Campaigning has been temporarily suspended after the passing of Pope Francis, but voters can still cast their ballot in the early voting process starting from today.
There was no shortage of unexpected incidents as a truck, bearing a Liberal candidate’s sign, accidentally crashed into a polling station at the Quakers Hill Community Centre, dislodging a roof from its supports.
A Liberal spokesperson said: “We sincerely regret any inconvenience this has caused the local community”.
In any case, more than 230,000 people had turned out to case their vote at pre-polling centres by noon today.
So who, barring a contingency, can vote early – either in person or by post – if, of course, they have already decided on their party/candidate of choice?
According to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), it is all those who on election day (Saturday 3 May) will not be able to because they:
-Will be outside the electoral district they are registered to vote in.
-Will be more than eight kilometres away from a polling station.
-Will be travelling.
-Will be working and will not be able to leave to vote.
-Will be seriously ill, weak or about to give birth soon (or caring for someone in such a condition).
-Will be hospitalised and unable to vote in hospital.
-Their religious beliefs prevent them from going to a polling station.
-Are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or under some other kind of detention.
-Are voters whose address must remain confidential (silent elector).
-Have a reasonable fear for their safety.
According to the AEC, hundreds of pre-polling centres will gradually open across the country from today until Friday 2 May.
You are advised to check the relevant information on the Commission’s website (https://www.aec.gov.au/election/voting.htm#start) “as not all early voting centres are open throughout the two-week early voting period”.
The pre-polling centres will be closed on Anzac Day this Friday (25 April).
In addition to voting in person, you can also vote early by absentee ballot.
Applications must be received by the AEC no later than 6pm Wednesday 30 April via www.aec.gov.au/election/pva.htm
Who needs to vote?
All Australian citizens aged 18 years and over must be registered to vote in a federal election.
If you do not vote early or by post you can vote at any polling station in your State or Territory on election day (3 May).
Polling stations will be open from 8am to 6pm, operating out of various local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings.
If you will be in another state on election day, you can vote at a designated polling place in the area where you will be located or consider early voting.
Also, many Australian citizens – including many fellow Greek Australians – may be overseas during the federal election.
This does not, however, exclude them from the electoral process as there is the option of voting by postal vote or…casting their votes as normal at locations where the Australian diplomatic authorities are based.
For Australian citizens living in Athens – or who will be there in the near future – polling stations will be set up at the Australian Embassy (Hatzigiannis-Mexi 5, telephone +30 21 0870 4000).
When can you vote there?
– Wednesday 23 April to Friday 25 April: 8.30am – 3pm
– Monday 28 April to Wednesday 30 April: 8.30am – 3pm
– Friday 2 May: 8.30am – 12pm
Voting in the federal election is not compulsory for Australians overseas, the Australian Embassy’s post on the subject pointed out.
However, according to the AEC, “if you do not inform the AEC, we will write to you and ask you to explain why you did not vote”.
“If you are overseas and cannot vote in personal or by postal vote, you must complete and submit a notification form.”
According to the AEC, “voting centres abroad (around the world and not only in Greece) will be available during the early voting period, i.e. the two weeks before election day, 3 May”.
“Not all overseas voting centres will be open for the entire two weeks and the dates and hours of operation will vary.”
The list of overseas voting centres for the rest of the world is available at aec.gov.au/election/fe25/overseas-voting-locations.
“These centres can provide voting in person and accept your completed postal vote.”
As mentioned above, “if you cannot vote in person, you can apply for an absentee ballot“.
For more details, visit the website of the Australian embassy, consulate or high commission nearest you.
Check regularly: whether they offer in-person voting and collect absentee ballots, days and hours of operation, whether you need to make an appointment to vote, security or entry requirements.
More information for those voting in Greece is available at: greece.embassy.gov.au/athn/25FedElect.
If you are in Australia and you, or someone you care for, have reduced mobility or a disability, you can check the accessibility options for polling stations at aec.gov.au/where.
For voters who are blind or visually impaired, there are special services that can help.
Visit aec.gov.au/assistance or call 13 23 26.
The telephone voting registration process is open from today, Tuesday 22 April, and operates from 8.30am to 5.30pm AEST Monday to Friday for the ten 1orking days immediately before election day (excluding public holidays) and from 8am to 6pm AEST on election day.
Telephone voting is also available for those in Antarctica.
Telephone voting is not available for people overseas who are not blind or have low vision.
The number to call is 1800 913 993 domestically and +61 2 6271 4611 from overseas.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech/communication problems, you can get help to contact the AEC through the National Relay Service (NRS – www.accesshub.gov.au/about-the-nrs/nrs-call-numbers-and-links).
The AEC has another voting service (mobile voting) in some locations for people who face barriers to voting, such as seniors in nursing homes, hospitals, centres for people with disabilities, homeless services, prisons and non-remote, discrete Indigenous communities and certain Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations ACCHOs.
There are also remote mobile voting teams, which usually consist of three to four election officials. They travel by car, plane, helicopter or boat to many remote communities to collect votes from citizens.
For information about registration, voting and elections in Greek, call 1300 720 137.
The AEC stressed that the decision on who you vote for is entirely yours.
Outside the polling station, representatives of political parties may give you instructions on “how to vote” (in what order).
You do not have to follow them.
You can vote in any way you wish as long as your vote is valid.
You can see examples of valid votes in the instructions given to you at the polling centres or visit aec.gov.au/how-to-vote.
“The dynamic exchange of ideas is part of the election campaign, and I encourage you to carefully consider all information you receive, but particularly anything that calls into question our established electoral process,” AEC Deputy Commissioner Jeff Pope said.
“Ask yourself if they are coming from an identifiable and credible source. If the answer is no, my suggestion is to be skeptical.”
