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.
Claire CLUTTERHAM (Australian Labor Party) won Sturt in 2025 with 66,326 of the 117,137 votes in the final count, beating James STEVENS (Liberal) by 15,515 votes (56.6% to 43.4%). Clutterham led on first preferences with 35.3% of 117,137 formal votes and passed the 58,569-vote majority at count 5.
117,137 formal votes7 candidates5 counts15,515-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 117,137 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, MERVIN JOSHUA (Family First) was excluded; their 2,280 votes were distributed: 670 (29.4%) to Peter BOGATEC; 534 (23.4%) to James STEVENS; 333 (14.6%) to Claire CLUTTERHAM; 329 (14.4%) to Verity COOPER and 2 more.
On count 2, Nicholas DUFFIELD (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 2,806 votes were distributed: 1,316 (46.9%) to Peter BOGATEC; 507 (18.1%) to Verity COOPER; 452 (16.1%) to James STEVENS; 315 (11.2%) to Katie McCUSKER and 1 more.
On count 3, Peter BOGATEC (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 6,021 votes were distributed: 3,119 (51.8%) to James STEVENS; 1,839 (30.5%) to Verity COOPER; 556 (9.2%) to Katie McCUSKER; 507 (8.4%) to Claire CLUTTERHAM.
On count 4, Verity COOPER (Independent) was excluded; their 11,088 votes were distributed: 4,567 (41.2%) to Katie McCUSKER; 3,485 (31.4%) to Claire CLUTTERHAM; 3,036 (27.4%) to James STEVENS.
On count 5, Katie McCUSKER (The Greens) was excluded; their 23,894 votes were distributed: 20,452 (85.6%) to Claire CLUTTERHAM; 3,442 (14.4%) to James STEVENS.
Finally, Claire CLUTTERHAM (Australian Labor Party) won with 66,326 votes to 50,811 for James STEVENS (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Sturt 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
MERVIN JOSHUAFamily First
2,280
Peter BOGATEC (ON): 670 (29.4%)
James STEVENS (LP): 534 (23.4%)
Claire CLUTTERHAM (ALP): 333 (14.6%)
Verity COOPER (IND): 329 (14.4%)
Nicholas DUFFIELD (CYA): 253 (11.1%)
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 161 (7.1%)
2
Nicholas DUFFIELDTrumpet of Patriots
2,806
Peter BOGATEC (ON): 1,316 (46.9%)
Verity COOPER (IND): 507 (18.1%)
James STEVENS (LP): 452 (16.1%)
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 315 (11.2%)
Claire CLUTTERHAM (ALP): 216 (7.7%)
3
Peter BOGATECPauline Hanson's One Nation
6,021
James STEVENS (LP): 3,119 (51.8%)
Verity COOPER (IND): 1,839 (30.5%)
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 556 (9.2%)
Claire CLUTTERHAM (ALP): 507 (8.4%)
4
Verity COOPERIndependent
11,088
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 4,567 (41.2%)
Claire CLUTTERHAM (ALP): 3,485 (31.4%)
James STEVENS (LP): 3,036 (27.4%)
5
Katie McCUSKERThe Greens
23,894
Claire CLUTTERHAM (ALP): 20,452 (85.6%)
James STEVENS (LP): 3,442 (14.4%)
Votes after every count
Sturt 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Claire CLUTTERHAMAustralian Labor Party · elected
41,333
41,666
41,882
42,389
45,874
66,326
James STEVENSLiberal
40,228
40,762
41,214
44,333
47,369
50,811
Katie McCUSKERThe Greens
18,295
18,456
18,771
19,327
23,894
–
Verity COOPERIndependent
8,413
8,742
9,249
11,088
–
–
Peter BOGATECPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,035
4,705
6,021
–
–
–
Nicholas DUFFIELDTrumpet of Patriots
2,553
2,806
–
–
–
–
MERVIN JOSHUAFamily First
2,280
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
James STEVENS (Liberal) won Sturt in 2022 with 56,813 of the 112,610 votes in the final count, beating Sonja BARAM (Australian Labor Party) by 1,016 votes (50.5% to 49.5%). Stevens led on first preferences with 43.1% of 112,610 formal votes and passed the 56,306-vote majority at count 9.
