A long winter federal election campaign that clashed with school holidays has resulted in the biggest voter no-show since compulsory voting began in 1925.

More than 1.4 million Australians last month failed to cast a vote for the House of Representatives in what ultimately became a cliff-hanger election. The figure represents more than 9 per cent of 15.7 million eligible voters.

The turnout is the worst since 1922, when voting was optional and just 59 per cent of eligible people cast a lower house vote.

Compulsory voting was introduced before the 1925 federal election.