5 October 2004

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has the massive task of making sure everything is ready to enable over 13 million Australian electors to cast their vote at the 2004 election.

The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Andy Becker said that many people did not realise the level of arrangements and amount of materials that were required to conduct a federal election.

“It is one of the biggest events that the nation undertakes and this is reflected in the workload for the AEC,” he said.

Mr Becker highlighted just some of the arrangements put in place for the 2004 federal election:

• 7,729 polling places operating from 8am to 6pm on election day (Saturday 9 October 2004)
• 260 interstate voting centres operating on election day
• 309 pre-poll voting centres operating in the weeks leading up to election day
• 100 overseas voting posts operating throughout the world
• 505 mobile teams visiting 2107 special hospitals, 381 remote locations and 21 prisons
• 45,500 ballot boxes
• 155,800 voting screens
• 13,900 recycling bins
• approximately 67,000 casual employees recruited and trained
• approximately 400 election call centre operators trained
• elector leaflets delivered to over 7.5 million households

Mr Becker said that wherever possible all cardboard and paper materials were recycled.

Further information:

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

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