<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Millions of Australians are </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-live-updates-date-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-latest-news-headlines/01de9ac9-c5ed-4799-937f-5d6acaa13e2c" rel="" target="_blank" title="still deciding how they'll vote"><span>still deciding how they'll vote</span></a><span> in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/federal-election" rel="" target="_blank" title="federal election"><span>federal election</span></a><span> on May 3 and at least a handful will cast a 'donkey vote'.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some will do this intentionally, while others will cast one without even realising it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's everything you need to know about 'donkey votes' from what one is, to how they're counted, and if they're even legal.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-date-how-to-vote-candidates-everything-we-know-explained/bc3c6a57-ca39-4922-be0b-8af551b4ea9b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australian Federal Election 2025: How to vote and everything we know explained</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What is a 'donkey vote'?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 'donkey vote' is when a voter numbers the candidates on the ballot paper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and so on in the same order that they appear on the paper.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is also considered a 'donkey vote' if the candidates are numbered in reverse order.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-donkey-voting-what-is-it-explained/beaa248f-0b1a-4240-a266-e72155467053" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some 'donkey votes' are cast intentionally by voters who do not care how they vote, or whose preferences are best reflected in that order.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In other cases, 'donkey votes' can be the unintentional result of a voter not understanding how to vote correctly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Are 'donkey votes' counted in Australia?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Yes. An AEC spokesperson confirmed that 'donkey votes' "are valid votes and are counted", unlike informal votes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because they're counted with all formal votes, the AEC does not keep any data on the number of 'donkey votes' cast in each election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-swing-seats-closest-margins-explained/e50609c7-527f-43d8-8c13-c5fd4313ef55" target="_blank"><strong><span>The federal election seats where just a few hundred votes could make all the difference</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/04/01/11/52/federal-election-2025-campaign-in-pictures"><img alt="Anthony Albanese with a baby and Peter Dutton with a beer." sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/gavamJr8QlC6KZQwYrc11ElYHDk=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fb3e384d9-36de-4963-86d1-1bfadec4b714" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/gavamJr8QlC6KZQwYrc11ElYHDk=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fb3e384d9-36de-4963-86d1-1bfadec4b714 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/stBrytON8FGoaa47BqGGm3KwwBA=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fb3e384d9-36de-4963-86d1-1bfadec4b714 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">What politicians have been up to on the election campaign trail</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/04/01/11/52/federal-election-2025-campaign-in-pictures">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What happens if you cast a 'donkey vote'?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>'Donkey votes' are not illegal in Australia and there is no penalty for casting a 'donkey vote' intentionally or otherwise. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The vote will still be counted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What is the difference between an informal vote and a 'donkey vote'?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The key difference between a 'donkey vote' and an informal vote is that unlike 'donkey votes', informal votes are not counted towards the result of the election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Informal voting is when voters incorrectly number all the boxes of the ballot paper, leave the ballot paper blank, or do anything other than follow the instructions on the ballot paper," an AEC spokesperson told 9news.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Informal ballot papers are placed in their own pile and counted separately."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About five per cent of votes cast in federal elections are informal, per the AEC website.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>How to vote correctly</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a federal election, Australians vote for candidates to represent them in the House of Representatives and the Senate using a preferential voting system.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Voters are given two ballot papers – one for the House of Representatives, one for the Senate – and must fill out the papers correctly in order for the vote to be counted.</span></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/03/31/12/48/federal-election-2025-strangest-moments-47th-parliament-australia-in-pictures"><img alt="Strange moments from the 47th parliament of Australia." sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/sJdk83Yo7ms6Mbee8H0H_tTiu6w=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F127be2f1-06c4-4ad0-9d6f-9c51cfc43485" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/sJdk83Yo7ms6Mbee8H0H_tTiu6w=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F127be2f1-06c4-4ad0-9d6f-9c51cfc43485 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/bwLx8d-ed2_8qw8n89qpr6ORx_w=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F127be2f1-06c4-4ad0-9d6f-9c51cfc43485 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Dead fish, cash-snorting pigs: The strangest moments from the last parliament</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/03/31/12/48/federal-election-2025-strangest-moments-47th-parliament-australia-in-pictures">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Common mistakes would be voters not following the instructions on the ballot paper or often missing a number, or including a number twice," the AEC spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will always admit a ballot paper to the count where the voter's intention is clear."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, if your ballot paper is not filled out correctly or is marked in any way other than the numbering of candidate boxes, it "could mean your vote is not counted".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On the House of Representatives ballot paper, voters must number the boxes by the names of each candidate in order of preference, starting from 1.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On the Senate ballot paper, voters can choose to vote above-the-line or below-the-line.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When voting above-the-line, voters must number their preferred parties or groups from 1 to at least 6.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To vote below-the-line, voters must number preferred individual candidates from 1 to at least 12.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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