Welcome to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) Corporate Plan 2023–24. This plan outlines the key activities which measure our performance in delivering high integrity electoral services to Australian citizens.
The plan details our operating environment, risk oversight, management, capabilities, and cooperation with our stakeholders; all of which assist us in achieving our purpose to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for voters.
Electoral event delivery is more complex and unpredictable than ever before, and the AEC is meeting the challenges of this environment by operating in ways beyond the traditional expectations of an electoral administrators with a key focus on actively promoting the positive, trusted reputation of the Australian electoral system. This aligns with the principles of regulator best practice of continuous improvement and building trust.
In this era of heightened use of social media, Australians are regularly bombarded with information from multiple sources. Not all of the information presented to electors through social medial regarding Australia’s electoral process is factual, and the AEC continues to grapple with the challenges in managing mis and disinformation, whilst still respecting Australians’ right to express themselves freely.
Delivering accurate electoral results from operationally excellent events is no longer enough to maintain Australians’ trust in democratic processes. The AEC will continue to scan the electoral integrity environment and proactively engage with stakeholders to establish innovative ways to combat current and emerging threats to electoral integrity. There is no single solution to this, and the AEC must continue to evolve and adapt, including through the evolution of our Reputation Management System.
As the AEC prepares to deliver the first referendum in Australia in almost a quarter of a century, we are also progressing several other agency priorities. Not least of which is our undertaking of a once in a generation information technology and communications transformation; with the first tranche of the program expected for delivery in mid-2023. The Election Systems Modernisation program (Indigo) will govern the replacement and modernisation of core election IT systems. Indigo is an agile technology platform that will transform the AEC’s delivery of electoral services and ensure ongoing integrity of the electoral system.
The AEC is managing readiness for the referendum and next federal election concurrently. We are in the mobilisation phase of referendum readiness, and as part of this phase, are undertaking readiness checks to ensure all necessary activities are in place to deliver the event. We are also keeping focus on our election readiness and are now in the ‘implement change’ stage of our electoral readiness framework, which means we are applying changes based on our lessons learned from the 2022 federal election for future electoral events.
We look forward to implementing the key activities outlined in this plan for the year ahead.
Tom Rogers
Electoral Commissioner
I, as the accountable authority of the Australian Electoral Commission, present the Corporate Plan 2023–24, which covers the period 2023–27, as required under paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Tom Rogers
Electoral Commissioner
This is the AEC’s corporate plan for 2023–24 which sets the AEC’s strategic direction for the next four years. Here is an outline of the elements in our plan, which work together to deliver our purpose.
The AEC is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and an independent statutory authority established under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act).
Our purpose is to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.
In line with the Electoral Act, we do this by:
We also provide a range of electoral information and education programs, both in Australia and in support of Australia’s national interests. We measure performance against our key activities, which outline the distinct or significant work that contributes to achieving our purpose.
Section 6 of the Electoral Act establishes a three-person Commission which has exclusive powers, particularly in relation to electoral redistributions, political party registration, and funding and disclosure. The current Commission members are:
We are a leader in refining and delivering best practice in election management.
Our performance is measured against our key activities:
Our operating context discusses the environment we expect to operate in over the next four years. It outlines how we build our capability, manage our risks, and how we cooperate with others to deliver our purpose.
Our corporate plan fits within the broader Australian Public Service Performance Management Framework required under the PGPA Act. Our performance mirrors the performance measures in the Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS). In the PBS, the AEC has one outcome: Program 1.1 – To deliver electoral events.
We report on our performance through our key activities. Our performance against each measure is detailed here.
This year we are further improving our performance framework. We have refined our performance into two key agency activities, and provide detailed performance measures and targets.
The AEC’s Performance Reporting Framework guides our approach to developing, managing and reporting performance information in line with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). We measure our performance against two key activities and the results we intend to achieve.
The following sub-sections detail our key activities and targets measuring delivery of our success.
We report our performance through the annual performance statements in our annual reports.
We continue to operate on two reporting cycles.
We must always be ready to deliver an electoral event.
