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.
Emma COMER (Australian Labor Party) won Petrie in 2025 with 59,761 of the 116,792 votes in the final count, beating Luke HOWARTH (LNP) by 2,730 votes (51.2% to 48.8%). Comer came from behind: Howarth led on first preferences (37.8% to 36.4%) but preferences from excluded candidates put Comer ahead at count 4.
116,792 formal votes6 candidates4 counts2,730-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 116,792 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, Sharan HALL (Family First) was excluded; their 3,723 votes were distributed: 1,225 (32.9%) to Nicole SHIRES; 836 (22.5%) to Nikil PAUL; 671 (18.0%) to Ryan MENSINK; 632 (17.0%) to Luke HOWARTH and 1 more.
On count 2, Ryan MENSINK (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 5,356 votes were distributed: 3,267 (61.0%) to Nicole SHIRES; 862 (16.1%) to Luke HOWARTH; 620 (11.6%) to Nikil PAUL; 607 (11.3%) to Emma COMER.
On count 3, Nicole SHIRES (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 12,340 votes were distributed: 7,365 (59.7%) to Luke HOWARTH; 2,573 (20.9%) to Emma COMER; 2,402 (19.5%) to Nikil PAUL.
On count 4, Nikil PAUL (The Greens) was excluded; their 17,660 votes were distributed: 13,684 (77.5%) to Emma COMER; 3,976 (22.5%) to Luke HOWARTH.
Finally, Emma COMER (Australian Labor Party) won with 59,761 votes to 57,031 for Luke HOWARTH (LNP).
Where the preferences went
Petrie 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Sharan HALLFamily First
3,723
Nicole SHIRES (ON): 1,225 (32.9%)
Nikil PAUL (GRN): 836 (22.5%)
Ryan MENSINK (CYA): 671 (18.0%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 632 (17.0%)
Emma COMER (ALP): 359 (9.6%)
2
Ryan MENSINKTrumpet of Patriots
5,356
Nicole SHIRES (ON): 3,267 (61.0%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 862 (16.1%)
Nikil PAUL (GRN): 620 (11.6%)
Emma COMER (ALP): 607 (11.3%)
3
Nicole SHIRESPauline Hanson's One Nation
12,340
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 7,365 (59.7%)
Emma COMER (ALP): 2,573 (20.9%)
Nikil PAUL (GRN): 2,402 (19.5%)
4
Nikil PAULThe Greens
17,660
Emma COMER (ALP): 13,684 (77.5%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 3,976 (22.5%)
Votes after every count
Petrie 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Luke HOWARTHLNP
44,196
44,828
45,690
53,055
57,031
Emma COMERAustralian Labor Party · elected
42,538
42,897
43,504
46,077
59,761
Nikil PAULThe Greens
13,802
14,638
15,258
17,660
–
Nicole SHIRESPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,848
9,073
12,340
–
–
Ryan MENSINKTrumpet of Patriots
4,685
5,356
–
–
–
Sharan HALLFamily First
3,723
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Luke HOWARTH (Liberal National Party of Queensland) won Petrie in 2022 with 57,981 of the 106,513 votes in the final count, beating Mick DENTON (Australian Labor Party) by 9,449 votes (54.4% to 45.6%). Howarth led on first preferences with 43.5% of 106,513 formal votes and passed the 53,257-vote majority at count 4.
106,513 formal votes7 candidates5 counts9,449-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 106,513 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, Anneke WILSON (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 2,189 votes were distributed: 683 (31.2%) to Luke HOWARTH; 422 (19.3%) to Marcus MITCHELL; 421 (19.2%) to Kelly Anne GUENOUN; 296 (13.5%) to Mick DENTON and 2 more.
On count 2, Chris CICCHITTI (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 2,435 votes were distributed: 939 (38.6%) to Will SIMON; 400 (16.4%) to Luke HOWARTH; 393 (16.1%) to Mick DENTON; 372 (15.3%) to Marcus MITCHELL and 1 more.
On count 3, Marcus MITCHELL (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 6,407 votes were distributed: 3,748 (58.5%) to Kelly Anne GUENOUN; 1,141 (17.8%) to Luke HOWARTH; 814 (12.7%) to Will SIMON; 704 (11.0%) to Mick DENTON.
On count 4, Kelly Anne GUENOUN (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 10,414 votes were distributed: 5,205 (50.0%) to Luke HOWARTH; 3,507 (33.7%) to Will SIMON; 1,702 (16.3%) to Mick DENTON.
On count 5, Will SIMON (Queensland Greens) was excluded; their 17,692 votes were distributed: 13,465 (76.1%) to Mick DENTON; 4,227 (23.9%) to Luke HOWARTH.
