Temporary Employment Register

The AEC maintains a Register of persons interested in Temporary Employment for electoral events. Employment is in accordance with S35(1)(a)(i) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 .

Events where the recruitment of temporary employees may be required include Federal Elections, Continuous Roll Update (CRU) events and various miscellaneous activities such as assistance with Industrial and Commercial Ballots and attendance at Citizenship Ceremonies.

All persons interested in temporary employment MUST complete an Expression of Interest form to enable their expression to be assessed for placement on the Register for Temporary Employment.

The Register is subject to cyclical reviews at which time fresh Expressions of Interest will be sought.

Expression of Interest form [PDF 98k] may be downloaded for completion and lodged with the AEC office you want to consider your interest for temporary employment.

Expression of Interest forms must be posted to the AEC office of choice. Use the Electorate Search to find out which Division you are in.

Temporary Employment Categories

Temporary employees may be engaged for short periods of time for specific electoral activities in the following categories:

1. Office Assistants
2. Polling Officials
3. Electoral Roll Review Officers

Temporary Office Assistants

Temporary Office Assistants are engaged on a 'needs' basis to assist permanent staff on specific tasks related to a specific event.

Events include federal elections, enrolment update and miscellaneous events such as Industrial elections and Citizenship Ceremonies.

Due to variations in workloads there are no guarantees as to the nature or duration of the work on a particular day. Temporary Office Assistants are engaged at the manager’s discretion and may not be required for duty after a specific task is completed.

As a general rule Temporary Office Assistants work during normal business hours, however due to deadlines imposed during an election there may be a requirement to work during evenings and/or weekends and public holidays.

Polling Officials

There are two categories of Polling Officials engaged for Federal Elections - those that are required to work in the period immediately prior to polling day to assist with early voting (mobile and pre-poll voting) and those that are required to work in a polling place on polling day only.

The Divisional Returning Officer (DRO) determines the hours of duty of mobile and pre-poll voting.

Polling Officials employed on polling day are advised of the hours of duty when an Offer of Employment is made. Duty can commence as early as 7.00am and staff are required to remain on duty after 6.00pm until all work at the polling place is completed.

Duties of Polling Staff

Officer-in-Charge (OIC)

OICs are responsible for the management and the conduct of polling at the polling place.

Responsibilities include the inspection and setting up of the polling place, receipt and checking of all election materials, supervising polling staff in their duties, conducting the count, packaging and returning materials to the Divisional Office.

Second-in-Charge (2IC)

2ICs are employed mainly in larger polling places to assist the OIC with polling and counting duties. They may provide relief for other polling staff as required.

Polling Place Liaison Officer (PPLO)

PPLOs are selected to act as 'agents' for the Divisional Returning Officer (DRO) on polling day. Acting with the authority of the DRO, PPLOs visit a group of polling places to observe and advise on proceedings.

Declaration Vote Issuing Officer

Declaration Vote Issuing Officers process Declaration Vote Envelopes, issue votes to absent and provisional electors, complete relevant returns, package/label materials at close of poll and assist with the count of ballot papers after the close of poll.

Inquiry Officer

Inquiry Officers attend to the needs of electors waiting in the queue, assist electors who require help in casting a vote and assist with the count of ballot papers after the close of poll.

Ordinary Vote Issuing Officer

Ordinary Vote Issuing Officers issue ordinary ballot papers to electors whose names are found on the Certified List of Voters, mark the Certified List, complete the account of ballot papers and assist with the count of ballot papers after the close of poll.

Ballot Box Guard

Ballot Box Guards supervise ballot boxes to ensure that voters place ballot papers in the correct ballot box, direct voters to the exit and assist with the count of ballot papers after the close of poll.

Queue Controller

Queue Controllers organise electors into a single queue, direct electors to Issuing Points, ensure Absent electors are directed to Declaration Issuing Points, identify electors who require assistance and assist with the count of ballot papers after close of poll.

Scrutiny Assistant

Scrutiny Assistants are employed from 5.30pm to assist with the dismantling of voting screens, unfolding of ballot papers, packaging of material and tidying the polling place.

Electoral Visitors

Electoral Visitors conduct mobile polling at identified institutions such as hospitals, convalescent homes and aged care facilities in the week prior to polling day in accordance with a published itinerary.

Pre-poll Voting Officers

Pre-poll Voting Officers issue votes from Pre-poll Voting Centres (PPVCs). These are generally located in holiday areas, transport terminals, shopping centres and areas remote from a Divisional Office. They provide a service to electors who are unable to vote on polling day or are from interstate. The Officer-in-Charge of the PPVC is responsible for the supervision of staff, daily reconciliation, final balancing, packaging and returning all materials to the Divisional Office.

Remote Mobile Polling

In some States (NT, QLD, WA, SA), limited numbers of polling officials are engaged to conduct mobile polling in remote areas, frequently Aboriginal Communities.

Persons expressing interest in this type of polling must be able to demonstrate cross cultural awareness and sensitivity and confirm their ability and willingness to travel in light aircraft, 4WD vehicles or boats.

Electoral Roll Review Officers

Electoral Roll Review Officers (ERROs) are engaged to call on selected residences in specified areas known as 'walks', to establish that the residents are correctly enrolled.

Walks are combined into workloads of around 150 to 200 residences and take between 7 and 14 days to complete.

An ERRO must be physically capable of walking for extended periods, coping with stairs and difficult terrain, have a drivers licence and access to a vehicle and be able to demonstrate good oral and written communication skills.