Early voting begins next week: Make sure you plan your vote
Hundreds of early voting centres will be in operation across Australia during a two-week early voting period that begins next week.
- Early voting centres open in NT, TAS, VIC & WA on Monday 2 October
- Early voting centres open in ACT, NSW, QLD & SA on Tuesday 3 October
- Monday 2 October is a public holiday in some states.
- Under referendum laws, voting centres cannot open on a public holiday.
Early voting centre locations, opening days and hours are available on the AEC website via our voting centre location tool.
Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers is encouraging voters to plan their vote for the first referendum Australia has had since 1999.
“Federal referendums are in-person events just like elections – this is the first time the country is coming together in nearly a quarter of a century to have their say on potential Constitutional change”. Mr Rogers said.
“If you can vote on October 14, then that’s what you should do. However, if your circumstances might prevent you from doing that then you need to think about the early voting options available and vote according to your circumstances”.
“Remember, it is compulsory to vote for all enrolled Australians”.
Postal voting
If you cannot make it to a polling place during the early voting period, or on voting day itself, you can apply for a postal vote here. Applications close on Wednesday 11 October at 6pm local time.
Following the voting instructions
In addition to planning when and where to vote, it’s important to know how to vote formally in a referendum.
When you go to vote, you will receive one ballot paper with one question – the question will ask if you approve the proposed alteration. On the referendum ballot paper, you need to indicate your vote by clearly writing either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the box, in full and in English.