Each phase of the election readiness framework directs our workflow and is reflected in the performance measures for the year. Our ‘lessons learned’ approach directs a continual cycle of improvement and learning across all aspects of AEC operations. In 2023–24, we move from the ‘implement change’ to ‘mobilise’ phase.
An essential feature of Australian democracy is an electoral system that operates with a high level of integrity. The AEC maintains an impartial electoral system and processes for elections, referendums, plebiscites and by-elections in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act) and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984.
As the Australian Government’s independent electoral body, electoral integrity is central to the AEC’s values of quality, agility and professionalism. To maintain electoral integrity, the AEC regulates important aspects of the electoral system.
This includes:
Our work in this area enables all eligible Australians to enrol, nominate as candidates, vote, and have their votes counted accurately and securely. Voters participate in a free, fair and appropriately regulated electoral system.
Intended result |
AEC contributions |
Performance measures |
Targets |
Source |
Method and Frequency |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023–24 |
2024–25 |
2025–26 |
2026–27 |
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1.1 Deliver the franchise – an Australian citizen’s right to vote |
Maintain impartial and independent enrolment and electoral services and processes that enable voters to participate in electoral events |
Percentage of eligible voters enrolled (enrolment rate) |
≥ 95% |
≥ 95% |
≥ 95% |
≥ 95% |
Electoral roll and Australian Bureau of Statistics population data |
Calculated and reported internally monthly and published quarterly on AEC website. Reported annually at the end of each financial year and at close of rolls for a federal electoral event |
Percentage of 18 to 24-year-old Australians enrolled (youth enrolment rate) |
≥ 87% |
≥ 87% |
≥ 87% |
≥ 87% |
Electoral roll and Australian Bureau of Statistics population data |
Calculated monthly and published quarterly on AEC website. Reported annually at the end of each financial year and at close of rolls for a federal electoral event |
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Percentage of voters enrolled who turn out to vote at all federal electoral events (turnout rate) |
>90% voter turnout rate for elections for the Senate and House of Representatives Where applicable, turnout rate will be reported for by-elections |
AEC Tally Room |
Number of ballot papers admitted into scrutiny as a proportion of enrolled population |
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Percentage of votes cast formally for the House of Representatives and Senate at next federal election or at a referendum or for by-elections (if any held) |
≥ 90% formality rate |
AEC Tally Room |
Percentage of formal votes cast as a proportion of all votes cast |
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Actively manage the electoral roll throughout the electoral cycle Process enrolments to agreed timeliness and standards Support the delivery of state, territory and local electoral events by delivering joint roll services to state and territory electoral commissions |
Percentage accuracy of the Commonwealth Electoral Roll at the electoral division-level and individual address-level |
≥ 95% and ≥ 90% |
≥ 95% and ≥ 90% |
≥ 95% and ≥ 90% |
≥ 95% and ≥ 90% |
The Annual Roll Integrity Review (ARIR) measures the accuracy and integrity of electoral roll data |
AEC roll data and other agency data, calculated, compared and publicly published annually at the end of each financial year |
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Support the timely conduct of electoral redistributions ensuring, as near as practicable, that each state and territory gains representation in the House of Representatives in proportion to their population |
Redistributions determined in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral |
All redistributions are determined in accordance with the planned determination date and impacted electors are notified prior to the relevant federal election |
Government Gazette and newspaper notices, and the date of letters to electors lodged with Australia Post |
For each redistribution, publication of notices and letters to electors comply with requirements in the Electoral Act |
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1.2 Exercise our regulatory functions |
Process political party registrations in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 Regulate the funding and financial disclosure scheme Develop education and awareness resources to assist political entities in Part XX of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Part VIIIA of the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 |
The AEC maintains an up-to-date public register of political parties |
Compliance with s125(1) of Part XI of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 |
Electoral Act (s125 (1) of Part XI), AEC funding and disclosure, Client and Return Management system and the AEC website |
No identified breaches of s125(1) of Part XI of the Electoral Act |
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Disclosure returns are published and regulated in accordance with the timeframes in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 |
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Transparency Register |
Annual returns: Election returns: |
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The AEC conducts compliance reviews in line with the approved program |
Compliance reviews completed annually compared to the approved program |
Compliance reviews |
Annually |
The AEC delivers federal electoral events, industrial elections, protected action ballots, and Torres Strait Regional Authority elections in accordance with the relevant legislation and rules.
