Australian Electoral Commission
Today the Prime Minister announced Saturday 14 September 2013 as polling day for the 2013 federal election. The Prime Minister has further announced that later this year, the Prime Minister will advise the Governor-General to dissolve the House of Representatives with writs to be issued on Monday 12 August for an election for the House and half of the Senate, to be held on Saturday 14 September.
The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 sets various milestones in an election timetable. The Prime Minister's announcement of two key dates in the election timetable, being the date of the issue of writ and the date of polling day, creates a minimum timeframe election period which allows other dates to be determined.
On the basis of the writ being issued by the Governor-General, as indicated by the Prime Minister, on 12 August, and the election date being 14 September, the 2013 election timetable will be:
| Issue of writ | Monday, 12 August 2013 |
| Close of rolls | 8pm, Monday, 19 August 2013 |
| Close of candidate nominations | 12 midday, Thursday, 22 August 2013 |
| Declaration of candidate nominations | 12 midday, Friday, 23 August 2013 |
| Polling day | Saturday, 14 September 2013 |
Phil Diak | Director Media
AEC, Canberra
02 6271 4415
0413 452 539
