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.
Jamie CHAFFEY (The Nationals) won Parkes in 2025 with 66,047 of the 104,887 votes in the final count, beating Nathan FELL (Labor) by 27,207 votes (63.0% to 37.0%). Chaffey led on first preferences with 40.0% of 104,887 formal votes and passed the 52,444-vote majority at count 8.
104,887 formal votes10 candidates8 counts27,207-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 104,887 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, Petrus VAN DER STEEN (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 2,556 votes were distributed: 989 (38.7%) to Mark CARTER; 400 (15.6%) to Stephen POPE; 298 (11.7%) to Jamie CHAFFEY; 169 (6.6%) to Maurice DAVEY and 5 more.
On count 2, Stuart HOWE (Independent) was excluded; their 2,720 votes were distributed: 673 (24.7%) to Sally EDWARDS; 363 (13.3%) to Mark CARTER; 357 (13.1%) to Jamie CHAFFEY; 348 (12.8%) to Nathan FELL and 4 more.
On count 3, Maurice DAVEY (Family First) was excluded; their 3,186 votes were distributed: 670 (21.0%) to Mark CARTER; 670 (21.0%) to Jamie CHAFFEY; 653 (20.5%) to Sally EDWARDS; 404 (12.7%) to Stephen POPE and 3 more.
On count 4, Bob WILSON (Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia) was excluded; their 3,659 votes were distributed: 1,034 (28.3%) to Nathan FELL; 876 (23.9%) to Trish FRAIL; 676 (18.5%) to Stephen POPE; 409 (11.2%) to Mark CARTER and 2 more.
On count 5, Sally EDWARDS (Libertarian) was excluded; their 5,597 votes were distributed: 1,886 (33.7%) to Mark CARTER; 1,550 (27.7%) to Jamie CHAFFEY; 1,135 (20.3%) to Stephen POPE; 588 (10.5%) to Nathan FELL and 1 more.
On count 6, Trish FRAIL (The Greens) was excluded; their 8,259 votes were distributed: 4,632 (56.1%) to Nathan FELL; 1,699 (20.6%) to Stephen POPE; 1,062 (12.9%) to Jamie CHAFFEY; 866 (10.5%) to Mark CARTER.
On count 7, Stephen POPE (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party) was excluded; their 11,409 votes were distributed: 5,943 (52.1%) to Mark CARTER; 2,856 (25.0%) to Jamie CHAFFEY; 2,610 (22.9%) to Nathan FELL.
On count 8, Mark CARTER (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 25,446 votes were distributed: 16,943 (66.6%) to Jamie CHAFFEY; 8,503 (33.4%) to Nathan FELL.
Finally, Jamie CHAFFEY (The Nationals) won with 66,047 votes to 38,840 for Nathan FELL (Labor).
Where the preferences went
Parkes 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Petrus VAN DER STEENTrumpet of Patriots
2,556
Mark CARTER (ON): 989 (38.7%)
Stephen POPE (ASP): 400 (15.6%)
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 298 (11.7%)
Maurice DAVEY (FFPA): 169 (6.6%)
Nathan FELL (ALP): 157 (6.1%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 150 (5.9%)
Bob WILSON (IAP): 149 (5.8%)
Stuart HOWE (IND): 123 (4.8%)
Sally EDWARDS (LTP): 121 (4.7%)
2
Stuart HOWEIndependent
2,720
Sally EDWARDS (LTP): 673 (24.7%)
Mark CARTER (ON): 363 (13.3%)
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 357 (13.1%)
Nathan FELL (ALP): 348 (12.8%)
Maurice DAVEY (FFPA): 327 (12.0%)
Stephen POPE (ASP): 319 (11.7%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 210 (7.7%)
Bob WILSON (IAP): 123 (4.5%)
3
Maurice DAVEYFamily First
3,186
Mark CARTER (ON): 670 (21.0%)
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 670 (21.0%)
Sally EDWARDS (LTP): 653 (20.5%)
Stephen POPE (ASP): 404 (12.7%)
Nathan FELL (ALP): 338 (10.6%)
Bob WILSON (IAP): 270 (8.5%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 181 (5.7%)
4
Bob WILSONIndigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia
3,659
Nathan FELL (ALP): 1,034 (28.3%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 876 (23.9%)
Stephen POPE (ASP): 676 (18.5%)
Mark CARTER (ON): 409 (11.2%)
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 399 (10.9%)
Sally EDWARDS (LTP): 265 (7.2%)
5
