Australian House of Representatives elections use full-preferential voting: voters number every box. If no candidate has more than half the first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest is excluded and their ballots pass to each voter’s next preference, repeating until someone has more than half. Practical lesson: rank the candidate you most want to win first and the one you most want to lose last.
David SMITH (Australian Labor Party) won Bean in 2025 with 51,700 of the 102,700 votes in the final count, beating Jessie PRICE (Independent) by 700 votes (50.3% to 49.7%). Smith led on first preferences with 41.0% of 102,700 formal votes and passed the 51,351-vote majority at count 2.
102,700 formal votes4 candidates2 counts700-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 102,700 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Sam CARTER (Australian Greens) was excluded; their 9,757 votes were distributed: 4,762 (48.8%) to Jessie PRICE; 4,701 (48.2%) to David SMITH; 294 (3.0%) to David LAMERTON.
On count 2, David LAMERTON (Liberal) was excluded; their 23,959 votes were distributed: 19,118 (79.8%) to Jessie PRICE; 4,841 (20.2%) to David SMITH.
Finally, David SMITH (Australian Labor Party) won with 51,700 votes to 51,000 for Jessie PRICE (Independent).
Where the preferences went
Bean 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Sam CARTERAustralian Greens
9,757
Jessie PRICE (IND): 4,762 (48.8%)
David SMITH (ALP): 4,701 (48.2%)
David LAMERTON (LP): 294 (3.0%)
2
David LAMERTONLiberal
23,959
Jessie PRICE (IND): 19,118 (79.8%)
David SMITH (ALP): 4,841 (20.2%)
Votes after every count
Bean 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
David SMITHAustralian Labor Party · elected
42,158
46,859
51,700
Jessie PRICEIndependent
27,120
31,882
51,000
David LAMERTONLiberal
23,665
23,959
–
Sam CARTERAustralian Greens
9,757
–
–
2022 Federal election
David SMITH (Australian Labor Party) won Bean in 2022 with 61,935 of the 98,394 votes in the final count, beating Jane HIATT (Liberal) by 25,476 votes (62.9% to 37.1%). Smith led on first preferences with 41.7% of 98,394 formal votes and passed the 49,198-vote majority at count 4.
98,394 formal votes6 candidates4 counts25,476-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 98,394 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Benjamin AMBARD (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 2,680 votes were distributed: 1,395 (52.1%) to Sean CONWAY; 466 (17.4%) to Jane HIATT; 425 (15.9%) to Jamie CHRISTIE; 285 (10.6%) to David SMITH and 1 more.
On count 2, Sean CONWAY (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 4,226 votes were distributed: 1,613 (38.2%) to Jamie CHRISTIE; 1,368 (32.4%) to Jane HIATT; 983 (23.3%) to David SMITH; 262 (6.2%) to Kathryn Jane SAVERY.
On count 3, Jamie CHRISTIE (Independent) was excluded; their 10,061 votes were distributed: 3,981 (39.6%) to Kathryn Jane SAVERY; 3,392 (33.7%) to David SMITH; 2,688 (26.7%) to Jane HIATT.
On count 4, Kathryn Jane SAVERY (The Greens) was excluded; their 18,911 votes were distributed: 16,215 (85.7%) to David SMITH; 2,696 (14.3%) to Jane HIATT.
Finally, David SMITH (Australian Labor Party) won with 61,935 votes to 36,459 for Jane HIATT (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Bean 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Benjamin AMBARDPauline Hanson's One Nation
2,680
Sean CONWAY (UAPP): 1,395 (52.1%)
Jane HIATT (LP): 466 (17.4%)
Jamie CHRISTIE (IND): 425 (15.9%)
David SMITH (ALP): 285 (10.6%)
Kathryn Jane SAVERY (GRN): 109 (4.1%)
2
Sean CONWAYUnited Australia Party
4,226
Jamie CHRISTIE (IND): 1,613 (38.2%)
Jane HIATT (LP): 1,368 (32.4%)
David SMITH (ALP): 983 (23.3%)
Kathryn Jane SAVERY (GRN): 262 (6.2%)
3
Jamie CHRISTIEIndependent
10,061
Kathryn Jane SAVERY (GRN): 3,981 (39.6%)
David SMITH (ALP): 3,392 (33.7%)
Jane HIATT (LP): 2,688 (26.7%)
4
Kathryn Jane SAVERYThe Greens
18,911
David SMITH (ALP): 16,215 (85.7%)
Jane HIATT (LP): 2,696 (14.3%)
Votes after every count
Bean 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
David SMITHAustralian Labor Party · elected
41,060
41,345
42,328
45,720
61,935
Jane HIATTLiberal
29,241
29,707
31,075
33,763
36,459
Kathryn Jane SAVERYThe Greens
14,559
14,668
14,930
18,911
–
Jamie CHRISTIEIndependent
8,023
8,448
10,061
–
–
Sean CONWAYUnited Australia Party
2,831
4,226
–
–
–
Benjamin AMBARDPauline Hanson's One Nation
2,680
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
David SMITH (Australian Labor Party) won Bean in 2019 with 53,455 of the 92,939 votes in the final count, beating Ed COCKS (Liberal) by 13,971 votes (57.5% to 42.5%). Smith led on first preferences with 38.1% of 92,939 formal votes and passed the 46,470-vote majority at count 6.
