Millions of Aussies will be heading to the polls soon but while election day (and your democracy sausage!) is still five weeks away, there’s a crucial deadline for voters that’s coming soon.
Did you know the deadline by which you’ll need to check and update your details with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is right around the corner?
If not, don’t fret — here’s everything you need to know to get your enrolment up to scratch.
Are you correctly enrolled?
Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens who are 18 years old and over, so it’s probably best to check if you’re enrolled (if you haven’t done so already). You can look up your details HERE.
And if there’s any changes to be made, the deadline by which you’ll need to get this wrapped up is 8pm local time, Monday, 7 April.
How do I check my enrolment?
Fun fact — due to privacy reasons, you need to enter your details exactly as they appear on the electoral roll for the AEC to confirm your electoral enrolment.
But don’t worry! If you aren’t able to confirm this online, it doesn’t mean you aren’t on the roll. You might just need to contact the AEC and they can verify this for you.
And if you’ve recently completed your enrolment, be patient, it could take a few days for the AEC to process your form and update the roll.
What do I need to enrol?
Have you just turned 18 or are you voting for the first time? If so, you’ll need to get your name on that list, which you can do HERE.
To be eligible to enrol, you need to be an Australian citizen, 18 years and over, and having lived at your address for at least a month.
You’ll also need to provide one of the following:
- Australian driver license number
- Australian passport number
- Medicare card details
- Australian citizenship number
- Someone who is currently enrolled confirm your identity.
Notably, Proof of Age cards won’t be accepted.
Do you need to update your enrolment details?
Apart from those voting for the first time, there’s plenty of other reasons to check your enrolment details.
Have you recently moved homes? Have you changed your name? Maybe you’ve returned from a long stint overseas? If so, it’d be a good call to make sure your details are up to date with the Australian Electoral Commission.
What happens if you don’t vote?
Look, I know what you’re thinking — what really happens if you don’t vote?
For starters, you can expect to receive a letter from the AEC if its records indicate you did not vote at a recent federal election, by-election or referendum. (If you did vote, definitely advise the AEC and provide details by the due date!) It will also entail a fine, which can vary depending on your state.
To reiterate, failure to vote in an election is an offence under subsection 245(15) of the Electoral Act unless you’ve got a pretty valid and sufficient reason for that failure.
It’s also an offence to try to cheat the system by voting more than once in the same election or referendum.
What’s my electorate?
Fair question! In Australia, you vote for a local member in your electoral to represent you in the House of Representatives (i.e. the lower house of parliament) and the Senate (the upper house).
You can look up your electorate on the AEC’s website by entering your post code or your locality / suburb. Check it out HERE.
It’s actually a great idea to do this because since the last election, the boundaries of a number of seats — particularly in NSW, Victoria, and Western Australia — have changed.
What are the major parties’ policies?
There’s been quite a few election pledges in recent months, so if you’d like a deep dive into the parties’ policies, we’ve got you covered. You can check out our handy guide to Labor, the Coalition, and the Greens’ stance on key issues HERE.
Lead image: Getty
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