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.
Ben SMALL (Liberal) won Forrest in 2025 with 51,952 of the 99,457 votes in the final count, beating Tabitha DOWDING (Australian Labor Party) by 4,447 votes (52.2% to 47.8%). Small led on first preferences with 31.2% of 99,457 formal votes and passed the 49,729-vote majority at count 6.
99,457 formal votes8 candidates6 counts4,447-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 99,457 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, Peter GREENLAND (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 1,405 votes were distributed: 696 (49.5%) to Paul van der MEY; 199 (14.2%) to Aaron PEET; 146 (10.4%) to Sue CHAPMAN; 121 (8.6%) to Cam PARSONS and 3 more.
On count 2, Cam PARSONS (The Nationals) was excluded; their 4,892 votes were distributed: 2,774 (56.7%) to Ben SMALL; 851 (17.4%) to Paul van der MEY; 459 (9.4%) to Sue CHAPMAN; 403 (8.2%) to Aaron PEET and 2 more.
On count 3, Aaron PEET (Legalise Cannabis Party) was excluded; their 5,733 votes were distributed: 1,420 (24.8%) to Paul van der MEY; 1,209 (21.1%) to Georgia BEARDMAN; 1,203 (21.0%) to Sue CHAPMAN; 1,039 (18.1%) to Ben SMALL and 1 more.
On count 4, Georgia BEARDMAN (The Greens (WA) Inc) was excluded; their 9,287 votes were distributed: 4,222 (45.5%) to Tabitha DOWDING; 3,828 (41.2%) to Sue CHAPMAN; 684 (7.4%) to Ben SMALL; 553 (6.0%) to Paul van der MEY.
On count 5, Paul van der MEY (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 12,190 votes were distributed: 6,624 (54.3%) to Ben SMALL; 4,391 (36.0%) to Sue CHAPMAN; 1,175 (9.6%) to Tabitha DOWDING.
On count 6, Sue CHAPMAN (Independent) was excluded; their 28,233 votes were distributed: 18,514 (65.6%) to Tabitha DOWDING; 9,719 (34.4%) to Ben SMALL.
Finally, Ben SMALL (Liberal) won with 51,952 votes to 47,505 for Tabitha DOWDING (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Forrest 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Peter GREENLANDTrumpet of Patriots
1,405
Paul van der MEY (ON): 696 (49.5%)
Aaron PEET (HMP): 199 (14.2%)
Sue CHAPMAN (IND): 146 (10.4%)
Cam PARSONS (NP): 121 (8.6%)
Ben SMALL (LP): 101 (7.2%)
Tabitha DOWDING (ALP): 72 (5.1%)
Georgia BEARDMAN (GRN): 70 (5.0%)
2
Cam PARSONSThe Nationals
4,892
Ben SMALL (LP): 2,774 (56.7%)
Paul van der MEY (ON): 851 (17.4%)
Sue CHAPMAN (IND): 459 (9.4%)
Aaron PEET (HMP): 403 (8.2%)
Tabitha DOWDING (ALP): 237 (4.8%)
Georgia BEARDMAN (GRN): 168 (3.4%)
3
Aaron PEETLegalise Cannabis Party
5,733
Paul van der MEY (ON): 1,420 (24.8%)
Georgia BEARDMAN (GRN): 1,209 (21.1%)
Sue CHAPMAN (IND): 1,203 (21.0%)
Ben SMALL (LP): 1,039 (18.1%)
Tabitha DOWDING (ALP): 862 (15.0%)
4
Georgia BEARDMANThe Greens (WA) Inc
9,287
Tabitha DOWDING (ALP): 4,222 (45.5%)
Sue CHAPMAN (IND): 3,828 (41.2%)
Ben SMALL (LP): 684 (7.4%)
Paul van der MEY (ON): 553 (6.0%)
5
Paul van der MEYPauline Hanson's One Nation
12,190
