Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially called the 2025 federal election for May 3. This upcoming election marks a significant point in Australia's political landscape, and all eligible citizens are required to participate.

Under Australian law, all citizens aged 18 and over must vote.

Those who have recently turned 18, moved since the 2022 federal election, or returned from overseas must enroll to vote by 8pm on April 4, 2025. Failure to vote will incur a fine of $20.

Election Day will be Saturday, May 3, 2025. For voters who are unable to vote in person on that day, early voting will be available starting April 22, 2025. Certain circumstances qualify individuals for early voting, including being outside their enrolled electorate, residing more than 8 kilometers from a polling place, traveling, workplace commitments, serious illness, disability, religious beliefs, incarceration for less than three years, being a silent elector, or having concerns for personal safety.

Election regulations allow for postal voting under similar conditions as early voting.

Eligible voters must apply for a postal vote package, with applications currently open.

They can apply online, in person, or by requesting a paper form from an Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) office.

The application period closes on April 30, 2025, at 6pm.

Voters must complete and return their postal votes by 6pm on May 3, with ballot papers to be received by the AEC within 13 days after Election Day.

Voters residing overseas are not required to vote but must notify the AEC if they choose not to participate.

Postal voting is also available for overseas voters, who must provide an overseas address to receive their ballot pack.

Voters in different states on Election Day must vote at interstate voting centers.

On Election Day, voters will receive two ballot papers at their designated polling booths.

The smaller paper is for the House of Representatives, requiring voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

The larger paper is for the Senate, where voters can either number at least six boxes above the line for parties or groups or number at least twelve boxes below the line for individual candidates.

The main political entities in this election are the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Coalition, comprising the Liberal Party and the Nationals.

Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will contest against Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

In the last election, the Labor Party secured a majority in the House of Representatives, winning 77 seats, which later increased to 78 after a by-election.

The Coalition won 58 seats, marking its lowest representation since 1983. The Greens captured four seats, while independents held ten seats, and two members from minor parties were represented in the 47th parliament.

Upon the calling of the election, the current parliament is dissolved, entering a caretaker mode where the government refrains from making major decisions that could bind the incoming government.

This mode ensures that the current government does not limit the incoming administration's operational freedoms, focusing only on necessary functions until the election is concluded.