Overseas voting centres will be available during the early voting period, which commences on Monday 2 October and runs for a two week period leading up to referendum day. The opening dates and times will vary.

Voting in the 2023 referendum

For the 2023 referendum, the AEC in conjunction with DFAT and Austrade will be offering in-person voting in a majority of Australian Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions. The number of in-person voting centres in cities around the world will increase from what was available at the 2022 federal election. If you’re overseas and unable to make it to an in-person voting centre, apply for a postal vote.

Postal vote packs will be sent from Australia, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

The voting options for Australians who are overseas during the 2023 referendum are dependent on the local environment.


If you are a general postal voter, you will be sent ballot papers as soon as practicable after the issue of the writ.

If you are unable to find a witness, please click on the link below.

If you are currently enrolled, you can vote in person at all overseas voting centres.

Overseas voting centres are established at selected Australian Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions in the lead up to a referendum.

A list of locations offering in-person voting and postal vote collection services is available on our Overseas In-person Voting and Postal Vote Collection Locations page.

Completing your overseas postal vote

You will receive a postal voting pack that includes all the information you need to complete your ballot paper and return them to the AEC.

Once you receive your postal voting pack, complete and return your ballot paper as soon as possible. Please be aware that the AEC can only legally count postal votes received before the postal voting deadline – 13 days after voting day. We work closely with couriers and use diplomatic mailbags to expedite the mailout and return of overseas postal votes. You can help by applying for your overseas postal vote as early as possible, and by completing it and returning it to your nearest Australian embassy or High Commission as quickly as you can. The sooner you complete and send your postal vote, the more likely it can be counted.

Postal arrangement with DFAT

A majority of overseas voting centres will have the ability to accept completed postal votes via local mail or drop-off.

The local post will swiftly verify the material and forward it to the AEC in Australia. This minimises the time your completed postal voting pack is in an overseas mail system.

Postal arrangement through international mail

If you wish to return your postal vote to Australia using the local mail service in your country, you can do so by addressing your envelope to:

Divisional Returning Officer
(insert applicable address for your state below)

State

Address

Australian Capital Territory

PO Box 717
Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 2620
Australia

New South Wales

PO Box 105
Penrith, New South Wales, 2751
Australia

Northern Territory

GPO Box 1243
Darwin, Northern Territory, 0801
Australia

Queensland

GPO Box 383
Brisbane, Queensland, 4001
Australia

South Australia

GPO Box 2510
Adelaide, South Australia, 5001
Australia

Tasmania

PO Box 260
Moonah, Tasmania, 7009
Australia

Victoria

PO Box 8001
Tottenham, Victoria, 3012
Australia

Western Australia

PO Box 110
Welshpool DC, Western Australia, 6986
Australia

Unable to vote

Voting in a referendum is not compulsory for Australians overseas. If you are unable to vote you should complete and submit an overseas notification form.

If you do not inform the AEC, we will write to you asking you to explain why you did not vote.

Can I vote online?

No. Australia’s electoral laws do not allow for online voting.

I'm in Antarctica

Australians who are working in Antarctica can vote by telephone, in accordance with the requirements of referendum legislation.

Further information

Contact the AEC from overseas: