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.
Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals) won Lyne in 2025 with 65,369 of the 109,350 votes in the final count, beating Digby WILSON (Labor) by 21,388 votes (59.8% to 40.2%). Penfold led on first preferences with 36.2% of 109,350 formal votes and passed the 54,676-vote majority at count 8.
109,350 formal votes10 candidates8 counts21,388-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 109,350 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, Stephen John BURKE (Citizens Party) was excluded; their 448 votes were distributed: 107 (23.9%) to Mark Alexander HORNSHAW; 68 (15.2%) to Jeremy MILLER; 64 (14.3%) to Keys MANLEY; 52 (11.6%) to Alison PENFOLD and 5 more.
On count 2, David MASTERS (Family First) was excluded; their 1,704 votes were distributed: 351 (20.6%) to Colin HUGHES; 316 (18.5%) to Mark Alexander HORNSHAW; 273 (16.0%) to Keys MANLEY; 256 (15.0%) to Alison PENFOLD and 4 more.
On count 3, Cathy CHARSLEY (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 2,830 votes were distributed: 1,340 (47.3%) to Colin HUGHES; 399 (14.1%) to Alison PENFOLD; 291 (10.3%) to Jeremy MILLER; 289 (10.2%) to Keys MANLEY and 3 more.
On count 4, Mark Alexander HORNSHAW (Libertarian) was excluded; their 4,780 votes were distributed: 1,946 (40.7%) to Colin HUGHES; 1,286 (26.9%) to Alison PENFOLD; 624 (13.1%) to Keys MANLEY; 564 (11.8%) to Jeremy MILLER and 2 more.
On count 5, Keys MANLEY (Legalise Cannabis Party) was excluded; their 7,245 votes were distributed: 2,062 (28.5%) to Jeremy MILLER; 1,595 (22.0%) to Tom FERRIER; 1,557 (21.5%) to Colin HUGHES; 1,069 (14.8%) to Digby WILSON and 1 more.
On count 6, Tom FERRIER (The Greens) was excluded; their 8,965 votes were distributed: 4,712 (52.6%) to Digby WILSON; 2,883 (32.2%) to Jeremy MILLER; 704 (7.9%) to Alison PENFOLD; 666 (7.4%) to Colin HUGHES.
On count 7, Colin HUGHES (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 15,078 votes were distributed: 8,001 (53.1%) to Alison PENFOLD; 5,352 (35.5%) to Jeremy MILLER; 1,725 (11.4%) to Digby WILSON.
On count 8, Jeremy MILLER (Independent) was excluded; their 28,390 votes were distributed: 14,310 (50.4%) to Digby WILSON; 14,080 (49.6%) to Alison PENFOLD.
Finally, Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals) won with 65,369 votes to 43,981 for Digby WILSON (Labor).
Where the preferences went
Lyne 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Stephen John BURKECitizens Party
448
Mark Alexander HORNSHAW (LTP): 107 (23.9%)
Jeremy MILLER (IND): 68 (15.2%)
Keys MANLEY (HMP): 64 (14.3%)
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 52 (11.6%)
Colin HUGHES (ON): 44 (9.8%)
David MASTERS (FFPA): 42 (9.4%)
Cathy CHARSLEY (CYA): 28 (6.2%)
Digby WILSON (ALP): 22 (4.9%)
Tom FERRIER (GRN): 21 (4.7%)
2
David MASTERSFamily First
1,704
Colin HUGHES (ON): 351 (20.6%)
Mark Alexander HORNSHAW (LTP): 316 (18.5%)
Keys MANLEY (HMP): 273 (16.0%)
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 256 (15.0%)
Jeremy MILLER (IND): 227 (13.3%)
Cathy CHARSLEY (CYA): 112 (6.6%)
Digby WILSON (ALP): 96 (5.6%)
Tom FERRIER (GRN): 73 (4.3%)
3
Cathy CHARSLEYTrumpet of Patriots
2,830
Colin HUGHES (ON): 1,340 (47.3%)
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 399 (14.1%)
Jeremy MILLER (IND): 291 (10.3%)
Keys MANLEY (HMP): 289 (10.2%)
Digby WILSON (ALP): 196 (6.9%)
Mark Alexander HORNSHAW (LTP): 192 (6.8%)
Tom FERRIER (GRN): 123 (4.3%)
4
Mark Alexander HORNSHAWLibertarian
4,780
Colin HUGHES (ON): 1,946 (40.7%)
