Skip to contentInformation for people with disabilityInformation on accessibility
Australian Electoral Commission
The declaration of the poll – the formal announcement of the results and successful candidate – for the Farrer by-election will occur at 10am on Thursday 28 May 2026.
This is a public event with candidates, media representatives and members of the public welcome to attend.
The declaration of the poll involves the Returning Officer for Farrer reading a short public announcement. This can be followed by remarks from candidates, if present*.
Following the declaration, the AEC anticipates the by-election writ will be returned to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on or before Friday 29 May 2026. The return of the writ will mark the end of the by-election process, with the new member then able to take their seat in Parliament.
*Note: It is not a requirement for candidates to attend the declaration, and we have no information about whether they will or will not attend. If candidates do not attend, the event is very swift.
The AEC cannot formally declare a House of Representatives result until specific legislated requirements are met under the Electoral Act.
AEC State Manager for NSW Rebecca Main said that a full distribution of preferences for Farrer was required before the poll could be formally declared.
“We were legally required to wait 13 days for postal votes to be returned in the mail, before we were then able to carry out the full distribution of preferences,” Ms Main said.
“The first preference and two-candidate preferred counts alone weren’t enough to provide a mathematically certain result, which is why we could only declare after preferences were fully distributed.”
Over half of Australia’s 150 federal electorates in the 2025 federal election required a full distribution of preferences before a result could be a declared.
AEC TV video: Farrer official declaration timing
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.