92,939 formal votes8 candidates6 counts13,971-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 92,939 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Ben RUSHTON (The Great Australian Party) was excluded; their 929 votes were distributed: 241 (25.9%) to Jamie CHRISTIE; 227 (24.4%) to Tony HANLEY; 117 (12.6%) to Therese FAULKNER; 116 (12.5%) to Matt DONNELLY and 3 more.
On count 2, Tony HANLEY (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 2,454 votes were distributed: 829 (33.8%) to Ed COCKS; 537 (21.9%) to Jamie CHRISTIE; 312 (12.7%) to David SMITH; 301 (12.3%) to Matt DONNELLY and 2 more.
On count 3, Matt DONNELLY (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 2,957 votes were distributed: 1,959 (66.2%) to Ed COCKS; 503 (17.0%) to Jamie CHRISTIE; 185 (6.3%) to David SMITH; 165 (5.6%) to Therese FAULKNER and 1 more.
On count 4, Therese FAULKNER (Australian Progressives) was excluded; their 3,258 votes were distributed: 1,763 (54.1%) to Jamie CHRISTIE; 735 (22.6%) to Johnathan DAVIS; 498 (15.3%) to David SMITH; 262 (8.0%) to Ed COCKS.
On count 5, Jamie CHRISTIE (Independent) was excluded; their 10,727 votes were distributed: 4,293 (40.0%) to Ed COCKS; 3,219 (30.0%) to David SMITH; 3,215 (30.0%) to Johnathan DAVIS.
On count 6, Johnathan DAVIS (The Greens) was excluded; their 16,533 votes were distributed: 13,719 (83.0%) to David SMITH; 2,814 (17.0%) to Ed COCKS.
Finally, David SMITH (Australian Labor Party) won with 53,455 votes to 39,484 for Ed COCKS (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Bean 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Ben RUSHTONThe Great Australian Party
929
Jamie CHRISTIE (IND): 241 (25.9%)
Tony HANLEY (UAPP): 227 (24.4%)
Therese FAULKNER (AUP): 117 (12.6%)
Matt DONNELLY (LDP): 116 (12.5%)
Ed COCKS (LP): 104 (11.2%)
David SMITH (ALP): 75 (8.1%)
Johnathan DAVIS (GRN): 49 (5.3%)
2
Tony HANLEYUnited Australia Party
2,454
Ed COCKS (LP): 829 (33.8%)
Jamie CHRISTIE (IND): 537 (21.9%)
David SMITH (ALP): 312 (12.7%)
Matt DONNELLY (LDP): 301 (12.3%)
Therese FAULKNER (AUP): 254 (10.4%)
Johnathan DAVIS (GRN): 221 (9.0%)
3
Matt DONNELLYLiberal Democrats
2,957
Ed COCKS (LP): 1,959 (66.2%)
Jamie CHRISTIE (IND): 503 (17.0%)
David SMITH (ALP): 185 (6.3%)
Therese FAULKNER (AUP): 165 (5.6%)
Johnathan DAVIS (GRN): 145 (4.9%)
4
Therese FAULKNERAustralian Progressives
3,258
Jamie CHRISTIE (IND): 1,763 (54.1%)
Johnathan DAVIS (GRN): 735 (22.6%)
David SMITH (ALP): 498 (15.3%)
Ed COCKS (LP): 262 (8.0%)
5
Jamie CHRISTIEIndependent
10,727
Ed COCKS (LP): 4,293 (40.0%)
David SMITH (ALP): 3,219 (30.0%)
Johnathan DAVIS (GRN): 3,215 (30.0%)
6
Johnathan DAVISThe Greens
16,533
David SMITH (ALP): 13,719 (83.0%)
Ed COCKS (LP): 2,814 (17.0%)
Votes after every count
Bean 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Count 6
David SMITHAustralian Labor Party · elected
35,447
35,522
35,834
36,019
36,517
39,736
53,455
Ed COCKSLiberal
29,223
29,327
30,156
32,115
32,377
36,670
39,484
Johnathan DAVISThe Greens
12,168
12,217
12,438
12,583
13,318
16,533
–
Jamie CHRISTIEIndependent
7,683
7,924
8,461
8,964
10,727
–
–
Therese FAULKNERAustralian Progressives
2,722
2,839
3,093
3,258
–
–
–
Matt DONNELLYLiberal Democrats
2,540
2,656
2,957
–
–
–
–
Tony HANLEYUnited Australia Party
2,227
2,454
–
–
–
–
–
Ben RUSHTONThe Great Australian Party
929
–
–
–
–
–
–
About this page
Australian House of Representatives elections use full-preferential voting: voters number every box. If no candidate has more than half the first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest is excluded and their ballots pass to each voter’s next preference, repeating until someone has more than half. Practical lesson: rank the candidate you most want to win first and the one you most want to lose last.
