Australian Electoral Commission
AEC 2025–26 Corporate Plan
Commissioner’s welcome
Welcome to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) corporate plan for 2025–26. This plan sets our direction for the next four years. It outlines the key activities we undertake to achieve our purpose, and how we measure our performance in delivering high integrity electoral services to Australian citizens.
After the successful delivery of the 2025 federal election, the AEC is now transitioning into the next phase of the electoral cycle, with a focus on embedding the lessons from election delivery into our forward practices. Each election brings new insights into our work. We are continually engaging with a variety of stakeholders and will work closely with the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to continue to evolve our approach to delivering elections.
In addition to our normal regulatory activities, this year is the first full year of implementing our expanded regulatory functions. The implementation of the Funding and Disclosure Scheme, as part of the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 2025, is the largest and most complex change to our role as a regulator in our 40-year history. We will engage extensively with stakeholders affected by the change to enable an effective and efficient user experience across the new systems and business processes we develop. Over the next four years this change will transform how we operate as a regulator.
We will also continue with our once-in-a-generation digital transformation, the Election Systems Modernisation (Indigo) Program. Already in the 2025 federal election, we benefitted from new capabilities including replacing our temporary election workforce management systems. The replacement of our legacy election management systems under Tranche 2 will greatly improve our capacity to adapt in a dynamic security risk environment and to continue to meet community expectations in election planning and delivery.
The AEC remit on electoral matters provides other areas of focus in the coming years. Operating as the Redistribution Committee and as the augmented Electoral Commission, the AEC will administer several redistribution processes to draw and adjust electoral boundaries based on population data. We will conduct elections for officeholders within organisations registered with the Fair Work Commission as required, as well as protected action ballots. Internationally, we will continue to provide electoral assistance to regional electoral management bodies in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
As we navigate through a changing operating environment, the AEC Corporate Plan 2025–26 is our roadmap to deliver on our key activities and to maintain our commitment to Australia’s democratic system.
Jeff Pope APM
Acting Electoral Commissioner
Statement of preparation
I, as the accountable authority of the Australian Electoral Commission, present the Corporate Plan 2025–26, which covers the period 2025–29, as required under paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Jeff Pope APM
Acting Electoral Commissioner
Introduction
About us
AEC
The AEC is an independent statutory authority established under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act), and a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). We operate nationally to deliver free, fair and impartial federal elections, referendums and by-elections.
Commission
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:
- The Hon Susan Kenny AM KC, Chairperson
- Mr Jeff Pope APM, Acting Electoral Commissioner
- Dr David Gruen AO, Australian Statistician and non‑judicial member.
Vision
We are a leader in refining and delivering best practice in election management.
Values
The AEC is a values-driven agency. The AEC values of electoral integrity through quality, agility and professionalism inform everything we do. These values guide the AEC to operate in line with legislation and policy requirements for public resource management. We deliver high quality services, maintaining stakeholder trust and confidence while continuing to strengthen the capabilities of our high performing workforce.
Our performance
Planning and performance
Our corporate plan fits within the broader APS Performance Management Framework required under the PGPA Act.
There is a direct link between our corporate plan and Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS). In our corporate plan, our purpose mirrors our PBS outcome, our performance measures mirror our PBS performance measures, and our targets mirror our PBS expected performance results. (Note, as with our PBS, the terms voters and electors are used interchangeably.)
The AEC Performance Reporting Framework guides our approach to developing, managing and reporting performance information in line with the PGPA Act. We measure our performance against our two key activities and the results we intend to achieve.
Reporting and election readiness cycles
We report our performance through the annual performance statements in our annual reports. We operate on two reporting cycles:
- externally, on a four-year corporate planning cycle, in line with the PGPA Act
- internally, as part of the electoral cycle focusing on the four phases of election readiness:
- Plan
- Mobilise
- Deliver
- Finalise.
As we must always be ready to deliver an electoral event, the phases of election readiness direct our work and are reflected in the performance measures for the year. In 2025–26, we will move from the ‘Finalise’ to ‘Plan’ phase.
Key activity one
Maintain the integrity of electoral and regulatory processes
An essential feature of Australian democracy is an electoral system that operates with a high level of integrity.
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.
The following table outlines our performance against our measures of success.
