When is the next Australian federal election in 2025?

With the end of the three-year federal government term rapidly approaching, here’s everything you need to know about casting your vote.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

With the end of the three-year federal government term rapidly approaching, here’s everything you need to know about casting your vote.

Read on to see how you can vote, when you have to register by, and what informed the Prime Minister to finally call the 2025 poll.



We answer all your questions >>>

When is the next Australian federal election?

The next election is yet to be called by Anthony Albanese.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will go head to head. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

What factors could influence the election date?

However the exact date is not that simple for a few reasons.

The February 18 interest rate cut meant the Primer Minister was never likely to call it before then in order to cash in on the feel-good factor.

Then there’s the WA election on March 8, meaning they wouldn’t run two campaigns at the same time.

The federal budget is also due on March 25, and there must be a minimum of 33 days between calling the election and it actually being held.

April, however, is full of public holidays which makes it hard to see an election sneaked in.

That leaves April 12 as perhaps the most likely date in that month, given it misses the WA election and the load of public holidays.

May, though, remains the frontrunner – despite the Easter break – with May 3, 10 and 17 looming as possibilities.

What have the major parties said?

Mr Albanese has remain tightlipped over the dates.

“We make decisions when we finalise them,” he told The Conversation’s Politics podcast in February.

Meanwhile Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in February accused Labor of fast-tracking Australian citizenship for those who fled Gaza to win votes in marginal seats.

“Why would you bring people in from a war zone, without the requisite checks on a tourist visa, without precedent? Why would you do that?,” he said.

Election key dates

Our constitution states federal elections must be held within 68 days of the House of Representatives (the lower house) terms expiring, which will occur on July 25.

However, every three years half of the Senate is also up for election – with their terms ending on June 30.

Considering half-Senate and House of Representatives elections are held together as tradition, as well as procedures such as swearing in having to take place, the latest an election could be held is May 17.

An election campaign must go for a minimum of 33 days.

A familiar sight for voters.

How often does the federal election occur?

About every three years.

Unlike other countries which have fixed election dates, Australia has some wriggle room – with the Prime Minister able to call an election at any time before the terms of Senators and Upper House MPs expire.

What is a double-dissolution election and is it possible?

A double dissolution is when both houses of parliament (House of Representatives and Senate) are shut down, or ‘dissolved’, so a federal election can take place.

In a regular election, all of the House of Representatives stand for re-election but only half of the Senate stand for re-election.

In a double dissolution election, all positions in both houses become vacant and everyone stands for re-election.

There have been seven double dissolutions in Australia: in 1914, 1951, 1974, 1975, 1983, 1987 and 2016.

Source: Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

How does the Prime Minister decide when the election gets called?

Anthony Albanese’s decision to pull the trigger for an election has been informed by when he feels the timing will give his party the best chance of succeeding.

External factors such as the state of the economy – Labor will have welcomed February’s rate cut - will have played a large role.

Mr Albanese as Prime Minister has repeatedly said he wishes to go full-term.

He’s even expressed support for four-year terms for federal parliament.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be hoping for another term in office. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

How will the WA State Election affect the Federal Election date?

The Western Australian state election on March 8 was key in Albanese’s decision to call the election.

The Prime Minister will likely want to avoid the ire of voters in that state by sending them to the polling booths in quick succession for repeated elections.

There’s next to no chance of Western Australia’s massive Labor majority being toppled, so it could also be appealing to Mr Albanese to call the election for a date following his party’s likely victory in the state’s election.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

How to vote in the 2025 federal election 

Pre-poll voting – meaning you can vote in person at certain booths – opens two weeks before election day.

Those outside of their electorate on polling day can apply online or at an Australian Electoral Commission for a postal vote, with the completed vote having to be received by the Australian Electoral Commission no later than 13 days after the election.

The AEC will mail out the postal voting pack after the candidates for the election have been finalised.

On polling day, you can vote at any polling place in your state or territory.

Anyone who has moved since the last election must update their details on the electoral roll before it closes – one week after the election is called.

Those who fail to vote can expect a $20 fine.