With a Federal Election due later this year, now is the time to make sure you’re enrolled to vote so you don’t miss out on exercising your democratic right.
At the moment, it’s especially important that you have your say, with your rights and working conditions under attack.
To enrol for the first time or to get back on the roll, you can enrol online at aec.gov.au.
You will need to provide evidence of your identity. You can use your driver’s licence, Australian passport number or have someone who is enrolled confirm your identity. Please note that the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) cannot accept any other forms of identification, such as 18+ or Proof of Age cards.
It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens to enrol and vote in Federal elections, by-elections and referendums.
You are eligible to enrol if you:
· are an Australian citizen, or eligible British subject,
- are aged 18 years and over, and
- have lived at your address for at least one month.
If you are 16 or 17, you can enrol now so when you turn 18 you'll be able to vote.
For more information or to enrol, go to http://www.aec.gov.au/enrol/.
What is 'close of rolls'?
The ‘close of rolls’ is the date the electoral roll closes for the Federal Election. After this date, you cannot enrol or update your details on the electoral roll for the Federal Election.
When the writs are issued for the Federal Election, a date is set for the close of rolls. A writ is a document commanding an electoral officer to hold an election, and contains dates for the close of rolls, the close of nominations, the polling day and the return of the writ. The Governor General issues the writs for House of Representatives elections and State Governors issue writs for Senate elections.
The close of rolls date is 8pm local Australian time on the seventh calendar day after the writs are issued for the Federal Election.
You must be enrolled at your current address so you can vote for the candidates in your electorate (also known as electoral division) in the Federal Election.