This background note provides a brief overview of the rules for determining the next Commonwealth, state and territory elections. It lists the date of the next election where this is fixed, or, where appropriate, the earliest and latest possible dates on which it may occur.

This research report surveys the operation of three types of voting system – first past the post, preferential and proportional representation (single transferable vote) – in Australia.

While the calling of an election is partly a matter of political judgement and timing, a constitutional and legislative framework governs the electoral timetables and processes. The Constitution requires periodic elections for both Houses of Parliament, with separate provisions reflecting the different constitutional role of each House.

This paper discusses the likely dates of the next federal, state and territory elections, surveying the factors that constrain the election dates.

This paper presents the preliminary results of a study of instances of crossing the floor in federal parliament.