The election worked under a system of preferential voting in two rounds.
From then until 1942 an unusual form of preferential voting called the 'contingent vote' was used.
Using a system of preferential voting, voters number their choices in order on a paper ballot.
Australia uses various forms of preferential voting for almost all elections.
In Australia this variant is known as 'full preferential voting'.
Until preferential voting was introduced, third parties could only be spoilers.
This unexpected outcome led to the introduction of preferential voting in Australia.
The voter must rank all candidates in order of preference (see preferential voting).
Would preferential voting have changed the 1980 result?
This is known in Australia as optional preferential voting.