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Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission's role at a referendum is to provide voting services to the electors of Australia to enable them to have their say on the proposed law(s) to alter the Constitution.
Procedures for voting at a referendum are substantially similar to those which operate at federal elections except that electors vote by writing either Yes or No opposite each question on the ballot paper. Voting is compulsory for eligible electors.
At the 1999 referendum the AEC provided the following services:
The AEC conducted a public information campaign to increase public understanding of, and participation in, the referendum process. The major messages were:
The AEC used a number of strategies to communicate to electors including advertising, public relations, publications, national telephone enquiry service and Internet.
A number of specific activities were also directed at key target groups of electors from non-English speaking backgrounds, electors with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander electors and young electors.
The AEC is also responsible for printing and distributing to every elector the Yes/No case arguments prepared by the Parliamentarians who voted for and against the proposed changes. This pamphlet is distributed to electors throughout Australia.
The AEC is an independent statutory authority and is responsible for the machinery of the referendum only. It has no involvement with the campaigns for or against the proposed changes to the Constitution.
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.