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.
Cassandra FERNANDO (Australian Labor Party) won Holt in 2025 with 63,538 of the 99,233 votes in the final count, beating Annette SAMUEL (Liberal) by 27,843 votes (64.0% to 36.0%). Fernando led on first preferences with 45.0% of 99,233 formal votes and passed the 49,617-vote majority at count 4.
99,233 formal votes6 candidates4 counts27,843-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 99,233 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, Riley AICKIN (Legalise Cannabis Party) was excluded; their 4,745 votes were distributed: 1,217 (25.6%) to Payal TIWARI; 1,197 (25.2%) to Cassandra FERNANDO; 1,006 (21.2%) to Shane FOREMAN; 872 (18.4%) to Trevor HAMMOND and 1 more.
On count 2, Shane FOREMAN (Family First) was excluded; their 6,191 votes were distributed: 2,100 (33.9%) to Trevor HAMMOND; 1,972 (31.9%) to Payal TIWARI; 1,080 (17.4%) to Annette SAMUEL; 1,039 (16.8%) to Cassandra FERNANDO.
On count 3, Trevor HAMMOND (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 11,627 votes were distributed: 6,315 (54.3%) to Annette SAMUEL; 2,998 (25.8%) to Payal TIWARI; 2,314 (19.9%) to Cassandra FERNANDO.
On count 4, Payal TIWARI (The Greens) was excluded; their 17,309 votes were distributed: 14,302 (82.6%) to Cassandra FERNANDO; 3,007 (17.4%) to Annette SAMUEL.
Finally, Cassandra FERNANDO (Australian Labor Party) won with 63,538 votes to 35,695 for Annette SAMUEL (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Holt 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Riley AICKINLegalise Cannabis Party
4,745
Payal TIWARI (GVIC): 1,217 (25.6%)
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 1,197 (25.2%)
Shane FOREMAN (FFPA): 1,006 (21.2%)
Trevor HAMMOND (ON): 872 (18.4%)
Annette SAMUEL (LP): 453 (9.5%)
2
Shane FOREMANFamily First
6,191
Trevor HAMMOND (ON): 2,100 (33.9%)
Payal TIWARI (GVIC): 1,972 (31.9%)
Annette SAMUEL (LP): 1,080 (17.4%)
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 1,039 (16.8%)
3
Trevor HAMMONDPauline Hanson's One Nation
11,627
Annette SAMUEL (LP): 6,315 (54.3%)
Payal TIWARI (GVIC): 2,998 (25.8%)
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 2,314 (19.9%)
4
Payal TIWARIThe Greens
17,309
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 14,302 (82.6%)
Annette SAMUEL (LP): 3,007 (17.4%)
Votes after every count
Holt 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Cassandra FERNANDOAustralian Labor Party · elected
44,686
45,883
46,922
49,236
63,538
Annette SAMUELLiberal
24,840
25,293
26,373
32,688
35,695
Payal TIWARIThe Greens
11,122
12,339
14,311
17,309
–
Trevor HAMMONDPauline Hanson's One Nation
8,655
9,527
11,627
–
–
Shane FOREMANFamily First
5,185
6,191
–
–
–
Riley AICKINLegalise Cannabis Party
4,745
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Cassandra FERNANDO (Australian Labor Party) won Holt in 2022 with 50,777 of the 88,896 votes in the final count, beating Ranj PERERA (Liberal) by 12,658 votes (57.1% to 42.9%). Fernando led on first preferences with 40.9% of 88,896 formal votes and passed the 44,449-vote majority at count 6.
88,896 formal votes8 candidates6 counts12,658-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 88,896 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, Gregory SALDANHA (Australian Federation Party) was excluded; their 730 votes were distributed: 196 (26.8%) to Sandy AMBARD; 114 (15.6%) to Ravi RAGUPATHY; 109 (14.9%) to Gerardine HANSEN; 108 (14.8%) to Matthew NUNEZ-SILVA and 3 more.
On count 2, Matthew NUNEZ-SILVA (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 2,531 votes were distributed: 750 (29.6%) to Ranj PERERA; 618 (24.4%) to Gerardine HANSEN; 517 (20.4%) to Sandy AMBARD; 263 (10.4%) to Cassandra FERNANDO and 2 more.
On count 3, Ravi RAGUPATHY (Independent) was excluded; their 2,935 votes were distributed: 1,076 (36.7%) to Cassandra FERNANDO; 556 (18.9%) to Gerardine HANSEN; 476 (16.2%) to Sujit MATHEW; 418 (14.2%) to Ranj PERERA and 1 more.
On count 4, Sandy AMBARD (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 5,417 votes were distributed: 3,420 (63.1%) to Gerardine HANSEN; 728 (13.4%) to Cassandra FERNANDO; 712 (13.1%) to Ranj PERERA; 557 (10.3%) to Sujit MATHEW.
On count 5, Sujit MATHEW (The Greens) was excluded; their 8,910 votes were distributed: 5,799 (65.1%) to Cassandra FERNANDO; 1,576 (17.7%) to Gerardine HANSEN; 1,535 (17.2%) to Ranj PERERA.
