Australia is due to head to the polls at some point in the next few months to vote on who our next next prime minister will be. But exact timings around when we can expect the 2025 federal election to be held, is still a relative unknown.
Election speculation is at an all time high, with experts and commentators alike predicting an early April date from current prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
So why is it so hard to get an exact date in the calendar yet, and when can we expect that to change?
Below, a quick guide to understanding the federal election process for choosing when Australians will head to the polls in 2025.
What Date Is The Next Federal Election?
Unlike electoral processes in other parts of the world which maintain a regular voting schedule, Australia’s system gives the sitting prime minister the power to determine when an election will fall – within reason, of course.
While no exact date is locked in at the time of writing, we do know that under constitutional rule the nation must head to the polls by May 17, 2025.
This is due to the three year cycle of our parliamentary system and its necessary checks and balances.
The constitution dictates that an election can’t be held any later than 68 days after the House of Representatives terms expire, which is on July 25, 2025. If a prime minister simply had to keep this factor in mind, then a federal election could be held as late as September 27.
Throwing a spanner into the works however, is the fact that half the current Senate’s terms expire on June 30, 2025.
So, given the precedent to hold both house and half-senate elections simultaneously, working backwards from the June cut-off gives us a final deadline of May 17.
What Factors Could Influence The Election Date?
At the moment a big factor in experts looking past March for a possible date is due to the Western Australia state election currently scheduled for March 8.
Announcing a federal election at the same time as an individual state’s voting schedule would muddy the campaign waters and create a sense of confusion for potential voters.
Another factor in the election date guessing game is where (between now and May 17) public holidays fall, and with April taking out a large proportion of dates with events such as Easter, Anzac Day and Passover, that month is looking less likely than most.
So what about the first week of April you ask? That seems unlikely, too, as the campaign timing would still overlap with the WA schedule.
Given the circumstances requiring a minimum period of 33 days between when an election is announced and when we head to the polls, bets are still being placed for firing up the democracy sausages on April 12.
Only time will tell, but the window to ensure a campaign sweet spot is swiftly closing. Until it’s confirmed, we’ll keep you updated you posted with all the updates to come.
Related articles:
- Life Before Leading The Opposition: Anthony Albanese’s Rise To The Top
- The Australian Government Passes Social Media Ban For Children Under 16
- Anthony Albanese Has A Record Number Of Women In Cabinet — Let’s Meet Them
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