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.
Meryl SWANSON (Labor) won Paterson in 2025 with 61,841 of the 108,704 votes in the final count, beating Laurence ANTCLIFF (Liberal) by 14,978 votes (56.9% to 43.1%). Swanson led on first preferences with 37.1% of 108,704 formal votes and passed the 54,353-vote majority at count 8.
108,704 formal votes10 candidates8 counts14,978-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 108,704 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, April Maree SCOTT (Independent) was excluded; their 1,220 votes were distributed: 255 (20.9%) to Paul JOHNS; 225 (18.4%) to Philip PENFOLD; 217 (17.8%) to Rod HOLDING; 154 (12.6%) to Meryl SWANSON and 5 more.
On count 2, Rod HOLDING (Independent) was excluded; their 1,577 votes were distributed: 547 (34.7%) to Meryl SWANSON; 482 (30.6%) to Philip PENFOLD; 185 (11.7%) to Arnon WITHER; 106 (6.7%) to Daniel DRYDEN and 4 more.
On count 3, Sandra Lyn BRIGGS (Family First) was excluded; their 2,342 votes were distributed: 1,030 (44.0%) to Arnon WITHER; 290 (12.4%) to Philip PENFOLD; 287 (12.3%) to Laurence ANTCLIFF; 239 (10.2%) to Peter N ARENA and 3 more.
On count 4, Peter N ARENA (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 3,097 votes were distributed: 1,055 (34.1%) to Arnon WITHER; 726 (23.4%) to Daniel DRYDEN; 496 (16.0%) to Philip PENFOLD; 402 (13.0%) to Laurence ANTCLIFF and 2 more.
On count 5, Daniel DRYDEN (Legalise Cannabis Party) was excluded; their 5,389 votes were distributed: 1,269 (23.5%) to Paul JOHNS; 1,208 (22.4%) to Meryl SWANSON; 1,092 (20.3%) to Philip PENFOLD; 952 (17.7%) to Arnon WITHER and 1 more.
On count 6, Paul JOHNS (The Greens) was excluded; their 10,079 votes were distributed: 6,916 (68.6%) to Meryl SWANSON; 1,846 (18.3%) to Philip PENFOLD; 669 (6.6%) to Arnon WITHER; 648 (6.4%) to Laurence ANTCLIFF.
On count 7, Arnon WITHER (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 12,187 votes were distributed: 5,489 (45.0%) to Philip PENFOLD; 4,658 (38.2%) to Laurence ANTCLIFF; 2,040 (16.7%) to Meryl SWANSON.
On count 8, Philip PENFOLD (Independent) was excluded; their 20,485 votes were distributed: 10,273 (50.1%) to Laurence ANTCLIFF; 10,212 (49.9%) to Meryl SWANSON.
Finally, Meryl SWANSON (Labor) won with 61,841 votes to 46,863 for Laurence ANTCLIFF (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Paterson 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
April Maree SCOTTIndependent
1,220
Paul JOHNS (GRN): 255 (20.9%)
Philip PENFOLD (IND): 225 (18.4%)
Rod HOLDING (IND): 217 (17.8%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 154 (12.6%)
Daniel DRYDEN (HMP): 138 (11.3%)
Sandra Lyn BRIGGS (FFPA): 75 (6.1%)
Peter N ARENA (CYA): 58 (4.8%)
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 56 (4.6%)
Arnon WITHER (ON): 42 (3.4%)
2
Rod HOLDINGIndependent
1,577
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 547 (34.7%)
Philip PENFOLD (IND): 482 (30.6%)
Arnon WITHER (ON): 185 (11.7%)
Daniel DRYDEN (HMP): 106 (6.7%)
Paul JOHNS (GRN): 92 (5.8%)
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 69 (4.4%)
Sandra Lyn BRIGGS (FFPA): 62 (3.9%)
Peter N ARENA (CYA): 34 (2.2%)
3
Sandra Lyn BRIGGSFamily First
2,342
Arnon WITHER (ON): 1,030 (44.0%)
Philip PENFOLD (IND): 290 (12.4%)
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 287 (12.3%)
Peter N ARENA (CYA): 239 (10.2%)
Daniel DRYDEN (HMP): 196 (8.4%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 173 (7.4%)
Paul JOHNS (GRN): 127 (5.4%)
4
Peter N ARENATrumpet of Patriots
