FEDERAL ELECTION - Saturday 21 May 2022
As you will be aware there is to be a federal election on Saturday 21 May 2022. The following information is from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)
Enrolment
Voting is compulsory for all eligible persons whose names are included on the electoral roll. The rolls for this election close at 8:00 pm on Monday, 18 April 2022 and those who have moved address, changed their name or become newly eligible since the last election are encouraged to update their details on the roll before the deadline.
General information about enrolling and voting
Further information is available on the AEC website www.aec.gov.au. Answers to frequently asked questions, including the range of assistance available to help electors to cast their vote is at http://www.aec.gov.au/FAQs/Voting Australia.htm. Alternatively, electors can call the AEC's national help line on 13 23 26.
Voting services
Indigenous Australians
The AEC website has a range of resources to inform and engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally significant way to exercise their human and democratic right afforded to all Australians in determining their future by enrolling an voting in elections.
The website includes fact sheets on enrolling to vote, voting and what happens on election day. It also provides a tool to practice voting and has in-language videos to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote areas. Visit https://www.aec.gov.au/lndigenous/ for more information.
Voters who are blind or have low vision
A telephone voting service is available for voters with low vision or who are blind. Eligible electors can cast their vote by telephone from home, or from any location without the need to attend a polling place. Blind or low vision voters can still vote with assistance at a polling place on election day or at an early voting centre, however the telephone voting service offers a further choice that facilitates a secret vote for electors.
Voters who have restricted mobility
Information about various polling premises used by the AEC is published to provide voters with restricted mobility a greater level of detail about the accessibility of a premises. The information is intended to assist voters to determine whether a particular polling place will be accessible for their individual needs. You can check which polling places are accessible at www.aec.gov.au/where.
For electors who cannot attend a polling place on election day, early voting centres will be operating. The opening dates and times of early voting centres, including accessibility information, is available on the AEC website.
Alternatively, electors can apply for a postal vote. Postal vote application forms can be completed on-line at our website and are available from AEC offices. Those electors who are eligible to vote by post are encouraged to complete an application as early as possible, to ensure that postal voting papers can be delivered before the election. Note that postal vote applications received after Wednesday, 11 May 2022 cannot be processed.
Enrolling and voting as a person with no fixed address
People who have no fixed address can enrol by completing the Enrolment for persons with no fixed address form. This form is available at www.aec.gov.au or at any AEC Office.
Once enrolled, voting is available at a range of locations on election day, these locations can be found at www.aec.gov.au. Postal voting and early voting centres are also available to people who cannot make it to a polling place on polling day.
It is not compulsory for someone enrolled with no fixed address to vote, therefore failure to vote will not result in a fine. However, enrolment allows the opportunity to vote and participate in the democratic process.
Voters who are deaf or with impaired hearing or speech
For electoral information contact the AEC through the National Relay Service:
- TTY users' phone 13 36 77 and quote 13 23 26
- Speak and Listen users' phone 1300 555 727 and quote 13 23 26
- Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 13 23 26.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse voters
General information on enrolling and voting is translated in a range of languages. Visit www.aec.gov.au/translated for more information.
General information about voting and elections in other languages is available by calling the following numbers.
Arabic - 1300 720 132
Assyrian - 1300 720 153
Bengali - 1300 720 153
Bosnian - 1300 720 153
Burmese - 1300 290 617
Chinese Simplified:
Cantonese - 1300 720 135
Mandarin - 1300 720 142
Chinese Traditional:
Cantonese - 1300 720 135
Mandarin - 1300 720 142
Croatian - 1300 720 136
Dari - 1300 290 618
Farsi (Persian) - 1300 290 619
Filipino - 1300 720 153
Greek - 1300 720 137
Hazaragi - 1300 720 153
Hindi - 1300 720 153
Korean - 1300 720 468
Macedonian - 1300 720 139
Nepali -1300 720 153
Mandarin - 1300 720 142
Polish - 1300 720 143
Portuguese - 1300 720 145
Punjabi - 1300 720 153
Russian - 1300 720 146
Serbian - 1300 720 147
Sinhalese - 1300 720 153
Somali - 1300 720 153
Spanish - 1300 720 148
Swahili - 1300 720 153
Tamil - 1300 720 153