Australians will head to the polls on Saturday to vote in federal elections and choose their next parliament.The ruling centre-left Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is polling slightly higher than the Liberal-National Coalition, led by Peter Dutton, in a campaign that has been largely dominated by housing price woes.
Here is more about how the elections in Australia – where it has been compulsory to vote for the past century – will work:
What’s at stake?
Australians will vote for the upper and lower houses of parliament.
Voters will elect representatives for their area – members of parliament (MPs) – to the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, which initiates or proposes most laws.
There are currently 151 elected members of the House, who hold their seats for three years. However, this year, the House will shrink to 150 elected members due to a redrawing of electoral districts.
Voters will also elect representatives for their state or territory to the upper chamber of parliament, the Senate, which reviews the laws passed by the House. There are 76 elected senators who hold their seats for six years. This year, 40 of these seats are up for grabs. Advertisement
To form a government, a party needs to win a majority – at least 76 seats – in the House of Representatives. If no party wins an outright majority, the party with the highest number of seats forms a minority government by collaborating with smaller parties or independent members.
Besides Labor and the Liberal-National Coalition, a number of independent and minor parties are also vying for seats.
What time do the polls open in Australia?
More than 7,000 polling stations across Australia will open from 8am until 6pm. Because Australia has multiple time zones, here is a breakdown of the times the polling places open:
Polli …