3,097
Arnon WITHER (ON): 1,055 (34.1%)
Daniel DRYDEN (HMP): 726 (23.4%)
Philip PENFOLD (IND): 496 (16.0%)
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 402 (13.0%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 301 (9.7%)
Paul JOHNS (GRN): 117 (3.8%)
5
Daniel DRYDENLegalise Cannabis Party
5,389
Paul JOHNS (GRN): 1,269 (23.5%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 1,208 (22.4%)
Philip PENFOLD (IND): 1,092 (20.3%)
Arnon WITHER (ON): 952 (17.7%)
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 868 (16.1%)
6
Paul JOHNSThe Greens
10,079
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 6,916 (68.6%)
Philip PENFOLD (IND): 1,846 (18.3%)
Arnon WITHER (ON): 669 (6.6%)
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 648 (6.4%)
7
Arnon WITHERPauline Hanson's One Nation
12,187
Philip PENFOLD (IND): 5,489 (45.0%)
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 4,658 (38.2%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 2,040 (16.7%)
8
Philip PENFOLDIndependent
20,485
Laurence ANTCLIFF (LP): 10,273 (50.1%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 10,212 (49.9%)
Votes after every count
Paterson 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
Meryl SWANSONLabor · elected
40,290
40,444
40,991
41,164
41,465
42,673
49,589
51,629
61,841
Laurence ANTCLIFFLiberal
29,602
29,658
29,727
30,014
30,416
31,284
31,932
36,590
46,863
Philip PENFOLDIndependent
10,565
10,790
11,272
11,562
12,058
13,150
14,996
20,485
–
Arnon WITHERPauline Hanson's One Nation
8,254
8,296
8,481
9,511
10,566
11,518
12,187
–
–
Paul JOHNSThe Greens
8,219
8,474
8,566
8,693
8,810
10,079
–
–
–
Daniel DRYDENLegalise Cannabis Party
4,223
4,361
4,467
4,663
5,389
–
–
–
–
Peter N ARENATrumpet of Patriots
2,766
2,824
2,858
3,097
–
–
–
–
–
Sandra Lyn BRIGGSFamily First
2,205
2,280
2,342
–
–
–
–
–
–
Rod HOLDINGIndependent
1,360
1,577
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
April Maree SCOTTIndependent
1,220
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Meryl SWANSON (Labor) won Paterson in 2022 with 61,247 of the 114,885 votes in the final count, beating Brooke VITNELL (Liberal) by 7,609 votes (53.3% to 46.7%). Swanson led on first preferences with 40.7% of 114,885 formal votes and passed the 57,443-vote majority at count 5.
114,885 formal votes7 candidates5 counts7,609-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 114,885 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, Sonia BAILEY (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 1,621 votes were distributed: 484 (29.9%) to Brooke VITNELL; 380 (23.4%) to Jason Mark OLBOURNE; 285 (17.6%) to Neil TURNER; 195 (12.0%) to Meryl SWANSON and 2 more.
On count 2, Angela KETAS (Informed Medical Options Party) was excluded; their 2,008 votes were distributed: 596 (29.7%) to Jason Mark OLBOURNE; 580 (28.9%) to Neil TURNER; 341 (17.0%) to Louise IHLEIN; 315 (15.7%) to Meryl SWANSON and 1 more.
On count 3, Jason Mark OLBOURNE (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 5,450 votes were distributed: 3,552 (65.2%) to Neil TURNER; 753 (13.8%) to Louise IHLEIN; 590 (10.8%) to Brooke VITNELL; 555 (10.2%) to Meryl SWANSON.
On count 4, Louise IHLEIN (The Greens) was excluded; their 9,923 votes were distributed: 7,463 (75.2%) to Meryl SWANSON; 1,316 (13.3%) to Neil TURNER; 1,144 (11.5%) to Brooke VITNELL.
On count 5, Neil TURNER (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 15,096 votes were distributed: 9,102 (60.3%) to Brooke VITNELL; 5,994 (39.7%) to Meryl SWANSON.
