State Electoral District facts for kids

A state electoral district is a special area in an Australian state or territory. People who live in these areas vote to choose someone to represent them in the state's main law-making group, often called the Lower House or Legislative Assembly.

Most of these districts choose just one person to be their representative. They use a special way of voting called preferential voting, where you rank your choices. However, in places like the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania, districts choose more than one person, using a different voting method called proportional voting.

The size of these districts can be different in each state, depending on their own rules. Right now, there are 407 state electoral districts across Australia.

These districts are only for the Lower House. Some states also have an Upper House, or Legislative Council, which works a bit differently. For example, in New South Wales and South Australia, the people in the Upper House represent the whole state. In Tasmania, they represent single districts, and in Victoria and Western Australia, they represent larger areas made up of several districts.

Electoral Districts by State or Territory

Australian Capital Territory Districts

The Legislative Assembly has three main voting areas. Two of these areas choose five members each, and one area chooses seven members. This means there are 17 members in total representing the people of the ACT.

New South Wales Districts

How people voted in the New South Wales state election in 2007, showing the voting areas.

A closer look at the voting areas in Sydney during the 2007 New South Wales state election.

Currently, there are 93 voting areas, or electoral districts, in New South Wales. Each of these districts chooses one person to represent them in the state parliament.

Northern Territory Districts

The Northern Territory has 25 single-member electoral divisions. This means each division elects one representative to the Legislative Assembly.

Queensland Districts

There are 89 electoral districts in Queensland. These districts choose members for the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, which is where laws are made for the state.

South Australia Districts

In South Australia, there are 47 single-member electoral districts. Each of these districts sends one representative to the South Australian House of Assembly.

Tasmania Districts

The five main voting areas in Tasmania.

Tasmania is divided into 5 electoral divisions. These divisions are special because they each elect multiple members to the state parliament.

Victoria Districts

There are 88 electoral districts in Victoria. These districts choose the members who sit in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Western Australia Districts

Western Australia has 59 single-member electoral districts. This means each district elects one person. Out of these, 42 districts are in the Perth city area, and the other 17 are in the rest of the state.

Images for kids

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  A map showing the state electoral districts in Tasmania.