Across the Border - How do elections differ around Australia?

If you moved across a border in Australia, you might be surprised to find state and local government elections aren’t quite the same. Australia's democracy is not static. Over the years, the way Australians have chosen their elected leaders has been constantly evolving. What are the differences and where did they come from? What can we learn from different electoral practices? Which electoral format gives the most democratic outcome? Where does the Hare Clark system operate? What does a ballot paper look like in a unicameral state legislature? And why does the National Library want to hear from you following the 2025 federal election? Join us as we explore differences by jurisdiction, discover the history behind election systems and reflect on where we might want elections to be in 25 years’ time.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Australian Electoral Commission, Australian voting history in action
• Museum of Australian Democracy, Below the line: how Australia's voting system has changed
• Parliament of Australia, Chapter 3 | Elections and the electoral system
• Tasmanian Electoral Commission, Tasmania's Hare-Clark Electoral System
• ACT Elections Commission, Fact sheet - Hare Clark
• ABC News, Hare-Clark Explainer
• ABC News, Australia's unique electoral system explained
• ABC News, How Tasmania’s Hare-Clark election system works
• Anne Twomey, The 1901 federal election and the preservation of history

COURSE OUTLINE

• Explore differences in state and local elections around Australia.
• Investigate the reasons behind differences in electoral systems across Australia.
• Walk through the Hare-Clark system.
• Compare electoral processes to determine which jurisdiction offers the most democratic outcomes to voters, candidates and parties.
• Share personal experiences of voting in different parts of Australia and overseas.
• Consider where we might want elections to be in 25 years’ time.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Identify the differences in electoral processes between Australian states and territories.
2. Understand the factors driving electoral differentiation.
3. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of election procedures by state and territory.
4. Determine which jurisdiction offers the most democratic outcomes to voters, candidates and parties.