The Victorian Legislative Council has voted 33 to four to pass the Electoral Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2026, effectively ending the state's group voting ticket (GVT) system. Victoria was the last Australian jurisdiction to utilize this method, which allowed voters to select a single party above the line on their ballot, leaving the distribution of preferences to the parties themselves if their candidate was eliminated during the count.

Under the new system, the process for allocating preferences will change, removing the ability for microparties to negotiate complex preference deals that have historically helped them secure seats with a relatively small share of the primary vote. Political analysts and observers suggest this shift will create a significant electoral hurdle for current microparty representatives, including Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell.

While the bill passed with a strong majority, the transition marks a major departure from the previous electoral framework. Proponents of the reform argue that it increases transparency by giving voters more control over their preferences, while critics—often those representing smaller parties—have previously argued that such changes consolidate power among the major political parties. The legislation will fundamentally alter the landscape for the next state election, as microparty candidates will no longer be able to rely on the GVT system to boost their chances of winning a seat in the upper house.