Ben SMALL (LP): 6,624 (54.3%)
Sue CHAPMAN (IND): 4,391 (36.0%)
Tabitha DOWDING (ALP): 1,175 (9.6%)
6
Sue CHAPMANIndependent
28,233
Tabitha DOWDING (ALP): 18,514 (65.6%)
Ben SMALL (LP): 9,719 (34.4%)
Votes after every count
Forrest 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Count 6
Ben SMALLLiberal · elected
31,011
31,112
33,886
34,925
35,609
42,233
51,952
Tabitha DOWDINGAustralian Labor Party
22,423
22,495
22,732
23,594
27,816
28,991
47,505
Sue CHAPMANIndependent
18,206
18,352
18,811
20,014
23,842
28,233
–
Paul van der MEYPauline Hanson's One Nation
8,670
9,366
10,217
11,637
12,190
–
–
Georgia BEARDMANThe Greens (WA) Inc
7,840
7,910
8,078
9,287
–
–
–
Aaron PEETLegalise Cannabis Party
5,131
5,330
5,733
–
–
–
–
Cam PARSONSThe Nationals
4,771
4,892
–
–
–
–
–
Peter GREENLANDTrumpet of Patriots
1,405
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Nola MARINO (Liberal) won Forrest in 2022 with 51,625 of the 95,090 votes in the final count, beating Bronwen ENGLISH (Australian Labor Party) by 8,160 votes (54.3% to 45.7%). Marino led on first preferences with 43.1% of 95,090 formal votes and passed the 47,546-vote majority at count 7.
95,090 formal votes9 candidates7 counts8,160-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 95,090 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, Mailee DUNN (Australian Federation Party) was excluded; their 1,152 votes were distributed: 447 (38.8%) to Tracy Nyree AITKEN; 140 (12.2%) to Shane MEZGER; 135 (11.7%) to Christine TERRANTROY; 131 (11.4%) to Greg STEPHENS and 4 more.
On count 2, Paul MARKHAM (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 1,652 votes were distributed: 457 (27.7%) to Nola MARINO; 336 (20.3%) to Helen ALLAN; 212 (12.8%) to Shane MEZGER; 203 (12.3%) to Christine TERRANTROY and 3 more.
On count 3, Greg STEPHENS (WESTERN AUSTRALIA PARTY) was excluded; their 2,449 votes were distributed: 618 (25.2%) to Tracy Nyree AITKEN; 439 (17.9%) to Christine TERRANTROY; 424 (17.3%) to Bronwen ENGLISH; 394 (16.1%) to Nola MARINO and 2 more.
On count 4, Helen ALLAN (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 3,172 votes were distributed: 1,127 (35.5%) to Shane MEZGER; 871 (27.5%) to Christine TERRANTROY; 692 (21.8%) to Tracy Nyree AITKEN; 305 (9.6%) to Nola MARINO and 1 more.
On count 5, Tracy Nyree AITKEN (The Great Australian Party) was excluded; their 4,783 votes were distributed: 3,314 (69.3%) to Shane MEZGER; 671 (14.0%) to Christine TERRANTROY; 454 (9.5%) to Bronwen ENGLISH; 344 (7.2%) to Nola MARINO.
On count 6, Shane MEZGER (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 10,106 votes were distributed: 4,985 (49.3%) to Nola MARINO; 3,251 (32.2%) to Christine TERRANTROY; 1,870 (18.5%) to Bronwen ENGLISH.
On count 7, Christine TERRANTROY (The Greens (WA)) was excluded; their 18,350 votes were distributed: 14,270 (77.8%) to Bronwen ENGLISH; 4,080 (22.2%) to Nola MARINO.
