James Chester Manifold

It is highly likely that a preferential ballot would have seen Nationalist preferences elect the Farmers' candidate.

Just four days after the Swan by-election, and with a bill for preferential voting already introduced into Parliament, Nationalist MP Chester Manifold died, triggering a by-election for his Victorian seat of Corangamite.

There was now greater urgency to change the electoral system and allow the Farmers' candidates to run without splitting the vote.

The Electoral Bill of 1918 was a big one that overhauled a large amount of Australia's electoral system, but the introduction of preferential voting for the House of Representatives was one of the biggest items.