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.
Darren CHESTER (The Nationals) won Gippsland in 2025 with 72,656 of the 104,758 votes in the final count, beating Sonny STEPHENS (Australian Labor Party) by 40,554 votes (69.4% to 30.6%). Chester won on first preferences, with 52.5% of 104,758 formal votes (more than half: 52,380 needed).
104,758 formal votes5 candidates3 counts40,554-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 104,758 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, Simon WILSON (Libertarian) was excluded; their 3,416 votes were distributed: 1,421 (41.6%) to Gregory HANSFORD; 1,339 (39.2%) to Darren CHESTER; 341 (10.0%) to Sonny STEPHENS; 315 (9.2%) to Rochelle HINE.
On count 2, Rochelle HINE (The Greens) was excluded; their 9,212 votes were distributed: 6,844 (74.3%) to Sonny STEPHENS; 1,710 (18.6%) to Darren CHESTER; 658 (7.1%) to Gregory HANSFORD.
On count 3, Gregory HANSFORD (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 17,197 votes were distributed: 14,571 (84.7%) to Darren CHESTER; 2,626 (15.3%) to Sonny STEPHENS.
Finally, Darren CHESTER (The Nationals) won with 72,656 votes to 32,102 for Sonny STEPHENS (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Gippsland 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Simon WILSONLibertarian
3,416
Gregory HANSFORD (ON): 1,421 (41.6%)
Darren CHESTER (NP): 1,339 (39.2%)
Sonny STEPHENS (ALP): 341 (10.0%)
Rochelle HINE (GVIC): 315 (9.2%)
2
Rochelle HINEThe Greens
9,212
Sonny STEPHENS (ALP): 6,844 (74.3%)
Darren CHESTER (NP): 1,710 (18.6%)
Gregory HANSFORD (ON): 658 (7.1%)
3
Gregory HANSFORDPauline Hanson's One Nation
17,197
Darren CHESTER (NP): 14,571 (84.7%)
Sonny STEPHENS (ALP): 2,626 (15.3%)
Votes after every count
Gippsland 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Darren CHESTERThe Nationals · elected
55,036
56,375
58,085
72,656
Sonny STEPHENSAustralian Labor Party
22,291
22,632
29,476
32,102
Gregory HANSFORDPauline Hanson's One Nation
15,118
16,539
17,197
–
Rochelle HINEThe Greens
8,897
9,212
–
–
Simon WILSONLibertarian
3,416
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Darren CHESTER (The Nationals) won Gippsland in 2022 with 71,205 of the 100,906 votes in the final count, beating Jannette LANGLEY (Australian Labor Party) by 41,504 votes (70.6% to 29.4%). Chester won on first preferences, with 54.1% of 100,906 formal votes (more than half: 50,454 needed).
100,906 formal votes6 candidates4 counts41,504-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 100,906 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, Jim McDONALD (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 4,286 votes were distributed: 1,667 (38.9%) to Darren CHESTER; 1,098 (25.6%) to Greg HANSFORD; 595 (13.9%) to Jannette LANGLEY; 590 (13.8%) to Gregory Emil FORSTER and 1 more.
On count 2, Gregory Emil FORSTER (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 5,183 votes were distributed: 3,355 (64.7%) to Greg HANSFORD; 1,141 (22.0%) to Darren CHESTER; 403 (7.8%) to Jannette LANGLEY; 284 (5.5%) to Marjorie THORPE.
On count 3, Marjorie THORPE (The Greens) was excluded; their 9,165 votes were distributed: 6,709 (73.2%) to Jannette LANGLEY; 1,856 (20.3%) to Darren CHESTER; 600 (6.5%) to Greg HANSFORD.
On count 4, Greg HANSFORD (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 14,496 votes were distributed: 11,906 (82.1%) to Darren CHESTER; 2,590 (17.9%) to Jannette LANGLEY.
