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.
Helen HAINES (Independent) won Indi in 2025 with 62,014 of the 105,761 votes in the final count, beating James TRENERY (Liberal) by 18,267 votes (58.6% to 41.4%). Haines led on first preferences with 42.3% of 105,761 formal votes and passed the 52,881-vote majority at count 6.
105,761 formal votes9 candidates7 counts18,267-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 105,761 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, Mark McFARLANE (Independent) was excluded; their 1,520 votes were distributed: 372 (24.5%) to Athol THOMAS; 356 (23.4%) to Helen HAINES; 258 (17.0%) to Ben HOWMAN; 177 (11.6%) to Michael WHITE and 4 more.
On count 2, Tim QUILTY (Libertarian) was excluded; their 1,824 votes were distributed: 934 (51.2%) to Athol THOMAS; 303 (16.6%) to Michael WHITE; 220 (12.1%) to James TRENERY; 174 (9.5%) to Helen HAINES and 3 more.
On count 3, Michael WHITE (Family First) was excluded; their 2,381 votes were distributed: 810 (34.0%) to Athol THOMAS; 655 (27.5%) to James TRENERY; 357 (15.0%) to Ben HOWMAN; 354 (14.9%) to Helen HAINES and 2 more.
On count 4, Ben HOWMAN (Legalise Cannabis Party) was excluded; their 3,884 votes were distributed: 1,144 (29.5%) to Helen HAINES; 960 (24.7%) to Alysia REGAN; 903 (23.2%) to Athol THOMAS; 452 (11.6%) to Mitch BRIDGES and 1 more.
On count 5, Alysia REGAN (The Greens) was excluded; their 5,010 votes were distributed: 2,805 (56.0%) to Helen HAINES; 1,237 (24.7%) to Mitch BRIDGES; 668 (13.3%) to Athol THOMAS; 300 (6.0%) to James TRENERY.
On count 6, Mitch BRIDGES (Australian Labor Party) was excluded; their 10,706 votes were distributed: 7,819 (73.0%) to Helen HAINES; 1,528 (14.3%) to James TRENERY; 1,359 (12.7%) to Athol THOMAS.
On count 7, Athol THOMAS (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 12,657 votes were distributed: 8,018 (63.3%) to James TRENERY; 4,639 (36.7%) to Helen HAINES.
Finally, Helen HAINES (Independent) won with 62,014 votes to 43,747 for James TRENERY (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Indi 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Mark McFARLANEIndependent
1,520
Athol THOMAS (ON): 372 (24.5%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 356 (23.4%)
Ben HOWMAN (HMP): 258 (17.0%)
Michael WHITE (FFPA): 177 (11.6%)
James TRENERY (LP): 126 (8.3%)
Tim QUILTY (LTP): 119 (7.8%)
Mitch BRIDGES (ALP): 57 (3.8%)
Alysia REGAN (GVIC): 55 (3.6%)
2
Tim QUILTYLibertarian
1,824
Athol THOMAS (ON): 934 (51.2%)
Michael WHITE (FFPA): 303 (16.6%)
James TRENERY (LP): 220 (12.1%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 174 (9.5%)
Ben HOWMAN (HMP): 106 (5.8%)
Alysia REGAN (GVIC): 50 (2.7%)
Mitch BRIDGES (ALP): 37 (2.0%)
3
Michael WHITEFamily First
2,381
Athol THOMAS (ON): 810 (34.0%)
James TRENERY (LP): 655 (27.5%)
Ben HOWMAN (HMP): 357 (15.0%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 354 (14.9%)
Alysia REGAN (GVIC): 106 (4.5%)
Mitch BRIDGES (ALP): 99 (4.2%)
4
Ben HOWMANLegalise Cannabis Party
3,884
Helen HAINES (IND): 1,144 (29.5%)
Alysia REGAN (GVIC): 960 (24.7%)
Athol THOMAS (ON): 903 (23.2%)
Mitch BRIDGES (ALP): 452 (11.6%)
James TRENERY (LP): 425 (10.9%)
5
Alysia REGANThe Greens
5,010
Helen HAINES (IND): 2,805 (56.0%)
Mitch BRIDGES (ALP): 1,237 (24.7%)