Finally, Luke HOWARTH (Liberal National Party of Queensland) won with 57,981 votes to 48,532 for Mick DENTON (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Petrie 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Anneke WILSONLiberal Democrats
2,189
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 683 (31.2%)
Marcus MITCHELL (ON): 422 (19.3%)
Kelly Anne GUENOUN (UAPP): 421 (19.2%)
Mick DENTON (ALP): 296 (13.5%)
Will SIMON (GRN): 263 (12.0%)
Chris CICCHITTI (AJP): 104 (4.8%)
2
Chris CICCHITTIAnimal Justice Party
2,435
Will SIMON (GRN): 939 (38.6%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 400 (16.4%)
Mick DENTON (ALP): 393 (16.1%)
Marcus MITCHELL (ON): 372 (15.3%)
Kelly Anne GUENOUN (UAPP): 331 (13.6%)
3
Marcus MITCHELLPauline Hanson's One Nation
6,407
Kelly Anne GUENOUN (UAPP): 3,748 (58.5%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 1,141 (17.8%)
Will SIMON (GRN): 814 (12.7%)
Mick DENTON (ALP): 704 (11.0%)
4
Kelly Anne GUENOUNUnited Australia Party
10,414
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 5,205 (50.0%)
Will SIMON (GRN): 3,507 (33.7%)
Mick DENTON (ALP): 1,702 (16.3%)
5
Will SIMONQueensland Greens
17,692
Mick DENTON (ALP): 13,465 (76.1%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 4,227 (23.9%)
Votes after every count
Petrie 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Luke HOWARTHLiberal National Party of Queensland · elected
46,325
47,008
47,408
48,549
53,754
57,981
Mick DENTONAustralian Labor Party
31,972
32,268
32,661
33,365
35,067
48,532
Will SIMONQueensland Greens
12,169
12,432
13,371
14,185
17,692
–
Kelly Anne GUENOUNUnited Australia Party
5,914
6,335
6,666
10,414
–
–
Marcus MITCHELLPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,613
6,035
6,407
–
–
–
Chris CICCHITTIAnimal Justice Party
2,331
2,435
–
–
–
–
Anneke WILSONLiberal Democrats
2,189
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Luke HOWARTH (Liberal National Party of Queensland) won Petrie in 2019 with 59,331 of the 101,597 votes in the final count, beating Corinne MULHOLLAND (Australian Labor Party) by 17,065 votes (58.4% to 41.6%). Howarth led on first preferences with 48.1% of 101,597 formal votes and passed the 50,799-vote majority at count 3.
101,597 formal votes6 candidates4 counts17,065-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 101,597 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, Neville John FOWLER (FRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY) was excluded; their 1,494 votes were distributed: 673 (45.0%) to Nikhil AAI REDDY; 261 (17.5%) to Troy HOPKINS; 258 (17.3%) to Luke HOWARTH; 202 (13.5%) to Jason KENNEDY and 1 more.
On count 2, Troy HOPKINS (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 3,622 votes were distributed: 1,461 (40.3%) to Nikhil AAI REDDY; 1,404 (38.8%) to Luke HOWARTH; 379 (10.5%) to Jason KENNEDY; 378 (10.4%) to Corinne MULHOLLAND.
On count 3, Jason KENNEDY (The Greens) was excluded; their 9,458 votes were distributed: 6,510 (68.8%) to Corinne MULHOLLAND; 1,805 (19.1%) to Luke HOWARTH; 1,143 (12.1%) to Nikhil AAI REDDY.
On count 4, Nikhil AAI REDDY (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 10,915 votes were distributed: 6,985 (64.0%) to Luke HOWARTH; 3,930 (36.0%) to Corinne MULHOLLAND.
Finally, Luke HOWARTH (Liberal National Party of Queensland) won with 59,331 votes to 42,266 for Corinne MULHOLLAND (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Petrie 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Neville John FOWLERFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
1,494
Nikhil AAI REDDY (ON): 673 (45.0%)
Troy HOPKINS (UAPP): 261 (17.5%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 258 (17.3%)
Jason KENNEDY (GRN): 202 (13.5%)
Corinne MULHOLLAND (ALP): 100 (6.7%)
2
Troy HOPKINSUnited Australia Party
3,622
Nikhil AAI REDDY (ON): 1,461 (40.3%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 1,404 (38.8%)
Jason KENNEDY (GRN): 379 (10.5%)
Corinne MULHOLLAND (ALP): 378 (10.4%)
3
Jason KENNEDYThe Greens
9,458
Corinne MULHOLLAND (ALP): 6,510 (68.8%)
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 1,805 (19.1%)
Nikhil AAI REDDY (ON): 1,143 (12.1%)
4
Nikhil AAI REDDYPauline Hanson's One Nation
10,915
Luke HOWARTH (LNP): 6,985 (64.0%)
Corinne MULHOLLAND (ALP): 3,930 (36.0%)
Votes after every count
Petrie 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Luke HOWARTHLiberal National Party of Queensland · elected
48,879
49,137
50,541
52,346
59,331
Corinne MULHOLLANDAustralian Labor Party
31,348
31,448
31,826
38,336
42,266
Jason KENNEDYThe Greens
8,877
9,079
9,458
–
–
Nikhil AAI REDDYPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,638
8,311
9,772
10,915
–
Troy HOPKINSUnited Australia Party
3,361
3,622
–
–
–
Neville John FOWLERFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
1,494
–
–
–
–
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.
