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Section Three: The Countdown - Part Four

Narration:

Most Australian overseas missions, such as embassies, become official polling places at election time.

Some eligible voters for the 2001 Election were in rather difficult to reach places. Number one on that list was Australian troops in East Timor.

Not every person living in Australia is able to reach an official polling place on election day. For many such people the AEC Mobile Polling teams are the answer.

Others can vote at pre-poll centres or apply for a postal vote.

Questions:

Can you think of a place where “getting in the vote” might be even harder than East Timor? Australians working at the research bases in Antarctica could not be visited, but were able to fax their votes to the AEC in Hobart.

Hospitals and remote communities are shown in the video. Anywhere else? Prisons and nursing homes. Remote teams travel by four-wheel drive, light aircraft, helicopter and boat to reach communities.

Those unable to attend voting places for any of a number of legitimate reasons are able to send postal votes in specially designed envelopes that ensure the legality of the vote whilst safeguarding the anonymity of the voter.

Activities:

• Have students make a list of 'essentials' that these teams would need to take with them to conduct polling.
• Students can think about the design challenge of a postal vote form that is secure, meaning it cannot be forged or tampered with, and confidential, meaning the voter's name can be marked off the roll yet their name cannot be associated with the ballot paper.

Glossary

Pre-poll voting - Votes cast at any pre-poll voting centre by voters not able to vote in their home State/Territory on election day.

Postal voting - Electors who for various reasons cannot get to a polling place in the state or Territory for which they are enrolled on polling day can apply, in writing, for a postal vote. They will be sent their ballot papers which must be posted back before the close of polling.