Vote counting for the seat of Bradfield has started from scratch after the Australian Electoral Commission confirmed that just eight votes separated the candidates.
Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian held a wafer-thin lead of eight votes over Teal candidate Nicolette Boele on Monday, when recounting began.
According to the AEC, the vote was perfectly split at 50-50 with 56,191 votes for Ms Kapterian and 56,183 for Ms Boele.
The seat has previously been called for both Ms Kapterian and Ms Boele—but after almost a month of counting, the official recount has begun.
The recount involves a full re-tally of first preferences, re-examination of informal ballots, recount of the two-candidate-preferred tally, and redistribution of preferences.
Typically, recounts can change the result by about 20 votes or so.
Just last week, Sky News Chief Election Analyst Tom Connell had called the seat for Ms Boele after a late batch of postal votes unexpectedly broke 69 per cent in her favour.
Last week, Ms Boele overtook Ms Kapterian by 19 votes, with a further 209 pre-poll declaration votes counted later that day widening her lead to 40 votes.
However, following the AEC’s final checks, Ms Kapterian has edged back into the lead.
The AEC has branded the 2025 federal election the “largest and most complex” vote ever.
Should the recount uphold Ms Kapterian’s eight-vote lead, a by-election could be called or the result could be disputed in court.
Meanwhile, incumbent Teal MP Zoe Daniel has requested a recount in Golstein, after victory was declared for Liberal challenger Tim Wilson by 260 votes.
The former Teal MP claimed victory on election night but ultimately lost after a three-week count observed by scrutineers from both sides.
Despite victory being declared for her opponent, Ms Daniel has raised unfounded concerns that the AEC got the count wrong.
She claimed there were “several errors” picked up in the distribution of preferences, leading to “unusual fluctuations”.
“There are also several outstanding questions regarding the broader count, which would be resolved by a recount,” Ms Daniel said in a statement on Saturday.
“As always, I will respect the process and await the commission’s decision.”
In response, Mr Wilson, who won the seat of Goldstein back after losing it to Ms Daniel in 2019, accused his opponent of “seeding doubt” in the AEC’s integrity.
“Integrity is more than a slogan. When we don’t respect the result we eat into the equity of trust in our electoral system,” he said on Sunday.
“I have lived political grief… But one of the best things I did after the 2022 election was get to ‘acceptance’ quickly in the interests of the voters, my volunteers, and myself.
“I wish Zoe Daniel, her family and staff well in their next chapter.”
