Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in key locations in the Middle East and East Timor are the first to visit the polling booths, operated by defence members trained as assistant returning officers.
Four electoral defence teams have travelled to all parts of the Middle East Area of Operations, allowing even those in remote Afghanistan patrol bases the opportunity to vote.
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The electoral teams also travelled to Australian personnel in more isolated parts of East Timor.
Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Mark Evans said defence would make it possible for ADF personnel to cast their vote in the 2010 federal election.
"It is important that all Defence personnel, including those on overseas deployment, are given an equal opportunity to cast their vote," he said in a statement.
"Defence works closely with the AEC to ensure voting is conducted in accordance with correct electoral procedures."
At the conclusion of the voting period, ballot boxes along with postal votes, will be escorted back to Australia and returned to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Personnel unable to reach a deployed polling booth can vote at an Australian Embassy or lodge a postal vote.
