Package 'readaec'

Title: Access Australian Electoral Commission Data
Description: Provides clean, tidy access to Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) federal election data. Includes results for the House of Representatives and Senate from 2007 onwards, at both division and polling place level, plus by-elections from 2008 onwards, the 2023 referendum, and the full distribution of preferences. Data is downloaded directly from the AEC <https://results.aec.gov.au> on first use and cached locally for subsequent calls.
Authors: Charles Coverdale [aut, cre]
Maintainer: Charles Coverdale <[email protected]>
License: MIT + file LICENSE
Version: 0.2.0
Built: 2026-09-19 11:25:52 UTC
Source: https://github.com/charlescoverdale/readaec

Help Index

Clear the local AEC data cache

Description

Deletes all files downloaded and cached by readaec. The next function call will re-download fresh data from the AEC.

Usage

clear_cache()

Value

Invisibly returns NULL. Called for its side effect of deleting cached files.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
clear_cache()
options(op)

Get by-election candidates

Description

Get by-election candidates

Usage

get_by_election_candidates(division, year = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

division

Division name (e.g. "Farrer").
year

By-election year. Only needed where a division has had more than one by-election (e.g. Mayo in 2008 and 2018).
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of candidates.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_by_election_candidates("Farrer")
options(op)

Get by-election first preference votes by polling place

Description

By-election results are published at polling place level. Use list_by_elections() to see which by-elections are available.

Usage

get_by_election_fp(division, year = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

division

Division name (e.g. "Farrer").
year

By-election year. Only needed where a division has had more than one by-election (e.g. Mayo in 2008 and 2018).
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of first preference votes by polling place.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_by_election_fp("Farrer")
options(op)

Get by-election two-candidate preferred votes by polling place

Description

Get by-election two-candidate preferred votes by polling place

Usage

get_by_election_tcp(division, year = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

division

Division name (e.g. "Farrer").
year

By-election year. Only needed where a division has had more than one by-election (e.g. Mayo in 2008 and 2018).
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of TCP votes by candidate by polling place.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_by_election_tcp("Farrer")
options(op)

Get by-election two-party preferred votes by polling place

Description

Note that TPP figures are only meaningful where the final two candidates were ALP and Coalition. In by-elections decided between other candidates (such as Farrer in 2026), use get_by_election_tcp() instead.

Usage

get_by_election_tpp(division, year = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

division

Division name (e.g. "Farrer").
year

By-election year. Only needed where a division has had more than one by-election (e.g. Mayo in 2008 and 2018).
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of TPP votes by polling place.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_by_election_tpp("Dunkley")
options(op)

Get all candidates for an election

Description

Get all candidates for an election

Usage

get_candidates(year, chamber = "house", refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
chamber

"house" or "senate".
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of candidates.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_candidates(2022)
get_candidates(2022, chamber = "senate")
options(op)

Get the full distribution of preferences by division

Description

Returns the count-by-count distribution of preferences for every division: each exclusion round, the candidate excluded, and where their preferences flowed. This is the dataset for analysing seats won from second or third place on preference flows, which division-level TPP and TCP figures cannot show.

Usage

get_dop(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame with one row per candidate per count per division, including countnumber, calculationtype (preference count, transfer count, and percentages), and calculationvalue.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
dop <- get_dop(2025)

# Final count in a single seat
mel <- subset(dop, division == "Melbourne")
subset(mel, countnumber == max(countnumber))
options(op)

Get enrolment by division

Description

Get enrolment by division

Usage

get_enrolment(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of enrolment figures by division.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_enrolment(2022)
options(op)

Get first preference votes by division

Description

Get first preference votes by division

Usage

get_fp(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of first preference votes by division.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_fp(2022)
options(op)

Get first preference votes by polling place

Description

Get first preference votes by polling place

Usage

get_fp_by_booth(year, state = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
state

Filter to a specific state (e.g. "VIC"). NULL returns all states.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of first preference votes by polling place.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_fp_by_booth(2022, state = "VIC")
options(op)

Get members elected to the House of Representatives

Description

Get members elected to the House of Representatives

Usage

get_members_elected(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of elected members.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_members_elected(2022)
options(op)

Get polling place locations

Description

Returns all polling place addresses and coordinates for a given election.

Usage

get_polling_places(year, division = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
division

Filter to a specific division name. NULL returns all.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of polling places with lat/lon coordinates.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_polling_places(2022)
get_polling_places(2022, division = "Kooyong")
options(op)

Get referendum results by polling place

Description

Returns Yes and No votes for every polling place, including formal and informal counts.

