The short answer

complete a Senate ballot above the line

To complete a Senate ballot paper above the line, number at least six boxes from 1 to 6 in the order of your preference, starting with 1 for your most preferred party or group. You may number more than six boxes if you wish. The Senate voting system introduced in 2016 removed group voting tickets and gave voters direct control over their preference flow. When you vote above the line, your preferences follow the order you number, not a pre-determined party list. This means your vote stays with your first choice until that candidate is either elected or excluded, then flows to your second choice, and so on. Your preferences cannot flow to any party or group you have not numbered. If you also vote below the line, the below-the-line vote takes precedence and the above-the-line vote is disregarded.

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

Above the line versus below the line

The Senate ballot paper is divided by a horizontal line. The boxes above the line represent registered political parties and groups of independent candidates. The boxes below the line list every individual candidate contesting the Senate election in your state or territory, grouped by party or independent grouping. You may vote using either method but not both; if you mark both above and below the line, only the below-the-line vote is counted as prescribed by section 239 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

Above-the-line voting is simpler because you only number party or group boxes, not individual candidates. For a typical Senate election you may see 20 to 40 columns above the line. Below-the-line voting requires you to number at least 12 individual candidates in order of preference, which can mean numbering across a ballot paper that lists 50 to 150 or more names. Most voters choose the above-the-line method.

Evidence review

The numbering requirement

The minimum requirement for a formal above-the-line Senate vote is to number at least six boxes from 1 to 6, with no duplicate numbers among those boxes. You write a 1 in the box of the party or group you most prefer, a 2 for your second preference, and so on to at least 6. You may number more than six boxes. The ballot paper instructions printed on the paper itself are the authoritative instruction.

If you number fewer than six boxes above the line, your ballot paper is informal and will not be counted for the Senate. If you make an error such as duplicating a number or leaving a gap in the sequence of boxes you have numbered, the ballot paper may also be informal depending on the nature of the error and the saving provisions in the Act. The AEC provides practice ballot papers before each election and scrutineers and polling officials can give procedural guidance on polling day.

Evidence review

How preferences flow from an above-the-line vote

Under the current Senate voting system, your above-the-line vote creates a preference flow that follows your numbered order exactly. If your first-choice party or group has more votes than needed to elect its candidates, the surplus votes are transferred to the party or group you marked 2 at a reduced transfer value. If your first choice has too few votes to win a seat and is excluded, your full vote transfers to the party or group you marked 2. This process repeats through your numbered preferences until all Senate vacancies for your state or territory are filled.

This is fundamentally different from the pre-2016 system, where voting 1 above the line meant your preferences flowed according to a group voting ticket lodged by the party, which could direct preferences to any other party in any order without the voter knowing. The reform was enacted by the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Act 2016 and means above-the-line voters now control exactly where their preferences go.

The proportional representation system means a candidate needs to reach a quota, calculated by dividing the total number of formal votes by one more than the number of vacancies and adding one, to be elected. Surplus votes from candidates who exceed the quota are distributed at a fractional transfer value.

Evidence review

Strategic considerations when numbering above the line

Because your preferences flow only to the boxes you number, it is generally advisable to number more than the minimum six boxes. The further you go, the more influence your vote has in the later stages of the count when the contest for the final Senate seats is often between several candidates with relatively small vote totals.

There is no tactical disadvantage to numbering as many boxes as you wish. Your vote stays with your first preference as long as that candidate or party can benefit from it. If your first preference is elected with a surplus, only a fraction of your vote moves on. If your first preference is excluded, your full vote moves to your second choice. Numbering a box does not help that party unless all higher-numbered choices have been elected or excluded.

Evidence review

Common mistakes that make a Senate ballot informal

The most common error is numbering fewer than six boxes above the line. Other errors include duplicating a number across boxes, skipping numbers in the sequence, using ticks or crosses instead of numbers, writing identifying marks on the ballot paper, or numbering both above and below the line. The saving provisions in section 268 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act allow a vote to be counted if the elector's intention is clear despite a minor error, but this is not something a voter should rely on.

If you make a mistake on your Senate ballot paper, you can return it to a polling official and request a replacement. You are entitled to a fresh ballot paper if you have not already placed a ballot paper in the ballot box. Do not attempt to correct the error by crossing out or overwriting numbers; request a new paper instead.

Common questions

Before you rely on the answer

How many boxes must I number above the line for a formal Senate vote?

At least six boxes must be numbered from 1 to 6 in order of your preference. Numbering fewer than six makes the ballot paper informal. You may number more than six if you wish.

What happens if I number both above and below the line?

Under section 239 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the below-the-line vote takes precedence and the above-the-line vote is completely disregarded. To avoid any risk of confusion or informality, choose one method only and complete it carefully.

Do my preferences go where the party has directed them?

No. The 2016 Senate voting reforms removed group voting tickets. When you vote above the line, your preferences flow to the boxes you have numbered in the order you numbered them. Parties cannot redirect your preferences.

Source spine

Primary material used for this guide

Review trigger: Amendment to Part XVIII of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 affecting Senate ballot paper formality or counting rules; legislative change to the minimum number of above-the-line preferences required; High Court decision affecting the interpretation of a formal Senate vote

Archive note: Written 2026-07-17 based on the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 as compiled and the AEC voting guidance. The Senate voting system was reformed in 2016 by the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Act 2016. This article describes the system as it operates at that date.

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.