Postal voters urged to return their vote in the 2007 federal election
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is urging eligible electors who applied for a postal vote in the 2007 federal election to return their completed ballot papers without delay.
The Electoral Commissioner, Ian Campbell reminded electors voting by post that their completed ballot papers must be in the mail to the AEC, or hand-delivered to an AEC office, before election day Saturday 24 November.
Mr Campbell said even if an elector had applied for a postal vote, they could still consider the simpler alternative of casting their early vote in person at any one of over 400 early voting centres.
“If you decide to vote at an early voting centre after applying for a postal vote, you must either return the un-used postal voting materials to the AEC or destroy them,” he said.
The locations and operating hours of early voting centres are available at www.aec.gov.au or by calling 13 23 26.
“Time is fast running out for any elector who still intends to vote by post but hasn’t yet applied. At this late stage, I would encourage these electors to first consider if they can vote at an early voting centre before applying for a postal vote,” Mr Campbell said.
“If voting by post is the only option, get a postal vote application form at www.aec.gov.au, any AEC office or Australia Post outlet or by calling 13 23 26 and send it back to the AEC immediately,” he said.
Electors are eligible for an early or postal vote if on election day they will be interstate or overseas; more than 8km from a polling place; approaching childbirth; seriously ill or caring for someone who is; or unable to attend a polling place due to religious beliefs, disability or work commitments.
The AEC has so far received over 720,000 postal vote applications for the 2007 federal election.
For further information on early voting, visit www.aec.gov.au or call the AEC on 13 23 26.
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