112,610 formal votes11 candidates9 counts1,016-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 112,610 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, Chris SCHMIDT (TNL) was excluded; their 251 votes were distributed: 60 (23.9%) to Katie McCUSKER; 48 (19.1%) to Sonja BARAM; 46 (18.3%) to Angela FULCO; 24 (9.6%) to Alexander ALLWOOD and 6 more.
On count 2, Angela FULCO (Australian Progressives) was excluded; their 503 votes were distributed: 155 (30.8%) to Katie McCUSKER; 67 (13.3%) to David SHERLOCK; 65 (12.9%) to Sonja BARAM; 56 (11.1%) to Stephen GRANT and 5 more.
On count 3, Kathy SCARBOROUGH (Australian Federation Party) was excluded; their 799 votes were distributed: 220 (27.5%) to Alexander ALLWOOD; 166 (20.8%) to Thomas McMAHON; 153 (19.1%) to Stephen GRANT; 67 (8.4%) to James STEVENS and 4 more.
On count 4, Inty ELHAM (Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance) was excluded; their 1,124 votes were distributed: 310 (27.6%) to Katie McCUSKER; 237 (21.1%) to James STEVENS; 226 (20.1%) to Sonja BARAM; 107 (9.5%) to David SHERLOCK and 3 more.
On count 5, Thomas McMAHON (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 1,437 votes were distributed: 513 (35.7%) to James STEVENS; 291 (20.3%) to Alexander ALLWOOD; 243 (16.9%) to Stephen GRANT; 144 (10.0%) to Katie McCUSKER and 2 more.
On count 6, David SHERLOCK (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 1,906 votes were distributed: 847 (44.4%) to Katie McCUSKER; 327 (17.2%) to Sonja BARAM; 273 (14.3%) to Stephen GRANT; 257 (13.5%) to James STEVENS and 1 more.
On count 7, Alexander ALLWOOD (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 3,738 votes were distributed: 2,501 (66.9%) to Stephen GRANT; 547 (14.6%) to James STEVENS; 388 (10.4%) to Katie McCUSKER; 302 (8.1%) to Sonja BARAM.
On count 8, Stephen GRANT (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 6,317 votes were distributed: 3,246 (51.4%) to James STEVENS; 1,734 (27.4%) to Katie McCUSKER; 1,337 (21.2%) to Sonja BARAM.
On count 9, Katie McCUSKER (The Greens) was excluded; their 22,130 votes were distributed: 18,810 (85.0%) to Sonja BARAM; 3,320 (15.0%) to James STEVENS.
Finally, James STEVENS (Liberal) won with 56,813 votes to 55,797 for Sonja BARAM (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Sturt 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Chris SCHMIDTTNL
251
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 60 (23.9%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 48 (19.1%)
Angela FULCO (AUP): 46 (18.3%)
Alexander ALLWOOD (ON): 24 (9.6%)
David SHERLOCK (AJP): 19 (7.6%)
Inty ELHAM (DPDA): 15 (6.0%)
James STEVENS (LP): 13 (5.2%)
Stephen GRANT (UAPP): 10 (4.0%)
Kathy SCARBOROUGH (CYA): 9 (3.6%)
Thomas McMAHON (LDP): 7 (2.8%)
2
Angela FULCOAustralian Progressives
503
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 155 (30.8%)
David SHERLOCK (AJP): 67 (13.3%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 65 (12.9%)
Stephen GRANT (UAPP): 56 (11.1%)
Alexander ALLWOOD (ON): 41 (8.2%)
Inty ELHAM (DPDA): 37 (7.4%)
Kathy SCARBOROUGH (CYA): 35 (7.0%)
James STEVENS (LP): 34 (6.8%)
Thomas McMAHON (LDP): 13 (2.6%)
3
Kathy SCARBOROUGHAustralian Federation Party
799
Alexander ALLWOOD (ON): 220 (27.5%)
Thomas McMAHON (LDP): 166 (20.8%)
Stephen GRANT (UAPP): 153 (19.1%)
James STEVENS (LP): 67 (8.4%)
Inty ELHAM (DPDA): 65 (8.1%)
David SHERLOCK (AJP): 51 (6.4%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 39 (4.9%)
