The Federal election has been called for Saturday May 21 and if you want your vote to count, you need to make sure you are correctly enrolled.
Floods have also displaced many from their homes, so the Electoral Commission has also provided some guidelines for those people.
If you are an Australian citizen aged 18 years or older you are required to vote in the federal election.
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You must be correctly enrolled by 8pm local time Monday April 18, 2022.
To enrol, complete the form at www.aec.gov.au/enrol/.
If you are already enrolled but need to update your name or address, you can also update your details there.
You can also enrol by completing and printing a PDF form then return it to the AEC, or picking up a form at an AEC office and returning it to the AEC.
Call 13 23 26 for assistance.
Impacted by floods
If you are temporarily displaced from your enrolled address due to flood or other natural disasters, you may still remain enrolled at that address. If you would like to add a temporary postal address to your enrolment record, please use the online enrolment form to update your contact details. Alternatively, you can contact us. Remember to update the temporary postal address once your circumstances have changed.
If the floods have caused you to move residence in what you now consider to be a permanent new arrangement then you should update your enrolment.
Postal vote
You are eligible to apply for a postal vote if you are unable to get to a polling place on election day. You are encouraged to apply as soon as you know you are eligible.
The AEC cannot send your voting pack until the ballot papers have been printed. The earliest the AEC can send out your pack is April 26. If you do not apply as soon as possible, you may have to choose an alternative way to vote.
If you are a registered general postal voter and your postal address has changed or you have been affected by events such as natural disasters, you can update your postal address online.
Submitting your ballot papers
Ballot papers must be completed and witnessed on or before election day. You are encouraged to do this as soon as possible after receiving your vote. Follow the instructions on the inside of the postal vote certificate. Once you have completed your postal vote, return it inside the white return envelope provided. The address to use to return your postal vote will be printed on the materials you received.
You have only 13 days after the election for your ballot papers to be received by the AEC.
Overseas postal voting
If you are overseas you will need to provide an overseas address that enables you to receive and return your completed ballot papers to Australia in time to be counted.
You are encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure that you receive your voting materials in time. We recommend that you complete and return your ballot papers as soon as possible so your vote can be counted. You have only 13 days after the election for your ballot papers to be received by the AEC.
If you cannot show the unsigned Postal Vote Certificate and blank ballot papers to an authorised witness, please complete the Overseas postal vote: witness declaration alternative.
Enrolment information and forms are also available for people who are homeless or have no fixed residential address.
