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.
Sam RAE (Australian Labor Party) won Hawke in 2025 with 59,830 of the 103,817 votes in the final count, beating Simmone COTTOM (Liberal) by 15,843 votes (57.6% to 42.4%). Rae led on first preferences with 39.1% of 103,817 formal votes and passed the 51,909-vote majority at count 5.
103,817 formal votes7 candidates5 counts15,843-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 103,817 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, Fiona ADIN-JAMES (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 2,069 votes were distributed: 592 (28.6%) to Devon STARBUCK; 485 (23.4%) to Sarah NEWMAN; 338 (16.3%) to Melanie MILUTINOVIC; 314 (15.2%) to Sam RAE and 2 more.
On count 2, Melanie MILUTINOVIC (Family First) was excluded; their 4,694 votes were distributed: 1,295 (27.6%) to Devon STARBUCK; 1,256 (26.8%) to Matthew KATSELIS; 842 (17.9%) to Simmone COTTOM; 684 (14.6%) to Sarah NEWMAN and 1 more.
On count 3, Devon STARBUCK (Legalise Cannabis Party) was excluded; their 7,064 votes were distributed: 3,083 (43.6%) to Sarah NEWMAN; 1,576 (22.3%) to Matthew KATSELIS; 1,565 (22.2%) to Sam RAE; 840 (11.9%) to Simmone COTTOM.
On count 4, Matthew KATSELIS (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 13,055 votes were distributed: 7,621 (58.4%) to Simmone COTTOM; 2,845 (21.8%) to Sarah NEWMAN; 2,589 (19.8%) to Sam RAE.
On count 5, Sarah NEWMAN (The Greens) was excluded; their 17,275 votes were distributed: 14,126 (81.8%) to Sam RAE; 3,149 (18.2%) to Simmone COTTOM.
Finally, Sam RAE (Australian Labor Party) won with 59,830 votes to 43,987 for Simmone COTTOM (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Hawke 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Fiona ADIN-JAMESAnimal Justice Party
2,069
Devon STARBUCK (HMP): 592 (28.6%)
Sarah NEWMAN (GVIC): 485 (23.4%)
Melanie MILUTINOVIC (FFPA): 338 (16.3%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 314 (15.2%)
Matthew KATSELIS (ON): 188 (9.1%)
Simmone COTTOM (LP): 152 (7.3%)
2
Melanie MILUTINOVICFamily First
4,694
Devon STARBUCK (HMP): 1,295 (27.6%)
Matthew KATSELIS (ON): 1,256 (26.8%)
Simmone COTTOM (LP): 842 (17.9%)
Sarah NEWMAN (GVIC): 684 (14.6%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 617 (13.1%)
3
Devon STARBUCKLegalise Cannabis Party
7,064
Sarah NEWMAN (GVIC): 3,083 (43.6%)
Matthew KATSELIS (ON): 1,576 (22.3%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 1,565 (22.2%)
Simmone COTTOM (LP): 840 (11.9%)
4
Matthew KATSELISPauline Hanson's One Nation
13,055
Simmone COTTOM (LP): 7,621 (58.4%)
Sarah NEWMAN (GVIC): 2,845 (21.8%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 2,589 (19.8%)
5
Sarah NEWMANThe Greens
17,275
Sam RAE (ALP): 14,126 (81.8%)
Simmone COTTOM (LP): 3,149 (18.2%)
Votes after every count
Hawke 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Sam RAEAustralian Labor Party · elected
40,619
40,933
41,550
43,115
45,704
59,830
Simmone COTTOMLiberal
31,383
31,535
32,377
33,217
40,838
43,987
Sarah NEWMANThe Greens
10,178
10,663
11,347
14,430
17,275
–
Matthew KATSELISPauline Hanson's One Nation
10,035
10,223
11,479
13,055
–
–
Devon STARBUCKLegalise Cannabis Party
5,177
5,769
7,064
–
–
–
Melanie MILUTINOVICFamily First
4,356
4,694
–
–
–
–
Fiona ADIN-JAMESAnimal Justice Party
2,069
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Sam RAE (Australian Labor Party) won Hawke in 2022 with 50,241 of the 87,184 votes in the final count, beating Enamul HAQUE (Liberal) by 13,298 votes (57.6% to 42.4%). Rae led on first preferences with 36.7% of 87,184 formal votes and passed the 43,593-vote majority at count 9.
87,184 formal votes11 candidates9 counts13,298-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 87,184 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, Glenn VESSEY (Citizens Party) was excluded; their 434 votes were distributed: 83 (19.1%) to Nick SUDUK; 80 (18.4%) to Jack HYNES; 49 (11.3%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM; 43 (9.9%) to Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON and 6 more.
On count 2, Jack HYNES (Victorian Socialists) was excluded; their 969 votes were distributed: 399 (41.2%) to Lynda WHEELOCK; 127 (13.1%) to Sam RAE; 114 (11.8%) to Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON; 80 (8.3%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM and 5 more.
On count 3, Max MARTUCCI (TNL) was excluded; their 1,515 votes were distributed: 564 (37.2%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM; 297 (19.6%) to Sam RAE; 241 (15.9%) to Lynda WHEELOCK; 135 (8.9%) to Enamul HAQUE and 4 more.
On count 4, Michael Edward LACEY (The Great Australian Party) was excluded; their 1,968 votes were distributed: 750 (38.1%) to Michael WILLIAMS; 287 (14.6%) to Nick SUDUK; 272 (13.8%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM; 225 (11.4%) to Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON and 3 more.
