VEC REGISTER · ELECTORAL LAW · REVIEWED 17 OCTOBER 2026
The rule change that alters the preference-harvesting story
Victoria removed group voting tickets from Legislative Council elections in August 2026. At the 28 November election, parties will not be able to submit a ticket that automatically allocates preferences for voters who simply choose one party above the line.
Voters now control those preferences themselves. The VEC says group voting tickets no longer apply, and above-the-line voters must number at least five parties or groups.
Recent registration decisions
| Party / application | Status | Date / note |
|---|---|---|
| Free Palestine | Registered | 5 August 2026; registered officer Avraham Yemini |
| Put Australia First, Save the Environment | Registered name change | Formerly New Democrats; name change approved 4 August 2026 |
| I'm Voting to Avoid the Fine | Registered | VEC announced registration 13 October 2026; proposed registered officer Daniel Smit |
| Free Public Transport - Victoria | Registration refused | 14 October 2026; VEC could not verify 500 eligible members |
| Australian Democrats | Registered | 15 October 2026 |
| Socialist Alliance | Registered | 15 October 2026 |
What earlier reporting showed
ABC reporting documented statements by Avi Yemini and Monica Smit about using appealing party names to attract voters and, under the then-existing group-voting-ticket system, direct preferences toward other parties. Yemini specifically referred to One Nation in explaining his proposed preference strategy.
Important 2026 update: those statements explain the original strategy, but the August abolition of group voting tickets means parties cannot use that automatic preference-transfer mechanism at the November state election. Parties can still publish how-to-vote recommendations, but voters determine their own preferences.
Do not overstate the network: similar party-registration tactics, shared addresses or preference intentions do not by themselves prove that all of these parties are centrally coordinated.