A guide to enrolling and voting

1 A guide to enrolling and voting As an Australian citizen aged 18 years of age or older, you have a right and a responsibility to enrol and vote in federal elections. Enrolment and voting is compulsory. If you don't vote, you may be fined. How do I enrol? If you don't, your name could be How do we help? You can enrol at removed from the electoral roll and The Australian Electoral Commission you could miss out on your vote in (AEC) is responsible for maintaining upcoming elections. the Commonwealth electoral roll You can also visit any AEC office for and conducting federal elections, an enrolment application. More information is available at by-elections and referendums. I'm not sure if I'm enrolled The AEC does not conduct state, You can check your enrolment at territory or local government voting elections. These are conducted by A federal election is held at least once other electoral authorities. every three years and election day If I change my address/ name is always on a Saturday.

2 When and what do I do? where you vote depends on where Enrolment Every time you move or change you will be on election day. Before you can vote, your name must your name , you need to update your be on the electoral roll. The electoral enrolment with your new details. You can change your details online On election day roll is a list of all eligible citizens at You can also You can vote at any polling place in who are registered to vote in federal visit any AEC office for an enrolment your home state or territory. Polling elections and referendums. application. places open at 8am and close at 6pm sharp. Can I enrol? You are required by law to enrol if you: If I go overseas what should I do? If you are in another state or territory If you go overseas to work or live you and you haven't voted early, you will are 18 years of age or older should let the AEC know. If you are need to vote at an interstate voting are an Australian citizen overseas when a federal election or centre. have lived at your current address referendum is announced you should A list of polling places and interstate for at least a month.

3 Also let the AEC know. voting centres will be available at If you are 16 or 17, you can enrol now a few weeks before so when you turn 18 you'll be ready election day. If you can't make it to a to vote. polling place on election day, you can vote early. 13 23 26. Sample ballot papers Other options You can vote early either in person or Making your vote count If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment contact us by post if on election day you: At a federal election, you are through the National Relay Service voting to elect people to represent (NRS): are outside the electoral division you in the two houses of the where you are enrolled to vote Australian Parliament: the House of TTY users phone 13 36 77 and are more than 8km from a polling Representatives and the Senate. ask for 13 23 26. place Speak and Listen users phone You will receive two ballot papers: are travelling 1300 555 727 and quote 13 23 26. are unable to leave your workplace a green one to vote for a Internet relay users connect to the to vote representative of your local NRS then ask for 13 23 26.

4 Are seriously ill, infirm or due to give area (or electoral division) in the birth shortly (or caring for someone House of Representatives, and Arabic 1300 720 132. who is) a white one to vote for a Cantonese 1300 720 135. are a patient in hospital and can't representative of your state or territory in the Senate. Croatian 1300 720 136. vote at the hospital have religious beliefs that prevent Instructions on how to vote are Greek 1300 720 137. you from attending a polling place printed on the ballot papers. If you Italian 1300 720 138. are in prison serving a sentence of make a mistake or you are unsure Khmer 1300 720 134. less than three years or otherwise what to do just ask a polling official detained for help. Korean 1300 720 468. are a silent elector Macedonian 1300 720 139. have a reasonable fear for your Want to know more? Mandarin 1300 720 142. safety. You can learn more about the Polish 1300 720 143. Early voting centres are open in the electoral system and about enrolment weeks leading up to election day and and voting at Portuguese 1300 720 145.

5 Their locations and opening times will Russian 1300 720 146. Large print and e-text formats be published at of this brochure are available at Serbian 1300 720 147. To vote by post you can apply online Spanish 1300 720 148. or pick up a postal vote application Translated versions are available form at any AEC office. The AEC will Turkish 1300 720 149. from mail out your postal voting pack after Vietnamese 1300 720 152. the candidates for the election have For information about enrolment, been finalised. voting and elections in other Other languages 1300 720 153. languages call the number listed next to your preferred language. 13 23 26. 19-1239. Authorised by the Electoral Commissioner, Canberra.