Media Release 2004: Make Sure Your Vote Counts in Election 2004

5 October 2004

Every Australian elector has a vote in the 2004 federal election, but it will only count if they correctly fill in their Senate and House of Representatives ballot papers.

The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Andy Becker said it was important that every vote was counted especially since many elections had been won by narrow margins.

Mr Becker said that in the 2004 election, electors would be voting in both a House of Representatives election and a Senate election and would be given two ballot papers at the polling place.

"On the House of Representatives green ballot paper, you must number all the squares in the order of your choice of candidate. No ticks or crosses should be used, no numbers repeated and no squares left blank," he said.

"The white Senate ballot paper gives you a choice. You can place a number in a square above the line or number all the squares below the line."

The instructions on how to fill in the ballot papers are written clearly on the top of each ballot paper, and polling officials are available to assist electors at all polling places.

Mr Becker encouraged all electors to take the time to make sure they filled in both their Senate and House of Representatives ballot papers correctly.

For further information on how to vote visit the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au or ring the AEC call centre on 13 23 26.

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