Not for the Legislative Assembly, mind you. Tradition still rules for the house of government. For your vote to be formal, you must number every square on the small ballot paper.

But on the large ballot paper used for the Legislative Council, where 96 per cent of Victorians in 2010 just put a 1 in some party box, you will have an alternative. You no longer have to write a number in every square below the line – where there are up to 52 candidates. To cast a valid vote below the line, you just have to fill in five or more squares.

Why bother? It means you get to decide where your preferences go, rather than having them decided for you by party officials. When you write 1 in the box above the line, you have no control over your preferences; they go as the party directs, and they could end up electing someone you would never want to represent you.

The former Labor government reformed the system to allow us to choose our own preferences so long as we fill in at least five squares (since there are five MPs elected from each region). You can vote for one party's slate of five candidates, or pick and choose from any.

The council is elected by proportional representation, which usually makes it independent of the government. The Coalition government had a lucky streak in 2010, winning a majority with 21 of the 40 seats, while Labor won just 16 and the Greens three.

This election sees a record number of microparties contesting upper house seats, and swapping preferences to maximise their chances. The preference deals give the Shooters party a good chance in Eastern Victoria, the Australian Christians in Eastern Metropolitan and the Sex party in Northern Metropolitan.