While millions of Australians will do their civic duty and head to the polls on May 3, thousands will also have legitimate reasons that prevent them from going to the physical ballot box this federal election.
Instead, they can opt to cast their vote by mail, called postal voting.
So if you can’t make it to the polling station here’s what you need to know about applying for and casting a postal vote.
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How do I get a postal vote?
First, you’ll need to submit a postal vote application form to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
The AEC will then send you back a postal vote pack – a bundle that includes a certificate for your vote, along with the ballot papers to vote on, a return envelope, and an information pamphlet.
Step two is to simply complete the certificate, fill out your ballots, and put it all in the envelope.
You’ll need to send that envelope back to the AEC by mail, or hand it in physically by 6pm on election day at the latest.
For your vote to count, the AEC has to receive your postal vote within 13 days of the election – that’s by Friday, May 16 this year.
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How to apply for a postal vote
You can apply now for postal voting at the AEC link here.
You can otherwise collect the postal vote forms from an AEC office, or call them on 13 23 26.
You are eligible to cast 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
are caring for someone who is seriously ill, infirm, has recently given birth or is expected shortly to do so
are a person with disability
are caring for a person with disability
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
have a reasonable fear for your safety
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When do postal vote applications open and when do they close?
Applications for postal voting opened the day the election was called.
That means applications for this year’s election are already open.
Postal vote applications close at 6pm local time the Wednesday before election day – that’s April 23 this year.
When do postal votes get sent out?
The AEC starts sending postal vote packages out once ballots are finalised.
“As soon as practicable after the issue of writ for a referendum or when ballot papers have been finalised in a federal election or byelection, you will receive your postal vote pack in the mail,” it says.
Do you need a witness for your postal vote?
Yes, one of the requirements of doing a postal vote is that you have to have someone witness your ballot.
They need to see you filling out your vote – but not who you vote for.
“The role of the witness is to ensure the elector completes their own ballot papers,” the AEC says.
When do the postal votes have to be received by?
For your vote to count, the AEC has to receive your postal vote within 13 days of the election.
That means the AEC has to receive your votes by Friday, May 16.
And what if you live overseas?
You can vote from overseas by visiting an overseas voting centre or completing a postal vote. You will need to provide an overseas address to receive your postal vote pack.
The AEC has encouraged Australian citizens who are in a different country to apply for a postal vote as early as possible to ensure they receive it in time.
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