Athol THOMAS (ON): 668 (13.3%)
James TRENERY (LP): 300 (6.0%)
6
Mitch BRIDGESAustralian Labor Party
10,706
Helen HAINES (IND): 7,819 (73.0%)
James TRENERY (LP): 1,528 (14.3%)
Athol THOMAS (ON): 1,359 (12.7%)
7
Athol THOMASPauline Hanson's One Nation
12,657
James TRENERY (LP): 8,018 (63.3%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 4,639 (36.7%)
Votes after every count
Indi 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
Count 7
Helen HAINESIndependent · elected
44,723
45,079
45,253
45,607
46,751
49,556
57,375
62,014
James TRENERYLiberal
32,475
32,601
32,821
33,476
33,901
34,201
35,729
43,747
Mitch BRIDGESAustralian Labor Party
8,824
8,881
8,918
9,017
9,469
10,706
–
–
Athol THOMASPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,611
7,983
8,917
9,727
10,630
11,298
12,657
–
Alysia REGANThe Greens
3,839
3,894
3,944
4,050
5,010
–
–
–
Ben HOWMANLegalise Cannabis Party
3,163
3,421
3,527
3,884
–
–
–
–
Michael WHITEFamily First
1,901
2,078
2,381
–
–
–
–
–
Tim QUILTYLibertarian
1,705
1,824
–
–
–
–
–
–
Mark McFARLANEIndependent
1,520
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Helen HAINES (Independent) won Indi in 2022 with 59,861 of the 101,564 votes in the final count, beating Ross LYMAN (Liberal) by 18,158 votes (58.9% to 41.1%). Haines led on first preferences with 40.7% of 101,564 formal votes and passed the 50,783-vote majority at count 7.
101,564 formal votes10 candidates8 counts18,158-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 101,564 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, Lachlan O'CONNELL (Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) was excluded; their 1,074 votes were distributed: 272 (25.3%) to Beth STEVENS; 251 (23.4%) to Helen HAINES; 152 (14.2%) to Angel ALEKSOV; 118 (11.0%) to Stephen WILLIAMS and 5 more.
On count 2, Angel ALEKSOV (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 1,901 votes were distributed: 837 (44.0%) to Helen HAINES; 316 (16.6%) to Benjamin GILBERT; 246 (12.9%) to Beth STEVENS; 183 (9.6%) to Stephen WILLIAMS and 4 more.
On count 3, Julian FIDGE (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 2,363 votes were distributed: 793 (33.6%) to Beth STEVENS; 585 (24.8%) to Ross LYMAN; 470 (19.9%) to Stephen WILLIAMS; 249 (10.5%) to Helen HAINES and 3 more.
On count 4, Stephen WILLIAMS (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 3,329 votes were distributed: 2,143 (64.4%) to Beth STEVENS; 480 (14.4%) to Helen HAINES; 263 (7.9%) to Ross LYMAN; 204 (6.1%) to Liz FISHER and 2 more.
On count 5, Benjamin GILBERT (The Greens) was excluded; their 4,157 votes were distributed: 2,277 (54.8%) to Helen HAINES; 1,135 (27.3%) to Nadia DAVID; 265 (6.4%) to Liz FISHER; 247 (5.9%) to Beth STEVENS and 1 more.
On count 6, Liz FISHER (The Nationals) was excluded; their 4,572 votes were distributed: 3,138 (68.6%) to Ross LYMAN; 647 (14.2%) to Helen HAINES; 450 (9.8%) to Beth STEVENS; 337 (7.4%) to Nadia DAVID.
On count 7, Beth STEVENS (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 9,517 votes were distributed: 4,794 (50.4%) to Helen HAINES; 3,525 (37.0%) to Ross LYMAN; 1,198 (12.6%) to Nadia DAVID.
On count 8, Nadia DAVID (Australian Labor Party) was excluded; their 11,790 votes were distributed: 9,007 (76.4%) to Helen HAINES; 2,783 (23.6%) to Ross LYMAN.
