The Voice referendum will take place on October 14.
The referendum will ask Australians whether they want to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Eligible Australians now have the opportunity to cast their votes early in the Voice to Parliament referendum. If you’re wondering about the details, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process.
When does early voting start?
The commencement of early voting varies based on the specific election or referendum. Early voting begins a couple of weeks before the official voting day, and in South Australia it started on Tuesday October 3.
Where can I vote?
The respective electoral commissions set up numerous early polling locations that open progressively leading up to the official voting date. To find a location near you, you can use the AEC’s ‘Where Can I Vote?’ tool, which provides information on polling place opening hours, accessibility services, and directions.
You can find this tool here.
Who is eligible for early voting?
Eligibility criteria for early voting can vary, but generally, you can cast your vote early if:
- You are outside your enrolled electorate on polling day.
- You are more than a specific distance from a polling place.
- You are travelling.
- You can’t leave your workplace to vote.
- You have health or caregiving reasons.
- Your religious beliefs prevent you from attending a polling place.
- You are in prison or detained but still eligible to vote.
- You have safety concerns, like silent electors.
When you arrive at a pre-poll center, you might be asked about your eligibility for early voting. However, extensive details are usually not required.
How to vote?
At the referendum, you will receive a ballot paper with the proposed alteration to the Constitution on it, followed by a question asking if you approve the proposed alteration.
The question that will be put to voters is whether to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Parliament of Australia has agreed to propose adding a new chapter, Chapter IX-Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to the Constitution.
On the referendum ballot paper you need to indicate your vote by clearly writing:
- YES in the box if you approve the proposed alteration, OR
- NO in the box if you do not approve the proposed alteration.
Note: The formal voting instructions for the referendum are to clearly write yes or no, in full, in English. No ticks or crosses!
What do I bring to the polling place?
All you need to bring with you to the voting station is your presence. Upon your arrival, an election official will pose three questions to you:
- Can you state your full name?
- What is your current residence?
- Have you previously cast a vote in this referendum?
If your responses align with the details on our electoral list, and you haven’t voted in this referendum before, the election official will check your name off the list. They will then provide you with a voting slip and a pencil, guiding you to a booth where you can place your vote.
Feel free to bring your own pen if you prefer.
Is voting compulsory?
Yes. It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens aged 18 and older to enrol and vote in referendums and federal elections.
If you are already on the electoral roll for federal elections you DO NOT need to enrol again to vote in a referendum.
When and where will the result be known?
stands as one of the most intricate and lengthy counting procedures globally. Although it might test one’s patience at times, this counting method ensures the utmost integrity of the results, emphasizing precision in an openly transparent fashion. Starting at 6pm on the day of the poll, results will be gradually released in the AEC’s tally room. You can access this tally room through the AEC’s official website.
All ballots cast on the day of voting will be tallied that evening. This includes a segment of the votes from early voting centers. While there might be a preliminary indication of the outcome on the same night, a tight race could mean waiting days or even weeks. This delay accounts for the time needed to receive and count additional pre-poll votes, ballots from abroad, and mailed-in votes by the AEC.
For more information, click here.
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