Finally, Darren CHESTER (The Nationals) won with 71,205 votes to 29,701 for Jannette LANGLEY (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Gippsland 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Jim McDONALDLiberal Democrats
4,286
Darren CHESTER (NP): 1,667 (38.9%)
Greg HANSFORD (ON): 1,098 (25.6%)
Jannette LANGLEY (ALP): 595 (13.9%)
Gregory Emil FORSTER (UAPP): 590 (13.8%)
Marjorie THORPE (GVIC): 336 (7.8%)
2
Gregory Emil FORSTERUnited Australia Party
5,183
Greg HANSFORD (ON): 3,355 (64.7%)
Darren CHESTER (NP): 1,141 (22.0%)
Jannette LANGLEY (ALP): 403 (7.8%)
Marjorie THORPE (GVIC): 284 (5.5%)
3
Marjorie THORPEThe Greens
9,165
Jannette LANGLEY (ALP): 6,709 (73.2%)
Darren CHESTER (NP): 1,856 (20.3%)
Greg HANSFORD (ON): 600 (6.5%)
4
Greg HANSFORDPauline Hanson's One Nation
14,496
Darren CHESTER (NP): 11,906 (82.1%)
Jannette LANGLEY (ALP): 2,590 (17.9%)
Votes after every count
Gippsland 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Darren CHESTERThe Nationals · elected
54,635
56,302
57,443
59,299
71,205
Jannette LANGLEYAustralian Labor Party
19,404
19,999
20,402
27,111
29,701
Greg HANSFORDPauline Hanson's One Nation
9,443
10,541
13,896
14,496
–
Marjorie THORPEThe Greens
8,545
8,881
9,165
–
–
Gregory Emil FORSTERUnited Australia Party
4,593
5,183
–
–
–
Jim McDONALDLiberal Democrats
4,286
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Darren CHESTER (The Nationals) won Gippsland in 2019 with 64,456 of the 96,678 votes in the final count, beating Antoinette HOLM (Australian Labor Party) by 32,234 votes (66.7% to 33.3%). Chester won on first preferences, with 54.0% of 96,678 formal votes (more than half: 48,340 needed).
96,678 formal votes7 candidates5 counts32,234-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 96,678 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, Neville Phillip TICKNER (FRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY) was excluded; their 2,043 votes were distributed: 912 (44.6%) to David SNELLING; 527 (25.8%) to Kerri Jane BREWER; 342 (16.7%) to Darren CHESTER; 163 (8.0%) to Sonia BUCKLEY and 2 more.
On count 2, Sonia BUCKLEY (Independent) was excluded; their 3,206 votes were distributed: 1,028 (32.1%) to Darren CHESTER; 767 (23.9%) to David SNELLING; 522 (16.3%) to Antoinette HOLM; 462 (14.4%) to Deb FOSKEY and 1 more.
On count 3, Kerri Jane BREWER (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 5,211 votes were distributed: 2,157 (41.4%) to Darren CHESTER; 2,031 (39.0%) to David SNELLING; 721 (13.8%) to Antoinette HOLM; 302 (5.8%) to Deb FOSKEY.
On count 4, Deb FOSKEY (The Greens (VIC)) was excluded; their 6,624 votes were distributed: 4,415 (66.7%) to Antoinette HOLM; 1,502 (22.7%) to Darren CHESTER; 707 (10.7%) to David SNELLING.
On count 5, David SNELLING (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers) was excluded; their 11,289 votes were distributed: 7,225 (64.0%) to Darren CHESTER; 4,064 (36.0%) to Antoinette HOLM.
Finally, Darren CHESTER (The Nationals) won with 64,456 votes to 32,222 for Antoinette HOLM (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Gippsland 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Neville Phillip TICKNERFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
2,043
David SNELLING (ASP): 912 (44.6%)
Kerri Jane BREWER (UAPP): 527 (25.8%)
Darren CHESTER (NP): 342 (16.7%)
Sonia BUCKLEY (IND): 163 (8.0%)
Antoinette HOLM (ALP): 74 (3.6%)
Deb FOSKEY (GVIC): 25 (1.2%)
2
Sonia BUCKLEYIndependent
3,206
Darren CHESTER (NP): 1,028 (32.1%)
David SNELLING (ASP): 767 (23.9%)
Antoinette HOLM (ALP): 522 (16.3%)
Deb FOSKEY (GVIC): 462 (14.4%)
Kerri Jane BREWER (UAPP): 427 (13.3%)
3
Kerri Jane BREWERUnited Australia Party
5,211
Darren CHESTER (NP): 2,157 (41.4%)
David SNELLING (ASP): 2,031 (39.0%)
Antoinette HOLM (ALP): 721 (13.8%)
Deb FOSKEY (GVIC): 302 (5.8%)
4
Deb FOSKEYThe Greens (VIC)
6,624
Antoinette HOLM (ALP): 4,415 (66.7%)
Darren CHESTER (NP): 1,502 (22.7%)
David SNELLING (ASP): 707 (10.7%)
5
David SNELLINGShooters, Fishers and Farmers
11,289
Darren CHESTER (NP): 7,225 (64.0%)
Antoinette HOLM (ALP): 4,064 (36.0%)
Votes after every count
Gippsland 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Darren CHESTERThe Nationals · elected
52,202
52,544
53,572
55,729
57,231
64,456
Antoinette HOLMAustralian Labor Party
22,426
22,500
23,022
23,743
28,158
32,222
David SNELLINGShooters, Fishers and Farmers
6,872
7,784
8,551
10,582
11,289
–
Deb FOSKEYThe Greens (VIC)
5,835
5,860
6,322
6,624
–
–
Kerri Jane BREWERUnited Australia Party
4,257
4,784
5,211
–
–
–
Sonia BUCKLEYIndependent
3,043
3,206
–
–
–
–
Neville Phillip TICKNERFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
2,043
–
–
–
–
–
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.