Finally, Helen HAINES (Independent) won with 59,861 votes to 41,703 for Ross LYMAN (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Indi 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Lachlan O'CONNELLDerryn Hinch's Justice Party
1,074
Beth STEVENS (ON): 272 (25.3%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 251 (23.4%)
Angel ALEKSOV (AJP): 152 (14.2%)
Stephen WILLIAMS (UAPP): 118 (11.0%)
Ross LYMAN (LP): 82 (7.6%)
Nadia DAVID (ALP): 65 (6.1%)
Liz FISHER (NP): 58 (5.4%)
Benjamin GILBERT (GVIC): 54 (5.0%)
Julian FIDGE (LDP): 22 (2.0%)
2
Angel ALEKSOVAnimal Justice Party
1,901
Helen HAINES (IND): 837 (44.0%)
Benjamin GILBERT (GVIC): 316 (16.6%)
Beth STEVENS (ON): 246 (12.9%)
Stephen WILLIAMS (UAPP): 183 (9.6%)
Nadia DAVID (ALP): 125 (6.6%)
Ross LYMAN (LP): 99 (5.2%)
Liz FISHER (NP): 54 (2.8%)
Julian FIDGE (LDP): 41 (2.2%)
3
Julian FIDGELiberal Democrats
2,363
Beth STEVENS (ON): 793 (33.6%)
Ross LYMAN (LP): 585 (24.8%)
Stephen WILLIAMS (UAPP): 470 (19.9%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 249 (10.5%)
Liz FISHER (NP): 137 (5.8%)
Nadia DAVID (ALP): 84 (3.6%)
Benjamin GILBERT (GVIC): 45 (1.9%)
4
Stephen WILLIAMSUnited Australia Party
3,329
Beth STEVENS (ON): 2,143 (64.4%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 480 (14.4%)
Ross LYMAN (LP): 263 (7.9%)
Liz FISHER (NP): 204 (6.1%)
Nadia DAVID (ALP): 123 (3.7%)
Benjamin GILBERT (GVIC): 116 (3.5%)
5
Benjamin GILBERTThe Greens
4,157
Helen HAINES (IND): 2,277 (54.8%)
Nadia DAVID (ALP): 1,135 (27.3%)
Liz FISHER (NP): 265 (6.4%)
Beth STEVENS (ON): 247 (5.9%)
Ross LYMAN (LP): 233 (5.6%)
6
Liz FISHERThe Nationals
4,572
Ross LYMAN (LP): 3,138 (68.6%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 647 (14.2%)
Beth STEVENS (ON): 450 (9.8%)
Nadia DAVID (ALP): 337 (7.4%)
7
Beth STEVENSPauline Hanson's One Nation
9,517
Helen HAINES (IND): 4,794 (50.4%)
Ross LYMAN (LP): 3,525 (37.0%)
Nadia DAVID (ALP): 1,198 (12.6%)
8
Nadia DAVIDAustralian Labor Party
11,790
Helen HAINES (IND): 9,007 (76.4%)
Ross LYMAN (LP): 2,783 (23.6%)
Votes after every count
Indi 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
Helen HAINESIndependent · elected
41,319
41,570
42,407
42,656
43,136
45,413
46,060
50,854
59,861
Ross LYMANLiberal
30,995
31,077
31,176
31,761
32,024
32,257
35,395
38,920
41,703
Nadia DAVIDAustralian Labor Party
8,723
8,788
8,913
8,997
9,120
10,255
10,592
11,790
–
Beth STEVENSPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,366
5,638
5,884
6,677
8,820
9,067
9,517
–
–
Liz FISHERThe Nationals
3,854
3,912
3,966
4,103
4,307
4,572
–
–
–
Benjamin GILBERTThe Greens
3,626
3,680
3,996
4,041
4,157
–
–
–
–
Stephen WILLIAMSUnited Australia Party
2,558
2,676
2,859
3,329
–
–
–
–
–
Julian FIDGELiberal Democrats
2,300
2,322
2,363
–
–
–
–
–
–
Angel ALEKSOVAnimal Justice Party
1,749
1,901
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Lachlan O'CONNELLDerryn Hinch's Justice Party
1,074
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Helen HAINES (Independent) won Indi in 2019 with 51,886 of the 100,956 votes in the final count, beating Steve MARTIN (Liberal) by 2,816 votes (51.4% to 48.6%). Haines came from behind: Martin led on first preferences (35.1% to 32.4%) but preferences from excluded candidates put Haines ahead at count 5.