Finally, Meryl SWANSON (Labor) won with 61,247 votes to 53,638 for Brooke VITNELL (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Paterson 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Sonia BAILEYLiberal Democrats
1,621
Brooke VITNELL (LP): 484 (29.9%)
Jason Mark OLBOURNE (UAPP): 380 (23.4%)
Neil TURNER (ON): 285 (17.6%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 195 (12.0%)
Louise IHLEIN (GRN): 152 (9.4%)
Angela KETAS (IMO): 125 (7.7%)
2
Angela KETASInformed Medical Options Party
2,008
Jason Mark OLBOURNE (UAPP): 596 (29.7%)
Neil TURNER (ON): 580 (28.9%)
Louise IHLEIN (GRN): 341 (17.0%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 315 (15.7%)
Brooke VITNELL (LP): 176 (8.8%)
3
Jason Mark OLBOURNEUnited Australia Party
5,450
Neil TURNER (ON): 3,552 (65.2%)
Louise IHLEIN (GRN): 753 (13.8%)
Brooke VITNELL (LP): 590 (10.8%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 555 (10.2%)
4
Louise IHLEINThe Greens
9,923
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 7,463 (75.2%)
Neil TURNER (ON): 1,316 (13.3%)
Brooke VITNELL (LP): 1,144 (11.5%)
5
Neil TURNERPauline Hanson's One Nation
15,096
Brooke VITNELL (LP): 9,102 (60.3%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 5,994 (39.7%)
Votes after every count
Paterson 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Meryl SWANSONLabor · elected
46,725
46,920
47,235
47,790
55,253
61,247
Brooke VITNELLLiberal
42,142
42,626
42,802
43,392
44,536
53,638
Neil TURNERPauline Hanson's One Nation
9,363
9,648
10,228
13,780
15,096
–
Louise IHLEINThe Greens
8,677
8,829
9,170
9,923
–
–
Jason Mark OLBOURNEUnited Australia Party
4,474
4,854
5,450
–
–
–
Angela KETASInformed Medical Options Party
1,883
2,008
–
–
–
–
Sonia BAILEYLiberal Democrats
1,621
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Meryl SWANSON (Labor) won Paterson in 2019 with 59,348 of the 107,819 votes in the final count, beating Sachin JOSHI (Liberal) by 10,877 votes (55.0% to 45.0%). Swanson led on first preferences with 41.1% of 107,819 formal votes and passed the 53,910-vote majority at count 4.
107,819 formal votes6 candidates4 counts10,877-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 107,819 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, Christopher Arthur VALE (Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)) was excluded; their 1,876 votes were distributed: 944 (50.3%) to Sachin JOSHI; 286 (15.2%) to Neil TURNER; 237 (12.6%) to Graham BURSTON; 213 (11.4%) to Jan DAVIS and 1 more.
On count 2, Graham BURSTON (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 4,125 votes were distributed: 1,895 (45.9%) to Neil TURNER; 1,070 (25.9%) to Sachin JOSHI; 687 (16.7%) to Meryl SWANSON; 473 (11.5%) to Jan DAVIS.
On count 3, Jan DAVIS (The Greens) was excluded; their 8,125 votes were distributed: 5,819 (71.6%) to Meryl SWANSON; 1,205 (14.8%) to Sachin JOSHI; 1,101 (13.6%) to Neil TURNER.
On count 4, Neil TURNER (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 18,551 votes were distributed: 10,193 (54.9%) to Sachin JOSHI; 8,358 (45.1%) to Meryl SWANSON.
Finally, Meryl SWANSON (Labor) won with 59,348 votes to 48,471 for Sachin JOSHI (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Paterson 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Christopher Arthur VALEChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
1,876
Sachin JOSHI (LP): 944 (50.3%)
Neil TURNER (ON): 286 (15.2%)
Graham BURSTON (UAPP): 237 (12.6%)
Jan DAVIS (GRN): 213 (11.4%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 196 (10.4%)
2
Graham BURSTONUnited Australia Party
4,125
Neil TURNER (ON): 1,895 (45.9%)
Sachin JOSHI (LP): 1,070 (25.9%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 687 (16.7%)
Jan DAVIS (GRN): 473 (11.5%)
3
Jan DAVISThe Greens
8,125
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 5,819 (71.6%)
Sachin JOSHI (LP): 1,205 (14.8%)
Neil TURNER (ON): 1,101 (13.6%)
4
Neil TURNERPauline Hanson's One Nation
18,551
Sachin JOSHI (LP): 10,193 (54.9%)
Meryl SWANSON (ALP): 8,358 (45.1%)
Votes after every count
Paterson 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Meryl SWANSONLabor · elected
44,288
44,484
45,171
50,990
59,348
Sachin JOSHILiberal
35,059
36,003
37,073
38,278
48,471
Neil TURNERPauline Hanson's One Nation
15,269
15,555
17,450
18,551
–
Jan DAVISThe Greens
7,439
7,652
8,125
–
–
Graham BURSTONUnited Australia Party
3,888
4,125
–
–
–
Christopher Arthur VALEChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
1,876
–
–
–
–
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.