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 38 (4.8%)
4
Inty ELHAMDrew Pavlou Democratic Alliance
1,124
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 310 (27.6%)
James STEVENS (LP): 237 (21.1%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 226 (20.1%)
David SHERLOCK (AJP): 107 (9.5%)
Thomas McMAHON (LDP): 104 (9.3%)
Stephen GRANT (UAPP): 73 (6.5%)
Alexander ALLWOOD (ON): 67 (6.0%)
5
Thomas McMAHONLiberal Democrats
1,437
James STEVENS (LP): 513 (35.7%)
Alexander ALLWOOD (ON): 291 (20.3%)
Stephen GRANT (UAPP): 243 (16.9%)
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 144 (10.0%)
David SHERLOCK (AJP): 131 (9.1%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 115 (8.0%)
6
David SHERLOCKAnimal Justice Party
1,906
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 847 (44.4%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 327 (17.2%)
Stephen GRANT (UAPP): 273 (14.3%)
James STEVENS (LP): 257 (13.5%)
Alexander ALLWOOD (ON): 202 (10.6%)
7
Alexander ALLWOODPauline Hanson's One Nation
3,738
Stephen GRANT (UAPP): 2,501 (66.9%)
James STEVENS (LP): 547 (14.6%)
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 388 (10.4%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 302 (8.1%)
8
Stephen GRANTUnited Australia Party
6,317
James STEVENS (LP): 3,246 (51.4%)
Katie McCUSKER (GRN): 1,734 (27.4%)
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 1,337 (21.2%)
9
Katie McCUSKERThe Greens
22,130
Sonja BARAM (ALP): 18,810 (85.0%)
James STEVENS (LP): 3,320 (15.0%)
Votes after every count
Sturt 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
Count 8
Count 9
James STEVENSLiberal · elected
48,579
48,592
48,626
48,693
48,930
49,443
49,700
50,247
53,493
56,813
Sonja BARAMAustralian Labor Party
34,528
34,576
34,641
34,680
34,906
35,021
35,348
35,650
36,987
55,797
Katie McCUSKERThe Greens
18,454
18,514
18,669
18,707
19,017
19,161
20,008
20,396
22,130
–
Stephen GRANTUnited Australia Party
3,008
3,018
3,074
3,227
3,300
3,543
3,816
6,317
–
–
Alexander ALLWOODPauline Hanson's One Nation
2,893
2,917
2,958
3,178
3,245
3,536
3,738
–
–
–
David SHERLOCKAnimal Justice Party
1,531
1,550
1,617
1,668
1,775
1,906
–
–
–
–
Thomas McMAHONLiberal Democrats
1,147
1,154
1,167
1,333
1,437
–
–
–
–
–
Inty ELHAMDrew Pavlou Democratic Alliance
1,007
1,022
1,059
1,124
–
–
–
–
–
–
Kathy SCARBOROUGHAustralian Federation Party
755
764
799
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Angela FULCOAustralian Progressives
457
503
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Chris SCHMIDTTNL
251
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
James STEVENS (Liberal) won Sturt in 2019 with 62,404 of the 109,732 votes in the final count, beating Cressida O'HANLON (Australian Labor Party) by 15,076 votes (56.9% to 43.1%). Stevens won on first preferences, with 50.6% of 109,732 formal votes (more than half: 54,867 needed).
109,732 formal votes8 candidates6 counts15,076-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 109,732 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, Angela FULCO (Australian Progressives) was excluded; their 565 votes were distributed: 178 (31.5%) to Nick LARCOMBE; 138 (24.4%) to Paul BOUNDY; 91 (16.1%) to Cressida O'HANLON; 59 (10.4%) to Colin THOMAS and 3 more.
On count 2, Colin THOMAS (Child Protection Party) was excluded; their 1,278 votes were distributed: 435 (34.0%) to Harbinda ROBERTS; 220 (17.2%) to Nick LARCOMBE; 199 (15.6%) to Paul BOUNDY; 148 (11.6%) to Cressida O'HANLON and 2 more.
