Media Release 2004: More Australians Living Overseas Able to Enrol and Vote at Election

3 September 2004

Electoral Commissioner, Andy Becker said today it was not too late for Australians who had been living overseas for up to 3 years to enrol for the coming election.

"Recent legislative changes mean more Australians can enrol or re-enrol from overseas, as long as they have not been away for more than three years and intended to return to Australia within six years.

"Previously the limit had been just two years," Mr Becker said.

Mr Becker said there was not much time left to enrol but that the AEC website made the process easier for eligible overseas Australians than ever before.

Those overseas who are entitled to enrol and have not yet done so will have to move quickly to meet the close of rolls deadline of 8pm, Tuesday 7 September, local Australian time.

"The AEC website at www.aec.gov.au contains an overseas page that is a valuable source of electoral information and importantly allows Australians overseas to instantly check whether they are still on the roll back home."

At this late stage, the simplest method to enrol or re-enrol was to print an Application for Enrolment From Outside Australia form available from the AEC website and then complete it and fax it to an Australian Electoral Office before the close of rolls deadline. Fax numbers are listed on the form.

Mr Becker said that while it was not compulsory for Australians to vote in federal elections while overseas, the AEC went to great lengths to provide enrolment and voting facilities. At the last election over 60 000 Australians voted from overseas.

"Australians on shorter overseas holidays or other business on election day, 9 October can also vote while away," Mr Becker said.

"There are two ways to vote while overseas, either in person at an equipped Australian diplomatic mission or by postal vote and the AEC website provides further detailed information," Mr Becker concluded.

See http://www.aec.gov.au/election2004/overseas/index.htm for more information. Domestic callers can phone 13 23 26 for help.

Further information:

Brien Hallett
Assistant Commissioner
Public Awareness, Media and Research
Ph. (02) 6271 4477
Mobile: 0413 274 798

Phil Diak
Director,
Media and Communication
Ph. (02) 6271 4415
Mobile: 0413 452 539