As Australians prepare to head to the polls on Saturday, May 3, 2025, the ABC is set to deliver comprehensive coverage of the federal election across all platforms. Voters can expect insightful analysis, real-time updates, and lively commentary as the nation decides its political future.
The ABC News website and app will provide breaking news, live results, features, explainers, and in-depth analysis throughout the day. Over 1 million Australians have already participated in Vote Compass, an interactive tool designed to help voters understand how their views align with those of the major political parties.
Coverage kicks off at 7am AEST on ABC TV and ABC iview, with hosts Fauziah Ibrahim and Dan Bourchier leading the Weekend Breakfast show. Extended news bulletins will follow from 11am to 4pm, presented by Kathryn Robinson. At 5pm, viewers can tune in to a national news bulletin presented by Gemma Veness, who will report live from key polling places and party headquarters.
As the evening unfolds, David Speers and Sarah Ferguson will take charge of the special election broadcast from the ABC Election Centre in Sydney starting at 5:30pm. They will be joined by Annabel Crabb and Laura Tingle, who will provide expert insights alongside Bridget Brennan, who will interview candidates from around the country.
Key figures such as Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Coalition Senator James McGrath will also contribute their perspectives throughout the night. Antony Green, renowned for his election analysis, will be crunching the numbers and providing updates on the electoral outcomes.
To enhance viewers' understanding of the results, Jeremy Fernandez will utilize the 'Big Board' to illustrate trends in the voting, while Casey Briggs will analyze the latest data. Meanwhile, Patricia Karvelas will lead a separate panel discussion featuring Kosmos Samaras and Tony Barry, both seasoned campaign strategists.
ABC reporters will be stationed across the country in battleground seats, capturing the mood of both the Liberal and Labor camps. Reporters Jane Norman and Olivia Caisley will monitor events from their respective functions in Sydney, bringing live updates on victory and concession speeches.
For those who prefer audio coverage, NewsRadio, ABC Radio National, and ABC Local Radio will begin rolling live coverage from 6pm. An expert panel consisting of Thomas Oriti, Sabra Lane, Melissa Clarke, and Dr. Jill Sheppard will guide listeners through the results, seat by seat.
Later that evening, Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber will host a special episode of the Politics Now podcast to digest the results and their implications for Australian politics.
On Sunday, May 4, 2025, the ABC will continue its election coverage with a special Weekend Breakfast starting at 6am, broadcasting live from key election battlegrounds to gather community reactions regarding their voting decisions and hopes for the future.
At 9am, David Speers will present a post-election special on the final 90-minute Insiders program of the campaign, featuring panellists Samantha Maiden, Jacob Greber, and David Crowe. Local ABC radio stations will air a special election wash-up edition of AM with Rachel Mealey, followed by Steve Austin's continued live coverage from 10am.
It’s important to note that voting is compulsory in Australia, and the electoral rolls closed on March 28, 2025, when Parliament was dissolved. Voters must ensure they are registered to vote, and they can check their registration status on the Australian Election Commission (AEC) website.
On election day, voters will receive two ballot papers at the polling booth. The smaller paper is for the House of Representatives, which uses preferential voting. Voters must number every box in order of preference for their vote to be valid. The larger paper is for the Senate, which consists of 76 members, with 12 from each state and two from each territory. For the Senate, voters can either number at least six boxes above the line or at least 12 boxes below the line to cast a valid vote.
If voters are unable to vote in person on election day, they can apply for a postal vote or vote at a pre-poll booth. Postal voting applications must be submitted by 6pm on April 30, 2025, and votes must be completed on or before election day, with postal votes needing to be received by the AEC no later than 13 days after polling day to be valid.
Early voting centres opened from April 22, 2025, until May 2, 2025, with some centres not opening until April 28, 2025, and all centres closed on Anzac Day, April 25, 2025. Remote voting also began on April 22, 2025, with locations and times available on the AEC’s website.
In the outgoing parliament, the Labor party held 78 of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives, giving it a clear majority. The Coalition held 54 seats, while the Greens had four and independents held 13 seats, with one each for the Centre Alliance party and Katter’s Australia party. For the 2025 election, the lower house will return to 150 members, with Western Australia gaining one seat and both New South Wales and Victoria losing one, making 76 the target for a majority government.
Currently, no party has a majority in the 76-seat Senate, with the Coalition holding 30 seats, Labor 25, and the Greens 11, while the remaining 10 seats are held by independents and minor parties. According to Guardian Australia's poll tracker, the Coalition held a steady lead at the beginning of the year, but Labor has since narrowed the gap and overtaken it. Most analyses suggest that a hung parliament is a likely outcome, with Labor positioned to form a minority government.
As the election approaches, all eyes will be on the major parties as they vie for control of the government, and the ABC is committed to providing Australians with the most comprehensive coverage of the election.
