How-to-vote card

In Australia, how-to-vote cards (HTV) are small leaflets that are handed out by party supporters during elections.

[1] The use of HTV cards have benefited minor parties in a number of ways including increasing their chances of winning, punishing opponents and receiving policy commitments.

Then, the minor right-wing parties are given his second, third and fourth preferences, as they are most likely to support a Coalition government in the event of a hung parliament.

New South Wales uses optional preferential voting (OPV) for the Legislative Assembly (Lower House).

Below is an example of a Coalition how-to-vote card that numbers only one box, showing the how-to-vote card for the Nationals candidate for Lismore (Alex Rubin) in 2023:[7] A major political strategy during Australian political campaigns are preference deals, which direct voters to preference candidates in a specific and desirable order.

In 2023, One Nation's how-to-vote cards instructed voters to only number one box on each ballot paper (and none below-the-line in the Upper House).

[16] In South Australia, a combined HTV card is displayed in the polling booths and early voting centres.

Apart from saving paper, these combined HTVs are helpful for candidates who do not have the resources in manpower or funding to man every booth.

[17] A how-to-vote card lodged with the Electoral Commission of South Australia for display in polling booths and early voting centres.

In Victoria, HTV cards must be authorised by the Victorian Electoral Commission and meet certain regulations before they can be handed out on election day.

Once the HTV card has been approved it can be handed out by the VEC employees in mobile hospital units and other non-regular booths.