Intended result |
AEC contributions |
Performance measures |
Targets |
Sources |
Method and frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025–26 to 2028–29 |
|||||
| 1.1 We deliver the franchise – an Australian citizen’s right to vote. | Actively manage the electoral roll throughout the electoral cycle. Process enrolments to agreed timeliness and standards and quality assure a representative sample of enrolments for accuracy. 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% | The Annual Roll Integrity Review, which measures the accuracy and integrity of electoral roll data. | AEC roll data and other agency data, calculated, compared and published at the end of each financial year. |
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 are determined in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. | 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 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. | |
| 1.2 We exercise our regulatory functions. | Regulate the funding and financial disclosure scheme for political parties, entities and individuals with disclosure obligations. 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. |
Information from disclosure returns is published and regulated in accordance with the timeframes in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984. | 2025–26 Information from annual returns published on the first working day in February. Information from election and referendum returns published 24 weeks after polling day for each electoral event. 2026–27 to 2028–29 Targets are being reviewed following the passing of the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 2025. |
Transparency Register (AEC website) | Annual returns: measured annually Election returns: measured for each electoral event |
| The AEC conducts compliance reviews in line with the approved program. | Compliance reviews are published on the AEC website. | Compliance reviews (AEC website) | Annually |
Key activity two
Prepare for and deliver electoral events
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 following table outlines our performance against our measures of success.
Intended result |
AEC contributions |
Performance measures |
Targets |
Sources |
Method and frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025–26 to 2028–29 |
|||||
| 2.1 We maintain an appropriate level of electoral event readiness. | Using frameworks, comprehensively prepare 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 key times prior to each electoral event. |
| Provide timely and accurate electoral information and public awareness products and campaigns to a range of target audiences to support enrolment and participation in electoral events. | Deliver public awareness and education products that target all Australian citizens aged 18 years and over. | The AEC’s public awareness campaign and education programs contribute to an enhanced understanding of Australia’s electoral system, voter services and formality. | Communication and campaign strategy Independent market research and reports Survey responses |
Specific communication activities delivered for mainstream and identified special audience groups measured for each federal electoral event. | |
| Further expand our capability to support and train the AEC’s temporary election workforce. | Percentage of temporary election workforce employees completing election training relevant to their role. | ≥ 95% | AEC Learning Management System | Training completion data measured for each federal electoral event. | |
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 to electors in a timely and efficient manner. |
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 |
Published on the AEC website for each electoral event. | |
Mature and embed our lessons management approach and capability. Undertake a 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 previous electoral events are considered and implemented at the next electoral event. | AEC Lessons Management Framework AEC Election Readiness Framework |
Agency-wide qualitative analysis undertaken for each election event. | |
| 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. | For each event, the writs are issued and returned in accordance with legislative requirements and timeframes. 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. |
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 Electoral Commissioner’s advice published on AEC website Outcomes of the Court of Disputed Returns |
For each electoral event:
|
Meet 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. |
Regulator performance
The AEC’s regulatory responsibilities under the Electoral Act and the Referendum Act involve administering:
- compulsory voting requirements under section 245 and enforcing provisions against multiple voting under section 339 of the Electoral Act – this requires the AEC to pursue non-voters, issue penalty notices, process excuse applications, and investigate cases of multiple voting
- the Commonwealth funding and disclosure scheme in Part XX of the Electoral Act – this requires candidates, senate groups, political parties, significant third parties, associated entities, third parties, donors, senators and members of the House of Representatives to lodge election or annual financial disclosure returns with the AEC
- the referendum disclosure scheme under Part VIIIA of the Referendum Act – this requires referendum entities to lodge returns that provide details of donations received and expenditure incurred during the referendum expenditure period
- registration of political parties under Part XI of the Electoral Act – we maintain a Register of Political Parties listing parties that are eligible to have the party affiliation of their endorsed candidates printed on ballot papers at a federal election
- authorisation of electoral communications in Part XXA of the Electoral Act and Part IX of the Referendum Act.
We apply best practice regulator principles in line with the whole of government Regulatory Policy, Practice and Performance Framework and per our regulatory approach, including:
- educating individuals and entities of their regulatory obligations and escalating progressively to more serious responses depending on the risk and seriousness of the non-compliance issue
- using a targeted approach based on the risk to Australia’s democratic processes
- using deterrence strategies to ensure compliance is achieved. This can include court action to respond to and deter breaches. We seek penalties for more serious breaches of electoral legislation and refer criminal matters to the Australian Federal Police. Through deterrence activities, we ensure electoral participants are aware that non-compliance will be detected, and appropriate regulatory action will be taken
- applying an evidence-based and data-driven approach to assessing effectiveness and to inform quality improvement of our regulatory approach
- using a range of regulatory tools to ensure electoral participants are accountable and the integrity of Australia’s electoral system is protected
continuously improving and upholding our regulatory stewardship by being outcomes-focused, user-centred and reflective of the digital era.
The AEC ensures our regulatory system is continuously maintained through the regulatory life cycle of monitor, enforce, evaluate, and improve, to achieve cost-effective outcomes.
We apply best practice regulator principles in line with the whole of government Regulatory Policy, Practice and Performance Framework.
How we meet the best practice principles |
Measure of success | Key activity reference |
|---|---|---|
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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The measures apply to both our key activities:
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