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.
Chris BOWEN (Labor) won McMahon in 2025 with 57,742 of the 97,835 votes in the final count, beating Carmen LAZAR (Liberal) by 17,649 votes (59.0% to 41.0%). Bowen led on first preferences with 45.5% of 97,835 formal votes and passed the 48,918-vote majority at count 2.
97,835 formal votes5 candidates3 counts17,649-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 97,835 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, Melissa JANICSKA (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 8,544 votes were distributed: 3,646 (42.7%) to Carmen LAZAR; 2,976 (34.8%) to Matthew CAMENZULI; 1,271 (14.9%) to Chris BOWEN; 651 (7.6%) to Ben HAMMOND.
On count 2, Ben HAMMOND (The Greens) was excluded; their 9,574 votes were distributed: 5,867 (61.3%) to Chris BOWEN; 2,920 (30.5%) to Matthew CAMENZULI; 787 (8.2%) to Carmen LAZAR.
On count 3, Matthew CAMENZULI (Independent) was excluded; their 15,509 votes were distributed: 9,442 (60.9%) to Carmen LAZAR; 6,067 (39.1%) to Chris BOWEN.
Finally, Chris BOWEN (Labor) won with 57,742 votes to 40,093 for Carmen LAZAR (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
McMahon 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Melissa JANICSKAPauline Hanson's One Nation
8,544
Carmen LAZAR (LP): 3,646 (42.7%)
Matthew CAMENZULI (IND): 2,976 (34.8%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 1,271 (14.9%)
Ben HAMMOND (GRN): 651 (7.6%)
2
Ben HAMMONDThe Greens
9,574
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 5,867 (61.3%)
Matthew CAMENZULI (IND): 2,920 (30.5%)
Carmen LAZAR (LP): 787 (8.2%)
3
Matthew CAMENZULIIndependent
15,509
Carmen LAZAR (LP): 9,442 (60.9%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 6,067 (39.1%)
Votes after every count
McMahon 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Chris BOWENLabor · elected
44,537
45,808
51,675
57,742
Carmen LAZARLiberal
26,218
29,864
30,651
40,093
Matthew CAMENZULIIndependent
9,613
12,589
15,509
–
Ben HAMMONDThe Greens
8,923
9,574
–
–
Melissa JANICSKAPauline Hanson's One Nation
8,544
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Chris BOWEN (Labor) won McMahon in 2022 with 50,413 of the 84,742 votes in the final count, beating Vivek SINGHA (Liberal) by 16,084 votes (59.5% to 40.5%). Bowen led on first preferences with 48.0% of 84,742 formal votes and passed the 42,372-vote majority at count 2.
84,742 formal votes6 candidates4 counts16,084-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 84,742 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, Cameron SHAMSABAD (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 2,822 votes were distributed: 929 (32.9%) to Vivek SINGHA; 722 (25.6%) to Scott FORD; 490 (17.4%) to Marie SALIBA; 367 (13.0%) to Chris BOWEN and 1 more.
On count 2, Astrid O'NEILL (The Greens) was excluded; their 5,236 votes were distributed: 3,478 (66.4%) to Chris BOWEN; 840 (16.0%) to Vivek SINGHA; 559 (10.7%) to Marie SALIBA; 359 (6.9%) to Scott FORD.
On count 3, Scott FORD (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 5,693 votes were distributed: 3,476 (61.1%) to Marie SALIBA; 1,215 (21.3%) to Vivek SINGHA; 1,002 (17.6%) to Chris BOWEN.
On count 4, Marie SALIBA (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 12,248 votes were distributed: 7,339 (59.9%) to Vivek SINGHA; 4,909 (40.1%) to Chris BOWEN.
