The Victorian Government, led by new Premier Ben Carroll, has introduced a bill to change the voting preference system. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Victorian Government is reforming the state’s voting system in an effort to make it less opaque for voters.
Under the current system, parties can direct how preferences flow through group voting tickets, meaning candidates can win seats in the Upper House through deals rather than voter support.
A new bill introduced this week would change that.
The Electoral Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2026 will abolish group voting tickets.
The government hopes to use the bill to end so-called “preference whispering”, whereby parties create complicated preference deals so candidates are elected with only a fraction of the primary vote.
“Fair elections are the bedrock of democracy, and we are delivering these reforms to ensure Victorians can be confident in their electoral processes,” new Premier Ben Carroll said.
“Victorians shouldn’t wake up after an election wondering how someone with only a handful of votes ended up in Parliament.”
Under the new above-the-line system, voters will be required to number a minimum of five groups in order of their preference.
Those preferences chosen will then flow to standing candidates in the order they appear below the line for each party.
This gives voters greater control over their preferences, the government says, making elections more transparent.
Special Minister of State Ingrid Stitt said: “We’re making elections fairer and more transparent by removing backroom preference deals — ensuring Victorians know exactly who they are voting for.”
The government hopes to bring Victoria in line with other states already using a similar system of above-the-line voting.
The reforms also require the Victorian Electoral Commission to publish information about new political entities so voters know what a party actually is, as often its name can mislead people in the use of their preferences.
Information will be made publicly available for Victorians.