On count 5, Michael WILLIAMS (Australian Federation Party) was excluded; their 2,845 votes were distributed: 1,337 (47.0%) to Sam RAE; 747 (26.3%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM; 242 (8.5%) to Nick SUDUK; 227 (8.0%) to Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON and 2 more.
On count 6, Nick SUDUK (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 5,599 votes were distributed: 2,968 (53.0%) to Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON; 1,058 (18.9%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM; 620 (11.1%) to Enamul HAQUE; 591 (10.6%) to Sam RAE and 1 more.
On count 7, Lynda WHEELOCK (The Greens) was excluded; their 9,040 votes were distributed: 5,818 (64.4%) to Sam RAE; 1,652 (18.3%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM; 804 (8.9%) to Enamul HAQUE; 766 (8.5%) to Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON.
On count 8, Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 10,535 votes were distributed: 5,117 (48.6%) to Jarrod James BINGHAM; 3,646 (34.6%) to Enamul HAQUE; 1,772 (16.8%) to Sam RAE.
On count 9, Jarrod James BINGHAM (Independent) was excluded; their 16,447 votes were distributed: 8,433 (51.3%) to Enamul HAQUE; 8,014 (48.7%) to Sam RAE.
Finally, Sam RAE (Australian Labor Party) won with 50,241 votes to 36,943 for Enamul HAQUE (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Hawke 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Glenn VESSEYCitizens Party
434
Nick SUDUK (ON): 83 (19.1%)
Jack HYNES (VNS): 80 (18.4%)
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 49 (11.3%)
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (UAPP): 43 (9.9%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 43 (9.9%)
Lynda WHEELOCK (GVIC): 35 (8.1%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 28 (6.5%)
Michael Edward LACEY (GAP): 28 (6.5%)
Michael WILLIAMS (CYA): 27 (6.2%)
Max MARTUCCI (TNL): 18 (4.1%)
2
Jack HYNESVictorian Socialists
969
Lynda WHEELOCK (GVIC): 399 (41.2%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 127 (13.1%)
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (UAPP): 114 (11.8%)
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 80 (8.3%)
Nick SUDUK (ON): 72 (7.4%)
Max MARTUCCI (TNL): 65 (6.7%)
Michael WILLIAMS (CYA): 53 (5.5%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 31 (3.2%)
Michael Edward LACEY (GAP): 28 (2.9%)
3
Max MARTUCCITNL
1,515
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 564 (37.2%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 297 (19.6%)
Lynda WHEELOCK (GVIC): 241 (15.9%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 135 (8.9%)
Michael WILLIAMS (CYA): 89 (5.9%)
Michael Edward LACEY (GAP): 85 (5.6%)
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (UAPP): 61 (4.0%)
Nick SUDUK (ON): 43 (2.8%)
4
Michael Edward LACEYThe Great Australian Party
1,968
Michael WILLIAMS (CYA): 750 (38.1%)
Nick SUDUK (ON): 287 (14.6%)
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 272 (13.8%)
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (UAPP): 225 (11.4%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 222 (11.3%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 124 (6.3%)
Lynda WHEELOCK (GVIC): 88 (4.5%)
5
Michael WILLIAMSAustralian Federation Party
2,845
Sam RAE (ALP): 1,337 (47.0%)
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 747 (26.3%)
Nick SUDUK (ON): 242 (8.5%)
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (UAPP): 227 (8.0%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 162 (5.7%)
Lynda WHEELOCK (GVIC): 130 (4.6%)
6
Nick SUDUKPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,599
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (UAPP): 2,968 (53.0%)
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 1,058 (18.9%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 620 (11.1%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 591 (10.6%)
Lynda WHEELOCK (GVIC): 362 (6.5%)
7
Lynda WHEELOCKThe Greens
9,040
Sam RAE (ALP): 5,818 (64.4%)
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 1,652 (18.3%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 804 (8.9%)
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSON (UAPP): 766 (8.5%)
8
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSONUnited Australia Party
10,535
Jarrod James BINGHAM (IND): 5,117 (48.6%)
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 3,646 (34.6%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 1,772 (16.8%)
9
Jarrod James BINGHAMIndependent
16,447
Enamul HAQUE (LP): 8,433 (51.3%)
Sam RAE (ALP): 8,014 (48.7%)
Votes after every count
Hawke 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
Count 8
Count 9
Sam RAEAustralian Labor Party · elected
32,020
32,063
32,190
32,487
32,709
34,046
34,637
40,455
42,227
50,241
Enamul HAQUELiberal
22,960
22,988
23,019
23,154
23,278
23,440
24,060
24,864
28,510
36,943
Lynda WHEELOCKThe Greens
7,785
7,820
8,219
8,460
8,548
8,678
9,040
–
–
–
Jarrod James BINGHAMIndependent
6,908
6,957
7,037
7,601
7,873
8,620
9,678
11,330
16,447
–
Andrew Glenn CUTHBERTSONUnited Australia Party
6,131
6,174
6,288
6,349
6,574
6,801
9,769
10,535
–
–
Nick SUDUKPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,872
4,955
5,027
5,070
5,357
5,599
–
–
–
–
Michael WILLIAMSAustralian Federation Party
1,926
1,953
2,006
2,095
2,845
–
–
–
–
–
Michael Edward LACEYThe Great Australian Party
1,827
1,855
1,883
1,968
–
–
–
–
–
–
Max MARTUCCITNL
1,432
1,450
1,515
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Jack HYNESVictorian Socialists
889
969
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Glenn VESSEYCitizens Party
434
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
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.
