How Senate voting works in 2019

Unlike previous years, you can decide how your preferences flow even if you vote above the line (by voting "1", "2", "3" and so on for the party groupings of your choice.

However, voting below the line allows you to choose exactly how your vote is distributed within party tickets as well. The good news is that you only need to number a minimum of 12 boxes if you vote below the line this year, rather than having to fill in every single box.

The more boxes you fill in, the longer your vote lasts. Senate voting works on a quota system, so if a candidate or group ticket you voted for has surplus quota or is unable to reach a quota, your vote is redistributed to your next preference. Once your last box is counted, your vote is exhausted.