Victorian microparty MPs including Georgie Purcell to face re-election struggle after group voting tickets abolished
Summary
Victoria's parliament has voted to end group voting tickets (GVTs) for the state’s upper house elections starting November 2026. Instead of choosing one party, voters will need to rank at least five parties by preference, changing how some smaller party candidates are elected.Key Facts
- Victoria was the last Australian state using group voting tickets in its upper house elections.
- Group voting tickets let voters pick one party, and that party decides how preferences move if they get knocked out.
- The new system requires voters to number at least five parties above the line in order of preference.
- The bill to abolish GVTs passed with 33 votes for and 4 against.
- MPs from small parties like Animal Justice, Legalise Cannabis, Libertarian, and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers opposed the bill.
- Experts say GVTs allowed candidates with very few first-choice votes to get elected through preference deals.
- Smaller parties fear it will be harder to win seats without GVTs, but some support the reform for fairness in elections.
- Some MPs want further changes like removing regional seats and creating a single statewide electorate, which would need a referendum.
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