Sally EDWARDSLibertarian
5,597
Mark CARTER (ON): 1,886 (33.7%)
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 1,550 (27.7%)
Stephen POPE (ASP): 1,135 (20.3%)
Nathan FELL (ALP): 588 (10.5%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 438 (7.8%)
6
Trish FRAILThe Greens
8,259
Nathan FELL (ALP): 4,632 (56.1%)
Stephen POPE (ASP): 1,699 (20.6%)
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 1,062 (12.9%)
Mark CARTER (ON): 866 (10.5%)
7
Stephen POPEShooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
11,409
Mark CARTER (ON): 5,943 (52.1%)
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 2,856 (25.0%)
Nathan FELL (ALP): 2,610 (22.9%)
8
Mark CARTERPauline Hanson's One Nation
25,446
Jamie CHAFFEY (NP): 16,943 (66.6%)
Nathan FELL (ALP): 8,503 (33.4%)
Votes after every count
Parkes 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
Jamie CHAFFEYThe Nationals · elected
41,912
42,210
42,567
43,237
43,636
45,186
46,248
49,104
66,047
Nathan FELLLabor
20,630
20,787
21,135
21,473
22,507
23,095
27,727
30,337
38,840
Mark CARTERPauline Hanson's One Nation
14,320
15,309
15,672
16,342
16,751
18,637
19,503
25,446
–
Stephen POPEShooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
6,776
7,176
7,495
7,899
8,575
9,710
11,409
–
–
Trish FRAILThe Greens
6,404
6,554
6,764
6,945
7,821
8,259
–
–
–
Sally EDWARDSLibertarian
3,885
4,006
4,679
5,332
5,597
–
–
–
–
Bob WILSONIndigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia
3,117
3,266
3,389
3,659
–
–
–
–
–
Maurice DAVEYFamily First
2,690
2,859
3,186
–
–
–
–
–
–
Stuart HOWEIndependent
2,597
2,720
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Petrus VAN DER STEENTrumpet of Patriots
2,556
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Mark COULTON (The Nationals) won Parkes in 2022 with 60,433 of the 89,080 votes in the final count, beating Jack AYOUB (Labor) by 31,786 votes (67.8% to 32.2%). Coulton led on first preferences with 49.3% of 89,080 formal votes and passed the 44,541-vote majority at count 3.
89,080 formal votes9 candidates7 counts31,786-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 89,080 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, Benjamin FOX (Informed Medical Options Party) was excluded; their 1,512 votes were distributed: 360 (23.8%) to Peter ROTHWELL; 217 (14.4%) to Deborah SWINBOURN; 199 (13.2%) to Trish FRAIL; 167 (11.0%) to Derek HARDMAN and 4 more.
On count 2, Stuart HOWE (Independent) was excluded; their 2,350 votes were distributed: 518 (22.0%) to Jack AYOUB; 445 (18.9%) to Mark COULTON; 350 (14.9%) to Derek HARDMAN; 313 (13.3%) to Deborah SWINBOURN and 3 more.
On count 3, Petrus VAN DER STEEN (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 2,759 votes were distributed: 1,129 (40.9%) to Deborah SWINBOURN; 505 (18.3%) to Mark COULTON; 400 (14.5%) to Peter ROTHWELL; 322 (11.7%) to Derek HARDMAN and 2 more.
On count 4, Trish FRAIL (The Greens) was excluded; their 4,843 votes were distributed: 2,270 (46.9%) to Jack AYOUB; 1,401 (28.9%) to Derek HARDMAN; 649 (13.4%) to Mark COULTON; 302 (6.2%) to Deborah SWINBOURN and 1 more.
On count 5, Derek HARDMAN (Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia) was excluded; their 6,706 votes were distributed: 2,420 (36.1%) to Jack AYOUB; 1,613 (24.1%) to Peter ROTHWELL; 1,339 (20.0%) to Deborah SWINBOURN; 1,334 (19.9%) to Mark COULTON.
On count 6, Peter ROTHWELL (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 8,515 votes were distributed: 3,877 (45.5%) to Deborah SWINBOURN; 3,428 (40.3%) to Mark COULTON; 1,210 (14.2%) to Jack AYOUB.
On count 7, Deborah SWINBOURN (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 13,839 votes were distributed: 10,023 (72.4%) to Mark COULTON; 3,816 (27.6%) to Jack AYOUB.
Finally, Mark COULTON (The Nationals) won with 60,433 votes to 28,647 for Jack AYOUB (Labor).
