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Australian Electoral Commission
The recount in the electoral division of Bradfield (NSW) finalised today. The final margin is 26 in favour of Independent candidate Nicolette Boele.
Ballot paper formality determinations made during the initial distribution of preferences led to a margin of eight in favour of the Liberal Party candidate heading into the recount. Further rulings on ballot paper formality during the recount process has seen this change, which historically is not uncommon in a recount. The final margin of 26 in favour of the Independent candidate is similar to where it stood at the completion of the previous indicative two-candidate preferred (TCP) count.
As evidenced in previous elections, it is very common in tight contests and recounts for further rulings to be made on ballot paper formality. During a recount, each individual ballot paper is very closely scrutinised by AEC counting staff with challenges made from candidate-appointed scrutineers for both leading candidates. These challenges were dealt with in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act (1918) in the presence of scrutineersby the Divisional Returning Officer in the first instance, and further challenges were considered by the Australian Electoral Officer for New South Wales.
As per previous media advice, the recount involved:
The entire process was conducted in front of candidate-appointed scrutineers in what is a very transparent and methodical process of re-scrutinising ballot papers.
In all close contests and recounts the AEC expedites the cross-referencing of electoral rolls and investigation of any potential multiple marks on the roll; this is done ahead of the more fulsome multiple voter investigation for the federal election, which takes several months to complete. In the Division of Bradfield, our expedited investigation into individuals with apparent multiple marks against their name on the electoral roll found that two individuals were likely to have had a second vote admitted to the count.
As has been found to commonly be the case, the number of identified multiple votes was very low and well below the final margin. Those few instances appear to have been undertaken by confused or quite elderly voters. The AEC is satisfied they were inadvertent and not deliberate.
Approximately 60% of voters were marked off the electoral roll electronically (in real time) for the 2025 federal election, thereby reducing the number of multi-marks and likely multi-voters. This was due to a significant increase in the use of electronic certified lists for this election. Further information about the history and protections in place regarding multiple voting is available via this video.
As per the process for all 150 House of Representatives electoral division results, this result for Bradfield will be formally declared soon. The details for that event will be made available on the AEC website as soon as possible.
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.