Finally, Nola MARINO (Liberal) won with 51,625 votes to 43,465 for Bronwen ENGLISH (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Forrest 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Mailee DUNNAustralian Federation Party
1,152
Tracy Nyree AITKEN (GAP): 447 (38.8%)
Shane MEZGER (ON): 140 (12.2%)
Christine TERRANTROY (GRN): 135 (11.7%)
Greg STEPHENS (WAP): 131 (11.4%)
Helen ALLAN (UAPP): 129 (11.2%)
Paul MARKHAM (LDP): 75 (6.5%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 54 (4.7%)
Bronwen ENGLISH (ALP): 41 (3.6%)
2
Paul MARKHAMLiberal Democrats
1,652
Nola MARINO (LP): 457 (27.7%)
Helen ALLAN (UAPP): 336 (20.3%)
Shane MEZGER (ON): 212 (12.8%)
Christine TERRANTROY (GRN): 203 (12.3%)
Greg STEPHENS (WAP): 188 (11.4%)
Bronwen ENGLISH (ALP): 137 (8.3%)
Tracy Nyree AITKEN (GAP): 119 (7.2%)
3
Greg STEPHENSWESTERN AUSTRALIA PARTY
2,449
Tracy Nyree AITKEN (GAP): 618 (25.2%)
Christine TERRANTROY (GRN): 439 (17.9%)
Bronwen ENGLISH (ALP): 424 (17.3%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 394 (16.1%)
Shane MEZGER (ON): 293 (12.0%)
Helen ALLAN (UAPP): 281 (11.5%)
4
Helen ALLANUnited Australia Party
3,172
Shane MEZGER (ON): 1,127 (35.5%)
Christine TERRANTROY (GRN): 871 (27.5%)
Tracy Nyree AITKEN (GAP): 692 (21.8%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 305 (9.6%)
Bronwen ENGLISH (ALP): 177 (5.6%)
5
Tracy Nyree AITKENThe Great Australian Party
4,783
Shane MEZGER (ON): 3,314 (69.3%)
Christine TERRANTROY (GRN): 671 (14.0%)
Bronwen ENGLISH (ALP): 454 (9.5%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 344 (7.2%)
6
Shane MEZGERPauline Hanson's One Nation
10,106
Nola MARINO (LP): 4,985 (49.3%)
Christine TERRANTROY (GRN): 3,251 (32.2%)
Bronwen ENGLISH (ALP): 1,870 (18.5%)
7
Christine TERRANTROYThe Greens (WA)
18,350
Bronwen ENGLISH (ALP): 14,270 (77.8%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 4,080 (22.2%)
Votes after every count
Forrest 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Count 6
Count 7
Nola MARINOLiberal · elected
41,006
41,060
41,517
41,911
42,216
42,560
47,545
51,625
Bronwen ENGLISHAustralian Labor Party
26,092
26,133
26,270
26,694
26,871
27,325
29,195
43,465
Christine TERRANTROYThe Greens (WA)
12,780
12,915
13,118
13,557
14,428
15,099
18,350
–
Shane MEZGERPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,020
5,160
5,372
5,665
6,792
10,106
–
–
Tracy Nyree AITKENThe Great Australian Party
2,907
3,354
3,473
4,091
4,783
–
–
–
Helen ALLANUnited Australia Party
2,426
2,555
2,891
3,172
–
–
–
–
Greg STEPHENSWESTERN AUSTRALIA PARTY
2,130
2,261
2,449
–
–
–
–
–
Paul MARKHAMLiberal Democrats
1,577
1,652
–
–
–
–
–
–
Mailee DUNNAustralian Federation Party
1,152
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Nola MARINO (Liberal) won Forrest in 2019 with 58,405 of the 90,462 votes in the final count, beating Wayne SANFORD (Australian Labor Party) by 26,348 votes (64.6% to 35.4%). Marino won on first preferences, with 52.5% of 90,462 formal votes (more than half: 45,232 needed).
90,462 formal votes8 candidates6 counts26,348-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 90,462 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, Ian Bruce MOLYNEUX (WESTERN AUSTRALIA PARTY) was excluded; their 1,167 votes were distributed: 221 (18.9%) to Nola MARINO; 209 (17.9%) to Wayne SANFORD; 197 (16.9%) to Alexander MARSDEN; 168 (14.4%) to Nerilee BOSHAMMER and 3 more.
On count 2, Alexander MARSDEN (Independent) was excluded; their 1,435 votes were distributed: 286 (19.9%) to Nerilee BOSHAMMER; 284 (19.8%) to Nola MARINO; 270 (18.8%) to Mark McCALL; 258 (18.0%) to Wayne SANFORD and 2 more.