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 1,286 (26.9%)
Keys MANLEY (HMP): 624 (13.1%)
Jeremy MILLER (IND): 564 (11.8%)
Digby WILSON (ALP): 184 (3.8%)
Tom FERRIER (GRN): 176 (3.7%)
5
Keys MANLEYLegalise Cannabis Party
7,245
Jeremy MILLER (IND): 2,062 (28.5%)
Tom FERRIER (GRN): 1,595 (22.0%)
Colin HUGHES (ON): 1,557 (21.5%)
Digby WILSON (ALP): 1,069 (14.8%)
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 962 (13.3%)
6
Tom FERRIERThe Greens
8,965
Digby WILSON (ALP): 4,712 (52.6%)
Jeremy MILLER (IND): 2,883 (32.2%)
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 704 (7.9%)
Colin HUGHES (ON): 666 (7.4%)
7
Colin HUGHESPauline Hanson's One Nation
15,078
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 8,001 (53.1%)
Jeremy MILLER (IND): 5,352 (35.5%)
Digby WILSON (ALP): 1,725 (11.4%)
8
Jeremy MILLERIndependent
28,390
Digby WILSON (ALP): 14,310 (50.4%)
Alison PENFOLD (NP): 14,080 (49.6%)
Votes after every count
Lyne 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
Count 8
Alison PENFOLDThe Nationals · elected
39,629
39,681
39,937
40,336
41,622
42,584
43,288
51,289
65,369
Digby WILSONLabor
21,667
21,689
21,785
21,981
22,165
23,234
27,946
29,671
43,981
Jeremy MILLERIndependent
16,943
17,011
17,238
17,529
18,093
20,155
23,038
28,390
–
Colin HUGHESPauline Hanson's One Nation
9,174
9,218
9,569
10,909
12,855
14,412
15,078
–
–
Tom FERRIERThe Greens
6,977
6,998
7,071
7,194
7,370
8,965
–
–
–
Keys MANLEYLegalise Cannabis Party
5,995
6,059
6,332
6,621
7,245
–
–
–
–
Mark Alexander HORNSHAWLibertarian
4,165
4,272
4,588
4,780
–
–
–
–
–
Cathy CHARSLEYTrumpet of Patriots
2,690
2,718
2,830
–
–
–
–
–
–
David MASTERSFamily First
1,662
1,704
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Stephen John BURKECitizens Party
448
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
David GILLESPIE (The Nationals) won Lyne in 2022 with 68,421 of the 107,248 votes in the final count, beating Alex SIMPSON (Labor) by 29,594 votes (63.8% to 36.2%). Gillespie led on first preferences with 43.5% of 107,248 formal votes and passed the 53,625-vote majority at count 4.
107,248 formal votes8 candidates6 counts29,594-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 107,248 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, Joanne PEARCE (Independent) was excluded; their 3,820 votes were distributed: 1,590 (41.6%) to Steve ATTKINS; 678 (17.7%) to Joel PUTLAND; 494 (12.9%) to David GILLESPIE; 431 (11.3%) to Alex SIMPSON and 3 more.
On count 2, Joel PUTLAND (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 5,099 votes were distributed: 1,609 (31.6%) to Josephine CASHMAN; 1,263 (24.8%) to David GILLESPIE; 1,015 (19.9%) to Mark HORNSHAW; 596 (11.7%) to Steve ATTKINS and 2 more.
On count 3, Steve ATTKINS (Independent) was excluded; their 7,760 votes were distributed: 1,929 (24.9%) to David GILLESPIE; 1,649 (21.2%) to Alex SIMPSON; 1,633 (21.0%) to Josephine CASHMAN; 1,470 (18.9%) to Karl ATTENBOROUGH and 1 more.
On count 4, Mark HORNSHAW (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 9,025 votes were distributed: 3,705 (41.1%) to Josephine CASHMAN; 3,690 (40.9%) to David GILLESPIE; 920 (10.2%) to Alex SIMPSON; 710 (7.9%) to Karl ATTENBOROUGH.
On count 5, Karl ATTENBOROUGH (The Greens) was excluded; their 11,149 votes were distributed: 7,417 (66.5%) to Alex SIMPSON; 2,195 (19.7%) to David GILLESPIE; 1,537 (13.8%) to Josephine CASHMAN.
On count 6, Josephine CASHMAN (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 17,182 votes were distributed: 12,189 (70.9%) to David GILLESPIE; 4,993 (29.1%) to Alex SIMPSON.
