The Greens are encouraging a second preference for the party of Kim Rubenstein and are putting the ALP fifth.

Meantime, the Liberal party with lead ACT Senate candidate Senator Zed Seselja is taking the unusual step in 2022 of not advising voter preferences for any other candidate in the territory.

As well, the two high-profile independents are encouraging an independent voice in Canberra through placing themselves in the "one" position on the Senate ballot and the other party at "two". Professor Rubenstein is also encouraging voters to consider other like-minded candidates.

For the tight ACT Senate race, The Canberra Times can reveal the ALP will preference Mr Pocock's party second, the Greens third, Kim for Canberra fourth, Australian Progressives fifth and the Animal Justice Party sixth. In the 2019 election. Labor put the Greens second on its how-to-vote cards.

If Labor voters follow through with giving Mr Pocock their second preference it could be enough to keep him in the race.

In the House of Representatives, Labor is encouraging a second preference to The Greens.

The Liberal campaign of Senator Seselja is under considerable threat from the array of prominent progressive challengers in particular from Mr Pocock and the Greens. There is no Liberal guidance in the ACT on preferences, including to Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.

"In the Senate and the House, we are asking Canberrans to vote 1 Liberal and then to complete a formal ballot in the order of their choice," a Canberra Liberals spokesperson said.

"This is the most important election in a generation. The most dangerous party on the ballot paper at this election is the Greens, who have a deliberate policy to put our national security at risk with their policy to cut defence spending in half. Any party or candidate who preferences the Greens is putting our national security at risk."

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The Greens, who are in government with Labor in the ACT, are recommending Labor be placed fifth behind Kim for Canberra at "two", Mr Pocock's party at "three" and Australian Progressives at "four". It is noted that Mr Pocock has polled better than Professor Rubenstein and the two independents have a similar climate and integrity platform. However, there are some differences over particular climate and gender reform policies.

"The ACT Greens will be recommending preferences based on our values, and for what is necessary to kick the Liberals out," ACT Greens candidate Tjanara Goreng Goreng said in a statement.

"We will recommend to voters that they direct their preferences (which they control) to the independents, progressive minor parties and Labor, in order of their alignment with our policy platform, to help ensure that as few of our votes as possible flow to the Liberals."

With Labor traditionally getting the strongest primary vote in the ACT, and after the party on Friday secured the number one position on the ballot with incumbent Senator Katy Gallagher, the ALP preference guide being printed on its how to vote cards is all important.

As ever, voting is an individual's choice, but it has been more transparent since Senate voting reform in 2016 in which group voting tickets were abolished and optional preferential voting was introduced.

Voters are now instructed to complete at least six preferences above the line or at least 12 below the line. These are suggestions not directions by the candidates.

The preference guidance for the ACT - to be printed on various how-to-vote cards - comes as part of wider preference arrangements being announced after being sorted out between the campaigns of parties and candidates.