About the House of Representatives

Each electorate is represented by one spot or ‘seat’ in the House of Representatives.

House of Representatives seats

When you vote in an election for the House of Representatives you are voting for a member to fill one of 150 seats.

To be elected in the House of Representatives, a candidate needs an absolute majority which means more than half of the formal votes.  

A formal vote is one that has followed the instructions.

Each candidate who is elected becomes known as a Member of Parliament.

The party with the most seats will form government and those members vote for their leader who will become Prime Minister.

What is the role of the House of Representatives?

  • Vote on new laws and changes to existing laws.
  • Talk about and debate issues and ask other members of parliament questions about their work.
  • Represent the views of the people in their electorate. Voters can contact their member of parliament with issues they want to be discussed in parliament.
  • Debate and vote on how the government will collect tax and spend public money.

Voting in the House of Representatives

The green ballot paper is for the House of Representatives.

For your vote to count, you need to follow the instructions.

On the ballot paper you will find:

  • A heading letting you know it is a ballot paper for the House of Representatives. 
  • Instructions letting you know to fill in all the boxes in order of your choice. 

A candidate is a person who wants to be part of the parliament.

You need to write 1 in the box next to your favourite candidate, then 2 in the box for your second favourite.

There are instructions on the ballot paper telling you how many numbers to write.

You need to keep writing numbers in the order of your choice until all the boxes are filled.

House of Representatives ballot paper

Social Story

Social Story – Voting in a federal election – chapter 2

Let’s practise:


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Updated: 21 February 2025