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.
Clare O'NEIL (Australian Labor Party) won Hotham in 2025 with 71,012 of the 106,211 votes in the final count, beating Harmick Singh MATHARU (Liberal) by 35,813 votes (66.9% to 33.1%). O'Neil led on first preferences with 48.8% of 106,211 formal votes and passed the 53,106-vote majority at count 3.
106,211 formal votes6 candidates4 counts35,813-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 106,211 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, Tony VAINORAS (Citizens Party) was excluded; their 2,654 votes were distributed: 1,046 (39.4%) to Martin BARRY; 594 (22.4%) to Mark BROWN; 499 (18.8%) to Stuart FOGARTY; 320 (12.1%) to Clare O'NEIL and 1 more.
On count 2, Mark BROWN (Family First) was excluded; their 4,186 votes were distributed: 1,757 (42.0%) to Stuart FOGARTY; 994 (23.7%) to Harmick Singh MATHARU; 748 (17.9%) to Clare O'NEIL; 687 (16.4%) to Martin BARRY.
On count 3, Stuart FOGARTY (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 7,215 votes were distributed: 4,285 (59.4%) to Harmick Singh MATHARU; 1,765 (24.5%) to Martin BARRY; 1,165 (16.1%) to Clare O'NEIL.
On count 4, Martin BARRY (The Greens) was excluded; their 19,278 votes were distributed: 16,899 (87.7%) to Clare O'NEIL; 2,379 (12.3%) to Harmick Singh MATHARU.
Finally, Clare O'NEIL (Australian Labor Party) won with 71,012 votes to 35,199 for Harmick Singh MATHARU (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Hotham 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Tony VAINORASCitizens Party
2,654
Martin BARRY (GVIC): 1,046 (39.4%)
Mark BROWN (FFPA): 594 (22.4%)
Stuart FOGARTY (ON): 499 (18.8%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 320 (12.1%)
Harmick Singh MATHARU (LP): 195 (7.3%)
2
Mark BROWNFamily First
4,186
Stuart FOGARTY (ON): 1,757 (42.0%)
Harmick Singh MATHARU (LP): 994 (23.7%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 748 (17.9%)
Martin BARRY (GVIC): 687 (16.4%)
3
Stuart FOGARTYPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,215
Harmick Singh MATHARU (LP): 4,285 (59.4%)
Martin BARRY (GVIC): 1,765 (24.5%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 1,165 (16.1%)
4
Martin BARRYThe Greens
19,278
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 16,899 (87.7%)
Harmick Singh MATHARU (LP): 2,379 (12.3%)
Votes after every count
Hotham 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Clare O'NEILAustralian Labor Party · elected
51,880
52,200
52,948
54,113
71,012
Harmick Singh MATHARULiberal
27,346
27,541
28,535
32,820
35,199
Martin BARRYThe Greens
15,780
16,826
17,513
19,278
–
Stuart FOGARTYPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,959
5,458
7,215
–
–
Mark BROWNFamily First
3,592
4,186
–
–
–
Tony VAINORASCitizens Party
2,654
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Clare O'NEIL (Australian Labor Party) won Hotham in 2022 with 64,382 of the 100,202 votes in the final count, beating Savitri BEVINAKOPPA (Liberal) by 28,562 votes (64.3% to 35.7%). O'Neil led on first preferences with 47.0% of 100,202 formal votes and passed the 50,102-vote majority at count 3.
100,202 formal votes6 candidates4 counts28,562-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 100,202 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, Roger TULL (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 2,926 votes were distributed: 1,377 (47.1%) to Bruce Scott RIDGWAY; 728 (24.9%) to Edward SOK; 350 (12.0%) to Savitri BEVINAKOPPA; 248 (8.5%) to Clare O'NEIL and 1 more.
On count 2, Bruce Scott RIDGWAY (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 7,246 votes were distributed: 3,296 (45.5%) to Edward SOK; 1,391 (19.2%) to Louisa WILLOUGHBY; 1,318 (18.2%) to Savitri BEVINAKOPPA; 1,241 (17.1%) to Clare O'NEIL.
On count 3, Edward SOK (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 10,615 votes were distributed: 6,129 (57.7%) to Savitri BEVINAKOPPA; 2,906 (27.4%) to Clare O'NEIL; 1,580 (14.9%) to Louisa WILLOUGHBY.
On count 4, Louisa WILLOUGHBY (The Greens) was excluded; their 15,602 votes were distributed: 12,852 (82.4%) to Clare O'NEIL; 2,750 (17.6%) to Savitri BEVINAKOPPA.