Finally, David GILLESPIE (The Nationals) won with 68,421 votes to 38,827 for Alex SIMPSON (Labor).
Where the preferences went
Lyne 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Joanne PEARCEIndependent
3,820
Steve ATTKINS (IND): 1,590 (41.6%)
Joel PUTLAND (UAPP): 678 (17.7%)
David GILLESPIE (NP): 494 (12.9%)
Alex SIMPSON (ALP): 431 (11.3%)
Karl ATTENBOROUGH (GRN): 324 (8.5%)
Josephine CASHMAN (ON): 196 (5.1%)
Mark HORNSHAW (LDP): 107 (2.8%)
2
Joel PUTLANDUnited Australia Party
5,099
Josephine CASHMAN (ON): 1,609 (31.6%)
David GILLESPIE (NP): 1,263 (24.8%)
Mark HORNSHAW (LDP): 1,015 (19.9%)
Steve ATTKINS (IND): 596 (11.7%)
Alex SIMPSON (ALP): 393 (7.7%)
Karl ATTENBOROUGH (GRN): 223 (4.4%)
3
Steve ATTKINSIndependent
7,760
David GILLESPIE (NP): 1,929 (24.9%)
Alex SIMPSON (ALP): 1,649 (21.2%)
Josephine CASHMAN (ON): 1,633 (21.0%)
Karl ATTENBOROUGH (GRN): 1,470 (18.9%)
Mark HORNSHAW (LDP): 1,079 (13.9%)
4
Mark HORNSHAWLiberal Democrats
9,025
Josephine CASHMAN (ON): 3,705 (41.1%)
David GILLESPIE (NP): 3,690 (40.9%)
Alex SIMPSON (ALP): 920 (10.2%)
Karl ATTENBOROUGH (GRN): 710 (7.9%)
5
Karl ATTENBOROUGHThe Greens
11,149
Alex SIMPSON (ALP): 7,417 (66.5%)
David GILLESPIE (NP): 2,195 (19.7%)
Josephine CASHMAN (ON): 1,537 (13.8%)
6
Josephine CASHMANPauline Hanson's One Nation
17,182
David GILLESPIE (NP): 12,189 (70.9%)
Alex SIMPSON (ALP): 4,993 (29.1%)
Votes after every count
Lyne 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
David GILLESPIEThe Nationals · elected
46,661
47,155
48,418
50,347
54,037
56,232
68,421
Alex SIMPSONLabor
23,024
23,455
23,848
25,497
26,417
33,834
38,827
Josephine CASHMANPauline Hanson's One Nation
8,502
8,698
10,307
11,940
15,645
17,182
–
Karl ATTENBOROUGHThe Greens
8,422
8,746
8,969
10,439
11,149
–
–
Mark HORNSHAWLiberal Democrats
6,824
6,931
7,946
9,025
–
–
–
Steve ATTKINSIndependent
5,574
7,164
7,760
–
–
–
–
Joel PUTLANDUnited Australia Party
4,421
5,099
–
–
–
–
–
Joanne PEARCEIndependent
3,820
–
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
David GILLESPIE (The Nationals) won Lyne in 2019 with 65,942 of the 101,180 votes in the final count, beating Phil COSTA (Labor) by 30,704 votes (65.2% to 34.8%). Gillespie led on first preferences with 49.4% of 101,180 formal votes and passed the 50,591-vote majority at count 2.
101,180 formal votes9 candidates7 counts30,704-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 101,180 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, Catherine ZHAO (Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)) was excluded; their 1,493 votes were distributed: 634 (42.5%) to David GILLESPIE; 217 (14.5%) to Jeremy John MILLER; 211 (14.1%) to Dean McCRAE; 122 (8.2%) to Garry BOURKE and 4 more.
On count 2, Ed CARUANA (Australian Workers Party) was excluded; their 1,738 votes were distributed: 520 (29.9%) to Jeremy John MILLER; 269 (15.5%) to Phil COSTA; 247 (14.2%) to David GILLESPIE; 231 (13.3%) to Garry BOURKE and 3 more.
On count 3, Ryan Frederick GOLDSPRING (FRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY) was excluded; their 2,199 votes were distributed: 788 (35.8%) to Garry BOURKE; 581 (26.4%) to David GILLESPIE; 343 (15.6%) to Jeremy John MILLER; 268 (12.2%) to Dean McCRAE and 2 more.