The AEC provides the best possible electoral services and events to stakeholders and the public within a complex environment and in response to increasing community expectations. The AEC must deliver these services and events with the highest degree of integrity, impartiality, and in accordance with legislation. We meet stakeholders’ needs and diverse customer service expectations. Electoral services and events must be accessible to all eligible Australians.
The AEC prepares for and delivers electoral events through the Election Readiness Framework. While the AEC works to a three-year electoral cycle, the timing of electoral events is unknown. The AEC must strike a careful balance between the likelihood of an event occurring with the cost and complexity associated with maintaining a readiness posture. Event readiness is also balanced against other agency priorities.
To maintain awareness of electoral matters, the AEC engages with the public and a range of different communities and stakeholders throughout the electoral cycle. At an electoral event, the AEC conducts a national advertising campaign across a range of communication channels and in many Indigenous and major community languages to maximise successful election participation. Our education and public awareness activities target all eligible voters and consider Australia’s diverse population. Information, service tools and strategic partnerships are developed, including for those who may experience some barriers to electoral participation.
The AEC uses a lessons management approach during and following an electoral event to ensure Australians are provided with successful electoral events. Within the bounds of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act), we continue to enhance and modernise our model for delivering electoral events and services.
Building and maintaining a capable and agile organisation and professional workforce is critical to delivering electoral events. To ensure we can respond to changing legislation, policy, community expectations and our environment, we continue to develop our agility and capability. We do this by refining our organisational structure and focusing on key aspects of governance and assurance. We are also investing in and modernising our enrolment and election systems and processes. Our people and learning and development strategies are designed to ensure the AEC can attract, develop and retain a talented, agile and professional workforce. This includes both our regular APS and temporary election workforce, which surges to more than 100,000 employees during a federal election.
Intended result |
AEC contributions |
Performance measures |
Targets |
Source |
Method and Frequency |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023–24 |
2024–25 |
2025–26 |
2026–27 |
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2.1 The AEC maintains an appropriate level of electoral event readiness |
Using frameworks, the AEC comprehensively prepares for electoral events |
AEC-wide readiness achieved by the directed level of electoral event readiness date |
Agency-wide readiness meets the directed level of electoral event readiness date |
AEC electoral event frameworks |
Undertaken as required at |
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Provide timely and accurate electoral information and public awareness products and campaigns to a range of |
Deliver public awareness and education products that target all Australian citizens aged 18 years and over |
The AEC’s public awareness campaign is delivered in accordance with key objectives outlined in the campaign strategy |
Campaign evaluation report |
Specific communication activities delivered for mainstream and identified special audience groups measured for each federal electoral events |
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Further expand our capability to support and train the AEC’s temporary election workforce |
Percentage of TEW employees completing election training relevant to their role |
≥ 95% |
≥ 95% |
≥ 95% |
≥ 95% |
AEC Learning Management System |
Training completion data measured for each federal electoral event |
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Deliver polling services to the public within the parameters and timeframes set in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and the AEC’s Event Service Plan Deliver enrolment services |
Voting locations (including early voting centres and polling places) published on the AEC website before polling commences |
100% of polling locations are published |
AEC Election Management System data AEC website |
Publication on the AEC website for each electoral event |
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Mature and embed the AEC’s lessons management approach and capability Undertake an AEC voter survey following each federal election to inform future planning and delivery of electoral events |
Undertake a lessons management approach to delivering electoral events |
Agency lessons identified from the previous federal election are to be considered and implemented at the next electoral event |
AEC Lessons Management Framework AEC Election Readiness Framework |
Agency-wide qualitative |
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2.2 The public and stakeholders have confidence the electoral process is well managed in accordance with legislation or rules |
Successfully deliver federal electoral, referendum and by-election events in accordance with legislation |
The result – for each event – is delivered in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 or the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 |
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Electoral Act Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 Electoral Commissioner’s advice published on AEC website Outcomes of the Court of Disputed Returns |
For each electoral event: • Writs issued by and returned to the Governor-General or State Governors or the Speaker of the House of Representatives • Electoral Commissioner’s advice published on the AEC website • Advice received from the Court of Disputed Returns |
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The AEC meets legislative requirements to conduct electoral events for organisations registered with the Fair Work Commission; and protected action ballots when assigned as the Ballot Agency by the Fair Work Commission Engage with stakeholders to modernise industrial election processes and systems, mature planning and assurance, and detail lessons learned |
Industrial election and ballot results are delivered with integrity and withstand scrutiny |
The AEC will report on the outcomes and number of events in which the AEC’s conduct is challenged before a court |
Federal Court outcomes |
Federal Court outcomes for the year, as at reporting date |
Following our annual review of performance information, the measures below were refined to demonstrate the AEC’s strategies for delivering its key activities.