Usage

get_referendum_by_booth(year = 2023, state = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Referendum year. Use list_referendums() to see available years. Defaults to 2023 (the Voice referendum).
state

Filter to a specific state (e.g. "VIC"). NULL returns all states.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of Yes/No votes by polling place.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_referendum_by_booth(2023, state = "TAS")
options(op)

Get referendum turnout

Description

Get referendum turnout

Usage

get_referendum_turnout(year = 2023, by = "division", refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Referendum year. Use list_referendums() to see available years. Defaults to 2023 (the Voice referendum).
by

Aggregation level: "division" (default) or "state".
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Value

A tidy data frame of enrolment and turnout.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_referendum_turnout(2023)
get_referendum_turnout(2023, by = "state")
options(op)

Get Senate first preference votes by state

Description

Get Senate first preference votes by state

Usage

get_senate(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of Senate first preference votes by state.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_senate(2022)
options(op)

Get senators elected

Description

Returns the senators elected at each election, in the order they were elected within each state or territory.

Usage

get_senators_elected(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame with one row per senator elected, including state, given_name, surname, party, party_name, and elected_order.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_senators_elected(2025)
options(op)

Compare TPP results between two elections

Description

Calculates the change in two-party preferred vote share between any two federal elections. Joins on division ID (not name) to handle renamed divisions correctly. Divisions that don't appear in both elections are flagged rather than silently dropped.

Usage

get_swing(from, to, division = NULL, state = NULL, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

from

Election year to compare from. Use list_elections() to see available years.
to

Election year to compare to.
division

Optionally filter to one or more division names.
state

Optionally filter to a state abbreviation (e.g. "VIC").
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists.

Details

The winner columns report the party that actually won the seat (from the AEC's members elected file), so crossbench seats are identified correctly. The TPP leader columns report which of ALP or the Coalition led the two-party preferred count, which is not the same thing in seats won by independents and minor parties.

Value

A data frame with one row per division containing:

division

Division name (from the later election)
division_id

AEC division ID
state

State abbreviation
alp_pct_from, alp_pct_to

ALP TPP percentage in each election
lnp_pct_from, lnp_pct_to

LNP TPP percentage in each election
alp_swing

Change in ALP TPP (positive = swing to ALP)
lnp_swing

Change in LNP TPP (positive = swing to LNP)
winner_from, winner_to

Party that won the seat in each election
tpp_leader_from, tpp_leader_to

Which of ALP/LNP led the TPP count
seat_changed

TRUE if the seat changed hands
redistribution_flag

TRUE if the division only appears in one election

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
# National swing 2019 to 2022
get_swing(2019, 2022)

# Teal seats in Victoria
get_swing(2019, 2022, state = "VIC")

# A single seat
get_swing(2019, 2022, division = "Kooyong")

# Long-run comparison
get_swing(2013, 2025)
options(op)

Get two-candidate preferred votes by division

Description

Get two-candidate preferred votes by division

Usage

get_tcp(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of TCP votes by division.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_tcp(2022)
options(op)

Get two-candidate preferred votes by polling place

Description

Get two-candidate preferred votes by polling place

Usage

get_tcp_by_booth(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of TCP votes by candidate by polling place.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_tcp_by_booth(2022)
options(op)

Get two-party preferred votes by division

Description

Get two-party preferred votes by division

Usage

get_tpp(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of TPP votes by division.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_tpp(2022)
options(op)

Get two-party preferred votes by polling place

Description

Get two-party preferred votes by polling place

Usage

get_tpp_by_booth(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of TPP votes by polling place.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_tpp_by_booth(2022)
options(op)

Get turnout by division

Description

Get turnout by division

Usage

get_turnout(year, refresh = FALSE)

Arguments

year

Election year. Use list_elections() to see available years.
refresh

If TRUE, re-download from the AEC even if a cached copy exists. Useful on election night when counts are still updating.

Value

A tidy data frame of turnout figures by division.

Examples

op <- options(readaec.cache_dir = tempdir())
get_turnout(2022)
options(op)

List all federal by-elections

Description

Lists House of Representatives by-elections with results published on the AEC tally room, from 2005 onwards. The 2014 WA Senate special election is not included as it was not a House by-election.

Usage

list_by_elections()

Value

A data frame with one row per by-election, including columns division, state, date, year, event_id, and has_downloads. The has_downloads column is TRUE where AEC CSV downloads are available (2008 onwards).

Examples

list_by_elections()

List all available federal elections

Description

List all available federal elections

Usage

list_elections()

Value

A data frame with one row per election, including columns year, date, event_id, type, and has_downloads. The has_downloads column is TRUE for years where AEC CSV downloads are available (2007 onwards). The 2001 and 2004 elections are listed for reference but their data cannot be fetched.

Examples

list_elections()

# Only years with downloadable data
list_elections()[list_elections()$has_downloads, ]

List available referendums

Description

List available referendums

Usage

list_referendums()

Value

A data frame with one row per referendum with results published on the AEC tally room, including columns year, date, event_id, and description.

Examples

list_referendums()