers may contain specific instructions; always follow those instructions. State and local government ballot rules may differ.

Primary links are provided without affiliate or tracking parameters. Confirm that the source still applies to the bill, sitting date, jurisdiction or reporting period before relying on it.