Anthony Albanese has officially announced the date of the 2025 federal election as May 3.
While previous speculation had placed the most date to be early April, the current prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has today confirmed that Australia will head to the polls on the first Saturday of May.
Gathering in the prime ministerial courtyard, Albanese addressed media to make the announcement.
“My fellow Australians, this morning, I visited the Governor-General, and Her Excellency has accepted my advice that an election be held on Saturday, 3 May, 2025.”
“Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia. In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how we respond.”
Beginning his first of many pitches for the upcoming campaign trail, the prime minister called on Australians to “choose the way forward,” stating:
“Your vote has never been more important.
“And your choice has never been more clear. This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut. That is the choice.”
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?
The next Federal Election is set for Saturday, May 3.
Why such mystery around the date? 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.
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 gave us a final deadline of May 17.
While you’re waiting to head to the polls, brush up on Australia’s Preferential Voting System here.
How Do I Enrol To Vote?
Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 years or older.
If you are not currently enrolled to vote, or your details are out of date, you will need to correctly enrol by 8pm local time Monday 7 April.
Those looking to enrol for the first time can do so here. Or, for anyone with specific circumstances or support needs, the AEC has created more ways to vote, here.
If you need to update details or confirm an enrolment before the cut off date, then head to the AEC website, here.
What Factors Influence The Election Date?
We heard rumours that the election would be called in early March, but Cyclone Alfred and the Western Australia state election, meant that wasn’t possible.
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 was always looking less likely.
Given the circumstances requiring a minimum period of 33 days between when an election is announced and when we head to the polls, an actual date was closing in. And now, we now have our answer.
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
- A Guide To Australia’s Preferential Voting System
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