Information about enrolling and voting for people experiencing homelessness
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You do not need a home address to enrol and vote
You can enrol to vote using no fixed address enrolment if you: are experiencing homelessness – including living in crisis accommodation, sleeping rough, living in transitional or SAAP accommodation, or do not have access to safe and secure housing and you: do not have a permanent home you intend to return to and you: are 18 years of age or older and an Australian citizen |
You must enrol as an ordinary elector if you: have a permanent home address but are temporarily living somewhere else until you return or you: have experienced homelessness but now have a permanent place of living where you have lived for one month and you: are 18 years of age or older and an Australian citizen You can call the AEC on 13 23 26 or visit the enrolment section of this website for more information on how to enrol. |
- How do I apply for no fixed address enrolment?
- Which form do I use?
- Is it compulsory to enrol and vote if I don’t have a permanent home address?
- Are there any penalties if I have not enrolled before?
- Will I be fined if I enrol but do not vote in a federal election?
- Will my details be made public or passed on to other government agencies?
How do I apply for no fixed address enrolment?
If you are enrolling for the first time, or you have enrolled before and are now eligible for no fixed address enrolment, you need to fill out a no fixed address enrolment form and return it to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
Which form do I use?
There is a different enrolment form for every state and territory. You should use the no fixed address enrolment form for the state or territory for which you are claiming enrolment, even if it is not the state or territory in which you are currently living. The one no fixed address enrolment form enrols you to vote in federal, state/territory and most local government elections.
Is it compulsory to enrol and vote if I don’t have a permanent home address?
No, but your vote is a valuable thing and you still have a right to have your say. If you are eligible for no fixed address enrolment you do not have to enrol. If you have no fixed address enrolment you do not have to vote.
Are there any penalties if I have not enrolled before?
The AEC wants everyone who is eligible to enrol, so if you enrol now you won't be prosecuted or penalised for not previously enrolling to vote.
Will I be fined if I enrol but do not vote in a federal election?
No. If you have no fixed address enrolment and do not vote in a subsequent election you will not be fined. However, your enrolment may be cancelled.
Will my details be made public or passed on to other government agencies?
Under the Electoral Act the public electoral roll, containing names and addresses, is available for viewing at any AEC office. However, there is no address shown on the publicly available roll for electors with no fixed address. The information you provide is also made available under the Act to Members of Parliament, political parties, approved medical researchers and public health screening programs, certain government agencies and other electoral authorities. The enrolment form has more information on this.
