Information for people with disability or mobility restrictions

Accessible voting options

Postal voting

If you are unable to travel to a polling place to vote for the Fadden by-election, you can apply for a postal vote.

A voter with a disability or mobility restrictions may also be eligible to become a general postal voter and receive ballot papers in the mail for each federal election.

To complete a postal vote, the voter may choose an assistant (such as a friend or family member) to help complete the ballot papers and envelope according to the voter's instruction, but the voter must sign the envelope or make a mark as a signature.

Telephone voting

Voters who are blind or have low vision can cast a vote in secret from any location, including their own homes by calling the AEC on 1800 913 993.

Telephone voting is a simple two-step process and AEC voting assistants are available to assist you through the process.

Step 1: Call to register

If you wish to vote by telephone, you must first register by calling 1800 913 993.

Registering for telephone voting will commence on Monday 3 July 2023 and will be available on weekdays between 8:30am and 5:30pm AET. It will also be available on by-election day Saturday 15 July 2023, from 8am to 12 midday AET.

You will be asked questions to check your details on the electoral roll, and will be asked to choose a PIN number. You will then receive a telephone voting registration number by your choice of an email, SMS or phone call.

Step 2: Call to vote

Once you have received your registration number and chosen your PIN, you will need to call 1800 913 993 again to cast your vote.

Telephone voting will be available for this by-election, on weekdays between 8:30am and 5:30pm AET. It will commence on Monday 3 July 2023. It will also be available on by-election day Saturday 15 July 2023, from 8am to 6pm AET.

To cast your vote, call the number provided.

When you call, do not give your name. Please have your telephone voting registration number and chosen PIN number ready. With these numbers you can vote anonymously without giving your name, and these will be used to mark you off the electoral roll.

An AEC voting assistant will record your vote. A second voting assistant will ensure your vote is recorded as you intended.

Your vote remains secret because the AEC voting assistant will not know your name or address.

Once your vote is complete, the voting assistant will place the ballot paper into a secure ballot box.

Remember, you have until 12 midday AET on by-election day Saturday 15 July 2023 to register, and until 6pm AET to cast your vote.

Polling place accessibility

A list of polling places is available.

Each polling place is given an accessibility rating to assist people with disabilities or mobility restrictions. These ratings are:

  • wheelchair accessible
  • assisted wheelchair access, or
  • not wheelchair accessible.

A hearing loop and a text to speech pen is available at:

  • Runaway Bay Community Centre – Open from Monday 3 July – Saturday 15 July
  • Helensvale Senior Citizens Club – Open from Monday 3 July – Friday 14 July
  • Helensvale State School – Open Saturday 15 July

For voters who are deaf or hard of hearing, a virtual Auslan service can be accessed at polling places using your own device. To access, go to https://www.convoaustralia.com/aec.

Assistance to vote at a polling place

If you need assistance to vote at a polling place, you can ask someone to help you.

If you cannot get out of the car and the polling official in charge is satisfied you cannot enter the polling pace, someone may bring the ballot paper to you.

Accessible voting information

Official guide to the Fadden by-election

A printed version of the Official guide to the Fadden by-election is being delivered to all households in the Division of Fadden. Audio recordings of each section of the official guide are available below, as are large print and E-text versions.

You also have the option of calling the AEC at 13 23 26 to have a copy emailed or sent to you.

Candidate list for the Fadden by-election

Accessible versions of the candidate list are available for the Fadden by-election. An audio recording of the candidate list is available below. Large print and e-text versions are also available.

You can also have a copy of the Official guide to the Fadden by-election and the list of candidates sent to you in an accessible format including braille, audio or large print format by calling the AEC at 13 23 26.

Easy read guides

These guides explain how to enrol to vote and how to vote at a federal election.

The information in these guides is written in an easy to read way.

Pictures are used to explain some ideas.

Easy Read icon

Updated: 30 June 2023