On count 6, Gerardine HANSEN (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 14,871 votes were distributed: 8,371 (56.3%) to Ranj PERERA; 6,500 (43.7%) to Cassandra FERNANDO.
Finally, Cassandra FERNANDO (Australian Labor Party) won with 50,777 votes to 38,119 for Ranj PERERA (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Holt 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Gregory SALDANHAAustralian Federation Party
730
Sandy AMBARD (ON): 196 (26.8%)
Ravi RAGUPATHY (IND): 114 (15.6%)
Gerardine HANSEN (UAPP): 109 (14.9%)
Matthew NUNEZ-SILVA (LDP): 108 (14.8%)
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 85 (11.6%)
Sujit MATHEW (GVIC): 59 (8.1%)
Ranj PERERA (LP): 59 (8.1%)
2
Matthew NUNEZ-SILVALiberal Democrats
2,531
Ranj PERERA (LP): 750 (29.6%)
Gerardine HANSEN (UAPP): 618 (24.4%)
Sandy AMBARD (ON): 517 (20.4%)
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 263 (10.4%)
Sujit MATHEW (GVIC): 235 (9.3%)
Ravi RAGUPATHY (IND): 148 (5.8%)
3
Ravi RAGUPATHYIndependent
2,935
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 1,076 (36.7%)
Gerardine HANSEN (UAPP): 556 (18.9%)
Sujit MATHEW (GVIC): 476 (16.2%)
Ranj PERERA (LP): 418 (14.2%)
Sandy AMBARD (ON): 409 (13.9%)
4
Sandy AMBARDPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,417
Gerardine HANSEN (UAPP): 3,420 (63.1%)
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 728 (13.4%)
Ranj PERERA (LP): 712 (13.1%)
Sujit MATHEW (GVIC): 557 (10.3%)
5
Sujit MATHEWThe Greens
8,910
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 5,799 (65.1%)
Gerardine HANSEN (UAPP): 1,576 (17.7%)
Ranj PERERA (LP): 1,535 (17.2%)
6
Gerardine HANSENUnited Australia Party
14,871
Ranj PERERA (LP): 8,371 (56.3%)
Cassandra FERNANDO (ALP): 6,500 (43.7%)
Votes after every count
Holt 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
Cassandra FERNANDOAustralian Labor Party · elected
36,326
36,411
36,674
37,750
38,478
44,277
50,777
Ranj PERERALiberal
26,274
26,333
27,083
27,501
28,213
29,748
38,119
Gerardine HANSENUnited Australia Party
8,592
8,701
9,319
9,875
13,295
14,871
–
Sujit MATHEWThe Greens
7,583
7,642
7,877
8,353
8,910
–
–
Sandy AMBARDPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,295
4,491
5,008
5,417
–
–
–
Ravi RAGUPATHYIndependent
2,673
2,787
2,935
–
–
–
–
Matthew NUNEZ-SILVALiberal Democrats
2,423
2,531
–
–
–
–
–
Gregory SALDANHAAustralian Federation Party
730
–
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Anthony BYRNE (Australian Labor Party) won Holt in 2019 with 55,577 of the 94,687 votes in the final count, beating Jennifer VAN DEN BROEK (Liberal) by 16,467 votes (58.7% to 41.3%). Byrne won on first preferences, with 50.7% of 94,687 formal votes (more than half: 47,344 needed).
94,687 formal votes4 candidates2 counts16,467-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 94,687 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, Jatinder SINGH (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 5,958 votes were distributed: 2,961 (49.7%) to Jennifer VAN DEN BROEK; 1,642 (27.6%) to Anthony BYRNE; 1,355 (22.7%) to Jess WHEELOCK.
On count 2, Jess WHEELOCK (The Greens (VIC)) was excluded; their 8,090 votes were distributed: 5,904 (73.0%) to Anthony BYRNE; 2,186 (27.0%) to Jennifer VAN DEN BROEK.
Finally, Anthony BYRNE (Australian Labor Party) won with 55,577 votes to 39,110 for Jennifer VAN DEN BROEK (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Holt 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Jatinder SINGHUnited Australia Party
5,958
Jennifer VAN DEN BROEK (LP): 2,961 (49.7%)
Anthony BYRNE (ALP): 1,642 (27.6%)
Jess WHEELOCK (GVIC): 1,355 (22.7%)
2
Jess WHEELOCKThe Greens (VIC)
8,090
Anthony BYRNE (ALP): 5,904 (73.0%)
Jennifer VAN DEN BROEK (LP): 2,186 (27.0%)
Votes after every count
Holt 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Anthony BYRNEAustralian Labor Party · elected
48,031
49,673
55,577
Jennifer VAN DEN BROEKLiberal
33,963
36,924
39,110
Jess WHEELOCKThe Greens (VIC)
6,735
8,090
–
Jatinder SINGHUnited Australia Party
5,958
–
–
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.