Where the preferences went
Parkes 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Benjamin FOXInformed Medical Options Party
1,512
Peter ROTHWELL (LDP): 360 (23.8%)
Deborah SWINBOURN (ON): 217 (14.4%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 199 (13.2%)
Derek HARDMAN (IAP): 167 (11.0%)
Stuart HOWE (IND): 159 (10.5%)
Petrus VAN DER STEEN (UAPP): 148 (9.8%)
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 144 (9.5%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 118 (7.8%)
2
Stuart HOWEIndependent
2,350
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 518 (22.0%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 445 (18.9%)
Derek HARDMAN (IAP): 350 (14.9%)
Deborah SWINBOURN (ON): 313 (13.3%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 287 (12.2%)
Petrus VAN DER STEEN (UAPP): 239 (10.2%)
Peter ROTHWELL (LDP): 198 (8.4%)
3
Petrus VAN DER STEENUnited Australia Party
2,759
Deborah SWINBOURN (ON): 1,129 (40.9%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 505 (18.3%)
Peter ROTHWELL (LDP): 400 (14.5%)
Derek HARDMAN (IAP): 322 (11.7%)
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 260 (9.4%)
Trish FRAIL (GRN): 143 (5.2%)
4
Trish FRAILThe Greens
4,843
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 2,270 (46.9%)
Derek HARDMAN (IAP): 1,401 (28.9%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 649 (13.4%)
Deborah SWINBOURN (ON): 302 (6.2%)
Peter ROTHWELL (LDP): 221 (4.6%)
5
Derek HARDMANIndigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia
6,706
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 2,420 (36.1%)
Peter ROTHWELL (LDP): 1,613 (24.1%)
Deborah SWINBOURN (ON): 1,339 (20.0%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 1,334 (19.9%)
6
Peter ROTHWELLLiberal Democrats
8,515
Deborah SWINBOURN (ON): 3,877 (45.5%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 3,428 (40.3%)
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 1,210 (14.2%)
7
Deborah SWINBOURNPauline Hanson's One Nation
13,839
Mark COULTON (NP): 10,023 (72.4%)
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 3,816 (27.6%)
Votes after every count
Parkes 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
Mark COULTONThe Nationals · elected
43,931
44,049
44,494
44,999
45,648
46,982
50,410
60,433
Jack AYOUBLabor
18,009
18,153
18,671
18,931
21,201
23,621
24,831
28,647
Deborah SWINBOURNPauline Hanson's One Nation
6,662
6,879
7,192
8,321
8,623
9,962
13,839
–
Peter ROTHWELLLiberal Democrats
5,723
6,083
6,281
6,681
6,902
8,515
–
–
Derek HARDMANIndigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia
4,466
4,633
4,983
5,305
6,706
–
–
–
Trish FRAILThe Greens
4,214
4,413
4,700
4,843
–
–
–
–
Petrus VAN DER STEENUnited Australia Party
2,372
2,520
2,759
–
–
–
–
–
Stuart HOWEIndependent
2,191
2,350
–
–
–
–
–
–
Benjamin FOXInformed Medical Options Party
1,512
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Mark COULTON (The Nationals) won Parkes in 2019 with 62,859 of the 93,952 votes in the final count, beating Jack AYOUB (Labor) by 31,766 votes (66.9% to 33.1%). Coulton won on first preferences, with 50.8% of 93,952 formal votes (more than half: 46,977 needed).
93,952 formal votes6 candidates4 counts31,766-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 93,952 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, David PAULL (The Greens) was excluded; their 3,921 votes were distributed: 1,780 (45.4%) to Jack AYOUB; 764 (19.5%) to Will LANDERS; 749 (19.1%) to Mark COULTON; 389 (9.9%) to Daniel J JONES and 1 more.
On count 2, Petrus Joannes Gijsbertus VAN DER STEEN (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 6,145 votes were distributed: 2,868 (46.7%) to Will LANDERS; 1,715 (27.9%) to Mark COULTON; 868 (14.1%) to Daniel J JONES; 694 (11.3%) to Jack AYOUB.
On count 3, Daniel J JONES (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 8,825 votes were distributed: 5,611 (63.6%) to Mark COULTON; 2,066 (23.4%) to Will LANDERS; 1,148 (13.0%) to Jack AYOUB.
On count 4, Will LANDERS (Independent) was excluded; their 12,428 votes were distributed: 7,092 (57.1%) to Mark COULTON; 5,336 (42.9%) to Jack AYOUB.
Finally, Mark COULTON (The Nationals) won with 62,859 votes to 31,093 for Jack AYOUB (Labor).
Where the preferences went
Parkes 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
David PAULLThe Greens
3,921
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 1,780 (45.4%)
Will LANDERS (IND): 764 (19.5%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 749 (19.1%)
Daniel J JONES (LDP): 389 (9.9%)
Petrus Joannes Gijsbertus VAN DER STEEN (UAPP): 239 (6.1%)
2
Petrus Joannes Gijsbertus VAN DER STEENUnited Australia Party
6,145
Will LANDERS (IND): 2,868 (46.7%)
Mark COULTON (NP): 1,715 (27.9%)
Daniel J JONES (LDP): 868 (14.1%)
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 694 (11.3%)
3
Daniel J JONESLiberal Democrats
8,825
Mark COULTON (NP): 5,611 (63.6%)
Will LANDERS (IND): 2,066 (23.4%)
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 1,148 (13.0%)
4
Will LANDERSIndependent
12,428
Mark COULTON (NP): 7,092 (57.1%)
Jack AYOUB (ALP): 5,336 (42.9%)
Votes after every count
Parkes 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Mark COULTONThe Nationals · elected
47,692
48,441
50,156
55,767
62,859
Jack AYOUBLabor
22,135
23,915
24,609
25,757
31,093
Daniel J JONESLiberal Democrats
7,568
7,957
8,825
–
–
Will LANDERSIndependent
6,730
7,494
10,362
12,428
–
Petrus Joannes Gijsbertus VAN DER STEENUnited Australia Party
5,906
6,145
–
–
–
David PAULLThe Greens
3,921
–
–
–
–
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.