On count 3, Harbinda ROBERTS (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 2,340 votes were distributed: 994 (42.5%) to Paul BOUNDY; 430 (18.4%) to Nick LARCOMBE; 395 (16.9%) to Cressida O'HANLON; 278 (11.9%) to James STEVENS and 1 more.
On count 4, Hedley HARDING (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 3,057 votes were distributed: 1,378 (45.1%) to James STEVENS; 841 (27.5%) to Nick LARCOMBE; 437 (14.3%) to Cressida O'HANLON; 401 (13.1%) to Paul BOUNDY.
On count 5, Nick LARCOMBE (Independent) was excluded; their 4,575 votes were distributed: 1,812 (39.6%) to Paul BOUNDY; 1,447 (31.6%) to Cressida O'HANLON; 1,316 (28.8%) to James STEVENS.
On count 6, Paul BOUNDY (The Greens) was excluded; their 15,807 votes were distributed: 12,044 (76.2%) to Cressida O'HANLON; 3,763 (23.8%) to James STEVENS.
Finally, James STEVENS (Liberal) won with 62,404 votes to 47,328 for Cressida O'HANLON (Australian Labor Party).
Where the preferences went
Sturt 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Angela FULCOAustralian Progressives
565
Nick LARCOMBE (IND): 178 (31.5%)
Paul BOUNDY (GRN): 138 (24.4%)
Cressida O'HANLON (ALP): 91 (16.1%)
Colin THOMAS (CPP): 59 (10.4%)
Harbinda ROBERTS (AJP): 39 (6.9%)
James STEVENS (LP): 37 (6.5%)
Hedley HARDING (UAPP): 23 (4.1%)
2
Colin THOMASChild Protection Party
1,278
Harbinda ROBERTS (AJP): 435 (34.0%)
Nick LARCOMBE (IND): 220 (17.2%)
Paul BOUNDY (GRN): 199 (15.6%)
Cressida O'HANLON (ALP): 148 (11.6%)
James STEVENS (LP): 142 (11.1%)
Hedley HARDING (UAPP): 134 (10.5%)
3
Harbinda ROBERTSAnimal Justice Party
2,340
Paul BOUNDY (GRN): 994 (42.5%)
Nick LARCOMBE (IND): 430 (18.4%)
Cressida O'HANLON (ALP): 395 (16.9%)
James STEVENS (LP): 278 (11.9%)
Hedley HARDING (UAPP): 243 (10.4%)
4
Hedley HARDINGUnited Australia Party
3,057
James STEVENS (LP): 1,378 (45.1%)
Nick LARCOMBE (IND): 841 (27.5%)
Cressida O'HANLON (ALP): 437 (14.3%)
Paul BOUNDY (GRN): 401 (13.1%)
5
Nick LARCOMBEIndependent
4,575
Paul BOUNDY (GRN): 1,812 (39.6%)
Cressida O'HANLON (ALP): 1,447 (31.6%)
James STEVENS (LP): 1,316 (28.8%)
6
Paul BOUNDYThe Greens
15,807
Cressida O'HANLON (ALP): 12,044 (76.2%)
James STEVENS (LP): 3,763 (23.8%)
Votes after every count
Sturt 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
James STEVENSLiberal · elected
55,490
55,527
55,669
55,947
57,325
58,641
62,404
Cressida O'HANLONAustralian Labor Party
32,766
32,857
33,005
33,400
33,837
35,284
47,328
Paul BOUNDYThe Greens
12,263
12,401
12,600
13,594
13,995
15,807
–
Nick LARCOMBEIndependent
2,906
3,084
3,304
3,734
4,575
–
–
Hedley HARDINGUnited Australia Party
2,657
2,680
2,814
3,057
–
–
–
Harbinda ROBERTSAnimal Justice Party
1,866
1,905
2,340
–
–
–
–
Colin THOMASChild Protection Party
1,219
1,278
–
–
–
–
–
Angela FULCOAustralian Progressives
565
–
–
–
–
–
–
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.