Corporate Plan 2022–23 |
Corporate Plan 2023–24 |
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Performance measure |
Target |
Performance measure |
Target |
2.1.1 AEC-wide readiness achieved by the Directed Level of Electoral Readiness (DLER) date (federal elections only) |
Agency-wide readiness meets the Directed Level of Electoral Readiness (DLER) date (federal elections only) |
2.1.1 AEC-wide readiness achieved by the directed level of electoral event readiness date |
Agency-wide readiness meets the directed level of electoral event readiness date |
4.1.1 Percentage of identified APS and TEW employees that undertake specific training relevant to their role a) Percentage of identified APS employees undertaking specific training relevant to their role b) Percentage of TEW employees completing election training relevant to their role |
≥ 95% and ≥ 95% |
2.1.3 Percentage of TEW employees completing election training relevant to their role |
≥ 95% |
2.2.1 The election result – for each event – is delivered in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 |
a) The writs for a federal election event are issued and returned in accordance with legislative requirements and timeframes b) The AEC will report on the number of Court of Disputed Returns matters which challenge AEC conduct, and whether these challenges are dismissed or upheld in favour of the AEC |
2.2.1 The result – for each event – is delivered in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 or the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 |
a) The writs for federal election, referendum and by-election events are issued and returned in accordance with legislative requirements b) The AEC will report on the number of Court of Disputed Returns matters which challenge AEC conduct, and whether these challenges are dismissed or upheld in favour of the AEC |
Following our annual review of performance information, the performance measures below were deleted.
Deleted 2022–23 performance measures |
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2.3.1 Percentage of enrolment transactions lodged online, including through the Online Enrolment Service (OES) |
2.3.3 After election night, count information is progressively updated on the AEC website |
3.1.3 Deliver electoral participation activities to support AEC priority groups |
3.2.1 Deliver education programs to enhance understanding of Australia’s electoral system a) Annual visitors to the National Electoral Education Centre (NEEC) b) Visitor satisfaction rates at the NEEC c) Maintain the number of unique views of AEC for Schools website d) Teacher professional learning participant numbers |
4.2.1 Increase agency-level governance maturity in the areas of risk management, protective security, privacy and information management a) Risk Management b) Protective security c) Privacy d) Information Management |
4.3.1 Progress the modernisation of the AEC’s core election and roll management systems |
The AEC’s regulatory responsibilities under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act) involve administering:
The AEC applies best practice regulator principles in exercising and assessing these regulatory functions. This is done in line with the Australian Government’s commitment to reduce the cost of unnecessary and inefficient regulation imposed on individuals, business and community organisations.
The principles of regulator best practice are:
The following table outlines our performance against our measures of success.
What we do to meet the best practice principles |
Measures | Key activity reference |
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We understand the operating environment and circumstances of stakeholders and take actions to minimise the potential for unintended negative impacts on them. We provide up-to-date, clear, accessible and concise guidance information, delivered through appropriate channels to the target audience. We apply a risk-based, proportionate approach to compliance obligations, engagement and regulatory enforcement actions. We ensure information requests to the public and stakeholders are tailored and made only when necessary to secure regulatory objectives, and in a way that minimises impact. |
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