Australians who can't attend a polling place on election day have until Wednesday 30 April to apply to vote by post instead.
More specifically, the deadline is 6pm local time — meaning local time wherever an applicant is in Australia, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has confirmed to SBS News.
Postal voting is a popular option — especially for people living in regional or remote areas and overseas — with the AEC estimating that it has received between 2 and 2.5 million postal applications in recent federal elections.
However, Australians should only apply to vote via post if they can't attend a voting centre on election day or in the two-week early voting period, according to official AEC advice.
"If you need a postal vote, there’s no time to waste. The best time to apply was yesterday. The second-best time to apply is right now," electoral commissioner Jeff Pope said in a statement released by the commission.
Applying for a postal vote
You are eligible to apply for a postal vote if you:
- Are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote;
- Are more than 8km from a polling place;
- Are travelling;
- Can't leave your workplace to vote;
- Are seriously ill, infirm, have recently given birth or are expected shortly to do so (or caring for someone who is);
- Are a person with disability (or caring for someone who is);
- Are a patient in hospital;
- Have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place;
- Are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained;
- Are a silent elector; or
- Have a reasonable fear for your safety.
Voters can either apply online, or using an application form that can collected from a local AEC office.
Forms can be returned via email, post, or fax.
When filling out an application form, you will be asked to choose a security question and provide an answer to that question. This information will be used to verify your identity when casting your postal vote.
You can check the status of your online application and the approximate date you will receive a postal vote pack.
Completing a postal vote
Once your application has been approved, you will receive a pack including a postal vote certificate, ballot paper(s), a return envelope and an information pamphlet.
To complete a postal vote, you need to find a witness (who must also be enrolled to vote). The witness will sign and date the vote certificate but does not need to see how you voted.
The latest you can complete a postal vote is by 6pm on election day, Saturday 3 May. The vote certificate must also be signed by the witness before this time.
After the ballot paper and postal certificate have been completed, post them in the return envelope following the instructions provided.
Make sure to return your postal vote as soon as possible. The AEC must have received your vote no later than 13 days after the election to include it in the count.
It can also be returned in person to a polling place in Australia on election day, or to any AEC office before or after election day.
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