100,956 formal votes7 candidates5 counts2,816-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 100,956 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, Jason Peter WHALLEY (Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) was excluded; their 2,891 votes were distributed: 1,025 (35.5%) to Helen HAINES; 525 (18.2%) to Steve MARTIN; 440 (15.2%) to Shane WHEATLAND; 357 (12.3%) to Eric KERR and 2 more.
On count 2, Shane WHEATLAND (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 4,420 votes were distributed: 1,366 (30.9%) to Helen HAINES; 1,218 (27.6%) to Steve MARTIN; 977 (22.1%) to Mark BYATT; 616 (13.9%) to Eric KERR and 1 more.
On count 3, Helen ROBINSON (The Greens (VIC)) was excluded; their 4,832 votes were distributed: 2,889 (59.8%) to Helen HAINES; 1,212 (25.1%) to Eric KERR; 460 (9.5%) to Steve MARTIN; 271 (5.6%) to Mark BYATT.
On count 4, Mark BYATT (The Nationals) was excluded; their 10,996 votes were distributed: 8,060 (73.3%) to Steve MARTIN; 2,160 (19.6%) to Helen HAINES; 776 (7.1%) to Eric KERR.
On count 5, Eric KERR (Australian Labor Party) was excluded; their 15,163 votes were distributed: 11,782 (77.7%) to Helen HAINES; 3,381 (22.3%) to Steve MARTIN.
Finally, Helen HAINES (Independent) won with 51,886 votes to 49,070 for Steve MARTIN (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Indi 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Jason Peter WHALLEYDerryn Hinch's Justice Party
2,891
Helen HAINES (IND): 1,025 (35.5%)
Steve MARTIN (LP): 525 (18.2%)
Shane WHEATLAND (UAPP): 440 (15.2%)
Eric KERR (ALP): 357 (12.3%)
Helen ROBINSON (GVIC): 334 (11.6%)
Mark BYATT (NP): 210 (7.3%)
2
Shane WHEATLANDUnited Australia Party
4,420
Helen HAINES (IND): 1,366 (30.9%)
Steve MARTIN (LP): 1,218 (27.6%)
Mark BYATT (NP): 977 (22.1%)
Eric KERR (ALP): 616 (13.9%)
Helen ROBINSON (GVIC): 243 (5.5%)
3
Helen ROBINSONThe Greens (VIC)
4,832
Helen HAINES (IND): 2,889 (59.8%)
Eric KERR (ALP): 1,212 (25.1%)
Steve MARTIN (LP): 460 (9.5%)
Mark BYATT (NP): 271 (5.6%)
4
Mark BYATTThe Nationals
10,996
Steve MARTIN (LP): 8,060 (73.3%)
Helen HAINES (IND): 2,160 (19.6%)
Eric KERR (ALP): 776 (7.1%)
5
Eric KERRAustralian Labor Party
15,163
Helen HAINES (IND): 11,782 (77.7%)
Steve MARTIN (LP): 3,381 (22.3%)
Votes after every count
Indi 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Steve MARTINLiberal
35,426
35,951
37,169
37,629
45,689
49,070
Helen HAINESIndependent · elected
32,664
33,689
35,055
37,944
40,104
51,886
Eric KERRAustralian Labor Party
12,202
12,559
13,175
14,387
15,163
–
Mark BYATTThe Nationals
9,538
9,748
10,725
10,996
–
–
Helen ROBINSONThe Greens (VIC)
4,255
4,589
4,832
–
–
–
Shane WHEATLANDUnited Australia Party
3,980
4,420
–
–
–
–
Jason Peter WHALLEYDerryn Hinch's Justice Party
2,891
–
–
–
–
–
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.
