Lexi Webster
Voting is compulsory in Australia, but being out of the country is a valid excuse for not voting. If you're an Australian citizen living or travelling abroad, you can still vote in federal elections. To do so, you must first enrol to vote and then complete an overseas notification form. You can apply for a postal vote after the election is announced, or register as a General Postal Voter to automatically receive postal ballot papers to your overseas address. If you're out of the country on election day, you won't be fined for not voting, but you will need to complete an overseas notification form to avoid being removed from the electoral roll.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voting Requirements | To vote in Australia, you must be on the electoral roll. |
| Voting from Overseas | You can vote by post or at your nearest Australian embassy or consulate. |
| Registration | Registration is valid for 6 years and can be extended for 12 months. If you have been overseas for more than 3 years, you are not eligible to enrol. |
| Ballot Papers | You will receive two ballot papers: a small one for the Legislative Assembly and a larger one for the Senate/Legislative Council. |
| Marking Ballot Papers | You must fill in all the squares on the Legislative Assembly ballot paper, numbering them in order of preference. For the Senate/Legislative Council ballot paper, you can choose to mark your ballot paper either above or below the line, but not both. |
| Voting System | Australia has a preferential voting system. This means that even if your first pick isn't elected, your vote isn't wasted. |
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What You'll Learn
Enrolling to vote from outside Australia
To enrol, you will need to complete an overseas notification form, which can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website. This form allows you to remain on the electoral roll and participate in federal elections, by-elections, and referendums, as well as any relevant state, territory, or local government elections. You will need to provide an Australian driver's licence, Australian passport number, Medicare Card number, or Australian citizenship number. If you don't have any of these, you can use a paper form.
If you are already enrolled and travelling or planning to travel overseas, you can keep your details on the electoral roll and vote in federal elections while overseas. You can apply for a postal vote after the election is announced, but you must register as a general postal voter to receive your postal ballot at your overseas address. It is essential to keep your address up to date. Failure to vote will result in removal from the electoral roll.
If you are moving overseas indefinitely and do not intend to return to Australia, you should still complete and submit an overseas notification form. If you are the spouse, de facto partner, or child of a person registered as an overseas elector, you can enrol and vote in federal elections if you intend to return to Australia within six years.
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Voting by post
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Before applying for a postal vote, it's essential to verify your eligibility. To be eligible to vote by post, you must meet specific criteria, such as being enrolled to vote and providing a valid reason for being unable to vote in person. Being out of state or overseas is a valid reason for requesting a postal vote.
Step 2: Enrol for Postal Voting
If you are eligible, you can enrol for postal voting by completing an application form. You can find the application form on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website or by contacting your nearest AEC office. Provide accurate and up-to-date enrolment details to avoid processing delays.
Step 3: Receive Your Postal Vote Pack
Once your application is approved, the AEC will send you a postal vote pack after the election is announced and the candidates are known. This pack includes your ballot papers and instructions on how to complete your vote. If you are registered as a General Postal Voter, you will automatically receive a postal vote pack without needing to reapply for each election.
Step 4: Complete Your Ballot Papers
Carefully read and follow the instructions provided in your postal vote pack. You will receive two ballot papers: a green one for the House of Representatives and a white one for the Senate. Number the boxes correctly, as your vote may be deemed invalid if not completed properly. Remember, Australia has a preferential voting system, so ranking your preferences matters.
Step 5: Return Your Postal Vote
Make sure to return your postal vote as soon as possible to ensure it arrives on time. Your vote must be received by the AEC by the 13th day after the election day to be included in the count. You can return your postal vote to any AEC office or an Australian polling place before 6 pm on voting day. If you are overseas, find your nearest return address on the AEC website.
Remember to follow the instructions carefully, including any requirements for witnesses and the proper placement of ballot papers inside the return envelope. By following these steps, you can successfully cast your vote by post even when you are out of state or overseas.
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Registering as an overseas elector
If you are an Australian citizen living or working overseas, you may be able to register as an overseas elector. Registering as an overseas elector ensures that your name is not removed from the electoral roll while you are outside Australia, and that you can vote in federal elections and referendums held while you are overseas.
To register as an overseas elector, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are already enrolled to vote in federal elections.
- You intend to return to Australia within six years of your departure.
- You have an Australian address.
If you are moving overseas indefinitely and do not intend to return to Australia, your name will be removed from the electoral roll, and you will not be able to vote in any federal elections held while you are overseas.
You can apply to register as an overseas elector up to three months before your expected date of departure or within three years after you have left Australia. Your registration is valid for six years from your date of departure from Australia. If you find that you will be away for more than six years, you can apply to have your registration extended by one year at a time.
As an overseas elector, you can choose to become a General Postal Voter, which will allow you to vote by post. Alternatively, you may be able to vote in person at your nearest Australian embassy or consulate. Not all embassies or consulates accept votes, so be sure to check before you go.
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Voting in person while out of state
Voting in person while outside of Australia is possible, but there are several important steps to follow. Firstly, it is essential to enrol to vote and complete an overseas notification form. This ensures that you can remain on the electoral roll and are eligible to vote in federal elections while overseas. It is worth noting that registration is valid for six years, with the option to extend for an additional 12 months. However, if you have been overseas for more than three years, you are no longer eligible to enrol.
To enrol, you will need to provide an Australian driver's licence, passport number, Medicare Card number, or Australian citizenship number. If you do not possess any of these, you can use a paper form. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) provides detailed information on enrolling to vote overseas and the necessary forms.
Once enrolled, you can vote in person at your nearest Australian embassy or consulate. It is advisable to check their website ahead of time to confirm whether in-person voting is available and to stay updated on any specific requirements or procedures.
Additionally, it is worth noting that voting is compulsory in Australia, but being overseas is a valid reason for not voting. If you choose not to vote while out of the country, you must inform the AEC to avoid any consequences or follow-up inquiries.
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Preferential voting system
Australia uses a preferential voting system, which means that voters can indicate their order of preference for candidates on the ballot paper, i.e., who they want as their first choice, second choice, and so on. This is different from a simple majority or first-past-the-post system, where the candidate who receives the most votes in a single count is elected, regardless of whether they received a majority of the total votes.
In a preferential voting system, if no candidate receives an absolute majority (more than 50% of the total first-preference votes), then subsequent preferences are distributed. This means that the candidate with the fewest votes is knocked out of the contest, and those votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates according to the next available preference. This process continues until a candidate receives an absolute majority.
In Australia, there are different types of preferential voting systems in use. Some make it compulsory for voters to mark a preference for every candidate on the ballot paper, while others require a certain number of preferences to be indicated, and some are optional preferential. For example, in federal elections, voters must mark a preference for every candidate on the green ballot paper (House of Representatives) and indicate a designated number of preferences on the white ballot paper (Senate).
To vote in Australia, you must be on the electoral roll. If you are living or working overseas, you can register as an overseas elector and apply for a postal vote.
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Frequently asked questions
To vote while out of state in Australia, you must be on the electoral roll. Check your enrolment using the AEC website. You can apply for a postal vote after the election is announced. If you're registered as a General Postal Voter, you'll automatically receive a postal vote pack in the mail.
No, if you're registered as a General Postal Voter, you don't need to re-apply for a postal vote for each election. You will automatically receive a postal vote pack in the mail.
If you don't have any of these documents, you can use a paper form to enrol to vote.
No, being overseas is a valid reason for not voting. However, if you don't inform the AEC by completing an overseas notification form, they will write to you asking you to explain why you didn't vote.
Check the website of your nearest Australian embassy or consulate to find out if you can vote there.