Finally, Clare O'NEIL (Australian Labor Party) won with 64,382 votes to 35,820 for Savitri BEVINAKOPPA (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Hotham 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Roger TULLPauline Hanson's One Nation
2,926
Bruce Scott RIDGWAY (UAPP): 1,377 (47.1%)
Edward SOK (LDP): 728 (24.9%)
Savitri BEVINAKOPPA (LP): 350 (12.0%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 248 (8.5%)
Louisa WILLOUGHBY (GVIC): 223 (7.6%)
2
Bruce Scott RIDGWAYUnited Australia Party
7,246
Edward SOK (LDP): 3,296 (45.5%)
Louisa WILLOUGHBY (GVIC): 1,391 (19.2%)
Savitri BEVINAKOPPA (LP): 1,318 (18.2%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 1,241 (17.1%)
3
Edward SOKLiberal Democrats
10,615
Savitri BEVINAKOPPA (LP): 6,129 (57.7%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 2,906 (27.4%)
Louisa WILLOUGHBY (GVIC): 1,580 (14.9%)
4
Louisa WILLOUGHBYThe Greens
15,602
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 12,852 (82.4%)
Savitri BEVINAKOPPA (LP): 2,750 (17.6%)
Votes after every count
Hotham 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Clare O'NEILAustralian Labor Party · elected
47,135
47,383
48,624
51,530
64,382
Savitri BEVINAKOPPALiberal
25,273
25,623
26,941
33,070
35,820
Louisa WILLOUGHBYThe Greens
12,408
12,631
14,022
15,602
–
Edward SOKLiberal Democrats
6,591
7,319
10,615
–
–
Bruce Scott RIDGWAYUnited Australia Party
5,869
7,246
–
–
–
Roger TULLPauline Hanson's One Nation
2,926
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Clare O'NEIL (Australian Labor Party) won Hotham in 2019 with 53,597 of the 95,868 votes in the final count, beating George HUA (Liberal) by 11,326 votes (55.9% to 44.1%). O'Neil led on first preferences with 45.2% of 95,868 formal votes and passed the 47,935-vote majority at count 4.
95,868 formal votes6 candidates4 counts11,326-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 95,868 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 DORIAN (Rise Up Australia Party) was excluded; their 1,134 votes were distributed: 358 (31.6%) to Dennis BILIC; 288 (25.4%) to Jin LUAN; 280 (24.7%) to George HUA; 117 (10.3%) to Jess GONSALVEZ and 1 more.
On count 2, Dennis BILIC (Sustainable Australia) was excluded; their 2,130 votes were distributed: 855 (40.1%) to Jess GONSALVEZ; 461 (21.6%) to Jin LUAN; 425 (20.0%) to Clare O'NEIL; 389 (18.3%) to George HUA.
On count 3, Jin LUAN (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 4,232 votes were distributed: 2,066 (48.8%) to George HUA; 1,524 (36.0%) to Clare O'NEIL; 642 (15.2%) to Jess GONSALVEZ.
On count 4, Jess GONSALVEZ (The Greens (VIC)) was excluded; their 10,336 votes were distributed: 8,247 (79.8%) to Clare O'NEIL; 2,089 (20.2%) to George HUA.
Finally, Clare O'NEIL (Australian Labor Party) won with 53,597 votes to 42,271 for George HUA (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Hotham 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Peter DORIANRise Up Australia Party
1,134
Dennis BILIC (SPP): 358 (31.6%)
Jin LUAN (UAPP): 288 (25.4%)
George HUA (LP): 280 (24.7%)
Jess GONSALVEZ (GVIC): 117 (10.3%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 91 (8.0%)
2
Dennis BILICSustainable Australia
2,130
Jess GONSALVEZ (GVIC): 855 (40.1%)
Jin LUAN (UAPP): 461 (21.6%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 425 (20.0%)
George HUA (LP): 389 (18.3%)
3
Jin LUANUnited Australia Party
4,232
George HUA (LP): 2,066 (48.8%)
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 1,524 (36.0%)
Jess GONSALVEZ (GVIC): 642 (15.2%)
4
Jess GONSALVEZThe Greens (VIC)
10,336
Clare O'NEIL (ALP): 8,247 (79.8%)
George HUA (LP): 2,089 (20.2%)
Votes after every count
Hotham 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Clare O'NEILAustralian Labor Party · elected
43,310
43,401
43,826
45,350
53,597
George HUALiberal
37,447
37,727
38,116
40,182
42,271
Jess GONSALVEZThe Greens (VIC)
8,722
8,839
9,694
10,336
–
Jin LUANUnited Australia Party
3,483
3,771
4,232
–
–
Dennis BILICSustainable Australia
1,772
2,130
–
–
–
Peter DORIANRise Up Australia Party
1,134
–
–
–
–
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.