Finally, Chris BOWEN (Labor) won with 50,413 votes to 34,329 for Vivek SINGHA (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
McMahon 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Cameron SHAMSABADLiberal Democrats
2,822
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 929 (32.9%)
Scott FORD (ON): 722 (25.6%)
Marie SALIBA (UAPP): 490 (17.4%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 367 (13.0%)
Astrid O'NEILL (GRN): 314 (11.1%)
2
Astrid O'NEILLThe Greens
5,236
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 3,478 (66.4%)
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 840 (16.0%)
Marie SALIBA (UAPP): 559 (10.7%)
Scott FORD (ON): 359 (6.9%)
3
Scott FORDPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,693
Marie SALIBA (UAPP): 3,476 (61.1%)
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 1,215 (21.3%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 1,002 (17.6%)
4
Marie SALIBAUnited Australia Party
12,248
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 7,339 (59.9%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 4,909 (40.1%)
Votes after every count
McMahon 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Chris BOWENLabor · elected
40,657
41,024
44,502
45,504
50,413
Vivek SINGHALiberal
24,006
24,935
25,775
26,990
34,329
Marie SALIBAUnited Australia Party
7,723
8,213
8,772
12,248
–
Astrid O'NEILLThe Greens
4,922
5,236
–
–
–
Scott FORDPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,612
5,334
5,693
–
–
Cameron SHAMSABADLiberal Democrats
2,822
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Chris BOWEN (Labor) won McMahon in 2019 with 48,364 of the 85,393 votes in the final count, beating Vivek SINGHA (Liberal) by 11,335 votes (56.6% to 43.4%). Bowen led on first preferences with 46.1% of 85,393 formal votes and passed the 42,697-vote majority at count 3.
85,393 formal votes6 candidates4 counts11,335-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 85,393 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, Zeeshan Philip FRANCIS (Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)) was excluded; their 3,008 votes were distributed: 1,387 (46.1%) to Vivek SINGHA; 614 (20.4%) to Damian COMMANE; 519 (17.3%) to Chris BOWEN; 301 (10.0%) to Meg Libby WRIGHTSON and 1 more.
On count 2, Meg Libby WRIGHTSON (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 3,630 votes were distributed: 2,031 (56.0%) to Damian COMMANE; 667 (18.4%) to Vivek SINGHA; 563 (15.5%) to Chris BOWEN; 369 (10.2%) to Astrid O'NEILL.
On count 3, Astrid O'NEILL (The Greens) was excluded; their 4,774 votes were distributed: 3,205 (67.1%) to Chris BOWEN; 972 (20.4%) to Vivek SINGHA; 597 (12.5%) to Damian COMMANE.
On count 4, Damian COMMANE (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 10,288 votes were distributed: 5,562 (54.1%) to Vivek SINGHA; 4,726 (45.9%) to Chris BOWEN.
Finally, Chris BOWEN (Labor) won with 48,364 votes to 37,029 for Vivek SINGHA (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
McMahon 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Zeeshan Philip FRANCISChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
3,008
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 1,387 (46.1%)
Damian COMMANE (ON): 614 (20.4%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 519 (17.3%)
Meg Libby WRIGHTSON (UAPP): 301 (10.0%)
Astrid O'NEILL (GRN): 187 (6.2%)
2
Meg Libby WRIGHTSONUnited Australia Party
3,630
Damian COMMANE (ON): 2,031 (56.0%)
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 667 (18.4%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 563 (15.5%)
Astrid O'NEILL (GRN): 369 (10.2%)
3
Astrid O'NEILLThe Greens
4,774
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 3,205 (67.1%)
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 972 (20.4%)
Damian COMMANE (ON): 597 (12.5%)
4
Damian COMMANEPauline Hanson's One Nation
10,288
Vivek SINGHA (LP): 5,562 (54.1%)
Chris BOWEN (ALP): 4,726 (45.9%)
Votes after every count
McMahon 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Chris BOWENLabor · elected
39,351
39,870
40,433
43,638
48,364
Vivek SINGHALiberal
28,441
29,828
30,495
31,467
37,029
Damian COMMANEPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,046
7,660
9,691
10,288
–
Astrid O'NEILLThe Greens
4,218
4,405
4,774
–
–
Meg Libby WRIGHTSONUnited Australia Party
3,329
3,630
–
–
–
Zeeshan Philip FRANCISChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
3,008
–
–
–
–
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.
