Planning to vote early? Read this before you do!
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With a major national decision just around the corner, Australians are once again preparing to have their say at the ballot box.
As the countdown to the federal election continues, questions around when, where and how to vote are becoming increasingly important—especially for those unable to cast their vote on the big day.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of May 3.
With the federal election fast approaching on 3 May, many Australians looked to get ahead by casting their votes early—either in person or through the post.
Early voting officially opened on 22 April, offering eligible voters a head start before the big day.
According to Australian law, pre-poll voting must begin no more than 12 days prior to the election.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) offered a detailed guide to help those looking to vote before 3 May.
Voters can apply for postal voting up until 6:00 pm on 30 April and are encouraged to return their completed packs as soon as they received them.
Postal votes could also be submitted on election day if preferred.
Telephone voting became available on 22 April, primarily supporting voters who are blind or have low vision.
The AEC stated that this method required strict eligibility and noted that Australians based in Antarctica also voted this way.
Australians are eligible to vote early if they meet certain conditions.
These included being outside their enrolled electorate, living more than 8 km from a polling station, working on election day without the ability to leave, being seriously ill, hospitalised, about to give birth, or having religious obligations that prevented voting on 3 May.
Those in prison, silent electors, and individuals concerned for their safety also qualified.
Voters will be able to find the closest early voting centre by entering their postcode into the AEC’s online search tool.
For instance, those using the Sydney CBD postcode 2000 could access a list of 12 nearby voting locations.
Most early voting centres will operate between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, functioning just like standard election booths.
Thousands of centres opened after Easter, helping Australians plan ahead and avoid last-minute voting stress.
A reminder was issued that penalties for voting more than once were severe.
As the election drew nearer, the AEC continued to urge voters to prepare early and cast their vote in the way that best suited their circumstances.
In a previous story, we looked at what every voter should do to get ready for one of Australia's most important civic events.
If you're unsure about how to prepare or what to expect on election day, it's worth checking out.
It could help make the process smoother when 3 May arrives.
With early voting now underway and options available for nearly every circumstance, will you be casting your vote ahead of time or waiting until 3 May?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
As the countdown to the federal election continues, questions around when, where and how to vote are becoming increasingly important—especially for those unable to cast their vote on the big day.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of May 3.
With the federal election fast approaching on 3 May, many Australians looked to get ahead by casting their votes early—either in person or through the post.
Early voting officially opened on 22 April, offering eligible voters a head start before the big day.
According to Australian law, pre-poll voting must begin no more than 12 days prior to the election.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) offered a detailed guide to help those looking to vote before 3 May.
Voters can apply for postal voting up until 6:00 pm on 30 April and are encouraged to return their completed packs as soon as they received them.
Postal votes could also be submitted on election day if preferred.
Telephone voting became available on 22 April, primarily supporting voters who are blind or have low vision.
The AEC stated that this method required strict eligibility and noted that Australians based in Antarctica also voted this way.
Australians are eligible to vote early if they meet certain conditions.
These included being outside their enrolled electorate, living more than 8 km from a polling station, working on election day without the ability to leave, being seriously ill, hospitalised, about to give birth, or having religious obligations that prevented voting on 3 May.
Those in prison, silent electors, and individuals concerned for their safety also qualified.
Voters will be able to find the closest early voting centre by entering their postcode into the AEC’s online search tool.
For instance, those using the Sydney CBD postcode 2000 could access a list of 12 nearby voting locations.
Most early voting centres will operate between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, functioning just like standard election booths.
Thousands of centres opened after Easter, helping Australians plan ahead and avoid last-minute voting stress.
A reminder was issued that penalties for voting more than once were severe.
As the election drew nearer, the AEC continued to urge voters to prepare early and cast their vote in the way that best suited their circumstances.
In a previous story, we looked at what every voter should do to get ready for one of Australia's most important civic events.
If you're unsure about how to prepare or what to expect on election day, it's worth checking out.
It could help make the process smoother when 3 May arrives.
With early voting now underway and options available for nearly every circumstance, will you be casting your vote ahead of time or waiting until 3 May?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
