When will the next federal election be held?

The next federal election in Australia is coming up within the next four months, but exactly when? Well, that’s still up in the air.

There’s been plenty of speculation about an early election, and right now, a mid-April vote is looking like the most likely outcome. Here’s what we know so far about when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could call it.

When’s the Latest the Election Can Happen?

The Australian Constitution lays out some strict rules around election timing. House of Representatives terms run for three years, and an election must be held within 68 days after those terms expire. This time, that deadline falls on September 27, 2025—but we won’t have to wait that long.

Why? Because the Senate plays a big role, too. Half of all Senate seats expire on June 30, 2025, and elections for those seats must happen in the preceding year. When you factor in all the logistics, the absolute latest date for the next federal election is May 17, 2025.

What About a Double Dissolution Election?

A double dissolution election—where both the House of Representatives and the entire Senate go up for election—was briefly rumored, especially after Albanese sparked some discussion about it in September. However, that option is now off the table.

For a double dissolution to happen, a piece of legislation must be rejected multiple times. Since the government managed to pass a lot of key legislation in late 2024, there’s nothing left to use as a trigger. Plus, double dissolutions are rare—only seven have happened in Australian history, the last one in 2016.

What Has the Government Said?

Albanese has been pretty tight-lipped about the exact timing. He’s spoken more about his support for longer parliamentary terms than about calling an early election.

Back in November, he joked about all the speculation, saying, “I have read the election would be in August, September