| Absent Votes |
Votes cast by electors who are out of their electoral divisions but still within their state or territory on polling day. These votes may be cast at any polling place in that state or territory. |
| Absolute Majority |
In a House of Representatives election, a candidate must gain more than half of the formal votes to be elected. This is known as an Absolute Majority. Often this involves the distribution of preferences. |
| Australian Electoral Commission |
An independent statutory authority that conducts federal elections and referendums, maintains the electoral rolls, conducts electoral education and promotes public awareness of electoral and parliamentary matters. |
| Ballot Box |
The sealed container into which electors place their completed ballot paper. |
| Ballot Paper |
A paper which shows the names of the candidates who are standing in an election. The voter numbers the boxes beside each candidate’s name to show his or her preferences. |
| Candidate |
A person who stands for election to parliament. Candidates are mostly nominated by political parties. |
| Commonwealth Electoral Act |
The legislation governing the Commonwealth electoral process. |
| Certified List (of Electors) |
A copy of the electoral roll for a division produced for a particular election or referendum and certified by the Australian Electoral Commissioner. |
| Compulsory Voting |
Australian citizens, 18 years or older are required by law to enrol and vote in federal elections and referendums. |
| Distribution of Preferences |
The process used to determine the candidate to be elected when no candidate gains an Absolute Majority of first preference votes in the first count. |
| Divisions (federal electoral) |
Australia is divided into voting districts or electorates which are known as divisions. One member is elected from each division to the House of Representatives. |
| Divisional Returning Officer |
The full time AEC officer responsible for maintaining the roll and conducting the election in each division |
| Double Random Draw |
The order in which candidates’ names appear on the ballot paper is determined by this method. The first draw assigns a number to each candidate and the second draw determines the order in which each candidate appears on the ballot paper. |
| Election |
The process by which voters elect representatives to represent them in parliament. |
| Electoral Commissioner |
The officer who performs the functions of chief executive officer of the Australian Electoral Commission. |
| Electoral Roll |
The list of voters entitled to vote in elections and referendums. |
| Electors |
People eligible to vote in an election. (Also known as voters) |
| Enrolment |
The act of having your name placed on the electoral roll. If you are not enrolled you cannot vote. |
| Formal Vote |
A vote cast in an election or a referendum that has been marked according to the rules for that election or referendum. A vote not marked correctly is an informal vote. |
| Funding Entitlement |
The total ofpublic funding payable based on the number of formal first preference votes obtained at a Federal election. This scheme is administrated by the AEC. |
| Governor General |
The Queen’s representative in the Commonwealth of Australia. |
| House of Representatives |
One of the two Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament. It is also known as ‘The People’s House’ Or ‘The House of Government’. |
| Informal Vote |
A ballot paper which has been incorrectly completed or not filled in at all. Informal votes are not counted in the election of a candidate. |
| Mobile Polling |
Mobile polling teams bring the polling to the elector. They visit electors in hospitals and nursing homes, prisons and remote locations to enable them to vote. |
| Nomination |
The proposal for a person to become a candidate for an election. |
| Polling Place |
Polling places are set up in each division to take the votes of the local people. |
| Postal Voters |
Voters can apply in writing for a postal vote if for various reasons they cannot attend a polling place in the State or Territory where they are enrolled. |
| Postal Voting |
A method of voting through the post. |
| Preferential Voting |
A method of voting in which voters complete a ballot paper by placing numbers next to each candidate on the ballot paper to indicate their preferences. Voters may be required to number all the boxes to indicate all their preferences (‘full’ preferential) or to fill in one box to indicate their first preference only or more if they so wish (‘optional’ preferential). |
| Pre-Poll Voting |
Votes cast at any AEC office or any pre-poll voting centre in the lead-up to polling day. Voters unable to vote in their division on election day cast these. |
| Quota |
The proportion of votes required by a candidate to be elected to the Senate. |
| Redistribution |
The redrawing of electoral boundaries to ensure that there are, as near as possible, equal number of electors in each division for a State or Territory. |
| Representative |
A person elected to represent the people of a division (House of Representatives) or State/Territory (Senate). |
| Scrutineer |
An individual appointed by candidates to ensure that voting, sorting and counting are done fairly and accurately. |
| Senate |
One of the two Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament. It is also known as ‘The States’ House’ or ‘House of Review’. |
| Tally Room |
The venue where the progressive voting figures for divisions are displayed when the votes are being counted on election night. The National Tally Room for federal elections is located in Canberra. |
| Vote |
The formal act of an elector in an election to choose the candidates they wish to represent them. |
| Writ |
A document commanding an electoral officer to hold an election or referendum. The issue of a writ starts the electoral process. |