On count 4, Garry BOURKE (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 5,239 votes were distributed: 2,060 (39.3%) to David GILLESPIE; 1,375 (26.2%) to Jeremy John MILLER; 816 (15.6%) to Dean McCRAE; 658 (12.6%) to Phil COSTA and 1 more.
On count 5, Stuart WATSON (The Greens) was excluded; their 7,255 votes were distributed: 3,172 (43.7%) to Phil COSTA; 2,868 (39.5%) to Jeremy John MILLER; 867 (12.0%) to David GILLESPIE; 348 (4.8%) to Dean McCRAE.
On count 6, Dean McCRAE (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 7,668 votes were distributed: 4,294 (56.0%) to David GILLESPIE; 2,406 (31.4%) to Jeremy John MILLER; 968 (12.6%) to Phil COSTA.
On count 7, Jeremy John MILLER (Independent) was excluded; their 12,898 votes were distributed: 7,325 (56.8%) to David GILLESPIE; 5,573 (43.2%) to Phil COSTA.
Finally, David GILLESPIE (The Nationals) won with 65,942 votes to 35,238 for Phil COSTA (Labor).
Where the preferences went
Lyne 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Catherine ZHAOChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
1,493
David GILLESPIE (NP): 634 (42.5%)
Jeremy John MILLER (IND): 217 (14.5%)
Dean McCRAE (LDP): 211 (14.1%)
Garry BOURKE (UAPP): 122 (8.2%)
Ryan Frederick GOLDSPRING (FACN): 90 (6.0%)
Stuart WATSON (GRN): 82 (5.5%)
Phil COSTA (ALP): 75 (5.0%)
Ed CARUANA (AWP): 62 (4.2%)
2
Ed CARUANAAustralian Workers Party
1,738
Jeremy John MILLER (IND): 520 (29.9%)
Phil COSTA (ALP): 269 (15.5%)
David GILLESPIE (NP): 247 (14.2%)
Garry BOURKE (UAPP): 231 (13.3%)
Stuart WATSON (GRN): 187 (10.8%)
Dean McCRAE (LDP): 161 (9.3%)
Ryan Frederick GOLDSPRING (FACN): 123 (7.1%)
3
Ryan Frederick GOLDSPRINGFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
2,199
Garry BOURKE (UAPP): 788 (35.8%)
David GILLESPIE (NP): 581 (26.4%)
Jeremy John MILLER (IND): 343 (15.6%)
Dean McCRAE (LDP): 268 (12.2%)
Phil COSTA (ALP): 152 (6.9%)
Stuart WATSON (GRN): 67 (3.0%)
4
Garry BOURKEUnited Australia Party
5,239
David GILLESPIE (NP): 2,060 (39.3%)
Jeremy John MILLER (IND): 1,375 (26.2%)
Dean McCRAE (LDP): 816 (15.6%)
Phil COSTA (ALP): 658 (12.6%)
Stuart WATSON (GRN): 330 (6.3%)
5
Stuart WATSONThe Greens
7,255
Phil COSTA (ALP): 3,172 (43.7%)
Jeremy John MILLER (IND): 2,868 (39.5%)
David GILLESPIE (NP): 867 (12.0%)
Dean McCRAE (LDP): 348 (4.8%)
6
Dean McCRAELiberal Democrats
7,668
David GILLESPIE (NP): 4,294 (56.0%)
Jeremy John MILLER (IND): 2,406 (31.4%)
Phil COSTA (ALP): 968 (12.6%)
7
Jeremy John MILLERIndependent
12,898
David GILLESPIE (NP): 7,325 (56.8%)
Phil COSTA (ALP): 5,573 (43.2%)
Votes after every count
Lyne 2019: 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
David GILLESPIEThe Nationals · elected
49,934
50,568
50,815
51,396
53,456
54,323
58,617
65,942
Phil COSTALabor
24,371
24,446
24,715
24,867
25,525
28,697
29,665
35,238
Stuart WATSONThe Greens
6,589
6,671
6,858
6,925
7,255
–
–
–
Dean McCRAELiberal Democrats
5,864
6,075
6,236
6,504
7,320
7,668
–
–
Jeremy John MILLERIndependent
5,169
5,386
5,906
6,249
7,624
10,492
12,898
–
Garry BOURKEUnited Australia Party
4,098
4,220
4,451
5,239
–
–
–
–
Ryan Frederick GOLDSPRINGFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
1,986
2,076
2,199
–
–
–
–
–
Ed CARUANAAustralian Workers Party
1,676
1,738
–
–
–
–
–
–
Catherine ZHAOChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
1,493
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
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.