On count 3, Dale Geoffrey BROMLEY (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 1,852 votes were distributed: 557 (30.1%) to Kalven Wayne JAMIESON; 512 (27.6%) to Nola MARINO; 297 (16.0%) to Mark McCALL; 255 (13.8%) to Wayne SANFORD and 1 more.
On count 4, Mark McCALL (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers) was excluded; their 3,580 votes were distributed: 1,356 (37.9%) to Kalven Wayne JAMIESON; 964 (26.9%) to Nola MARINO; 785 (21.9%) to Nerilee BOSHAMMER; 475 (13.3%) to Wayne SANFORD.
On count 5, Kalven Wayne JAMIESON (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 7,573 votes were distributed: 3,661 (48.3%) to Nola MARINO; 2,038 (26.9%) to Nerilee BOSHAMMER; 1,874 (24.7%) to Wayne SANFORD.
On count 6, Nerilee BOSHAMMER (The Greens (WA)) was excluded; their 15,153 votes were distributed: 9,860 (65.1%) to Wayne SANFORD; 5,293 (34.9%) to Nola MARINO.
Finally, Nola MARINO (Liberal) won with 58,405 votes to 32,057 for Wayne SANFORD (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Forrest 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Ian Bruce MOLYNEUXWESTERN AUSTRALIA PARTY
1,167
Nola MARINO (LP): 221 (18.9%)
Wayne SANFORD (ALP): 209 (17.9%)
Alexander MARSDEN (IND): 197 (16.9%)
Nerilee BOSHAMMER (GRN): 168 (14.4%)
Mark McCALL (ASP): 132 (11.3%)
Dale Geoffrey BROMLEY (UAPP): 130 (11.1%)
Kalven Wayne JAMIESON (ON): 110 (9.4%)
2
Alexander MARSDENIndependent
1,435
Nerilee BOSHAMMER (GRN): 286 (19.9%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 284 (19.8%)
Mark McCALL (ASP): 270 (18.8%)
Wayne SANFORD (ALP): 258 (18.0%)
Kalven Wayne JAMIESON (ON): 179 (12.5%)
Dale Geoffrey BROMLEY (UAPP): 158 (11.0%)
3
Dale Geoffrey BROMLEYUnited Australia Party
1,852
Kalven Wayne JAMIESON (ON): 557 (30.1%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 512 (27.6%)
Mark McCALL (ASP): 297 (16.0%)
Wayne SANFORD (ALP): 255 (13.8%)
Nerilee BOSHAMMER (GRN): 231 (12.5%)
4
Mark McCALLShooters, Fishers and Farmers
3,580
Kalven Wayne JAMIESON (ON): 1,356 (37.9%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 964 (26.9%)
Nerilee BOSHAMMER (GRN): 785 (21.9%)
Wayne SANFORD (ALP): 475 (13.3%)
5
Kalven Wayne JAMIESONPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,573
Nola MARINO (LP): 3,661 (48.3%)
Nerilee BOSHAMMER (GRN): 2,038 (26.9%)
Wayne SANFORD (ALP): 1,874 (24.7%)
6
Nerilee BOSHAMMERThe Greens (WA)
15,153
Wayne SANFORD (ALP): 9,860 (65.1%)
Nola MARINO (LP): 5,293 (34.9%)
Votes after every count
Forrest 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
Nola MARINOLiberal · elected
47,470
47,691
47,975
48,487
49,451
53,112
58,405
Wayne SANFORDAustralian Labor Party
19,126
19,335
19,593
19,848
20,323
22,197
32,057
Nerilee BOSHAMMERThe Greens (WA)
11,645
11,813
12,099
12,330
13,115
15,153
–
Kalven Wayne JAMIESONPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,371
5,481
5,660
6,217
7,573
–
–
Mark McCALLShooters, Fishers and Farmers
2,881
3,013
3,283
3,580
–
–
–
Dale Geoffrey BROMLEYUnited Australia Party
1,564
1,694
1,852
–
–
–
–
Alexander MARSDENIndependent
1,238
1,435
–
–
–
–
–
Ian Bruce MOLYNEUXWESTERN AUSTRALIA PARTY
1,167
–
–
–
–
–
–
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.
