FAQs

You can vote at any polling place on voting day. Polling places are usually located at local schools, churches and community halls, or public buildings. The locations of these polling places will be available on the AEC website. Postal voting, early voting and mobile polling will also be available for the referendum.

More detail about voting services will be made available in the lead up to the referendum.

At a referendum, you will receive a ballot paper with the proposed alteration to the Constitution on it, followed by a question asking if you approve the proposed alteration. On the referendum ballot paper you need to indicate your vote by clearly writing:

• YES in the box if you approve the proposed alteration, OR
• NO in the box if you do not approve the proposed alteration.

• Practise filling out a ballot paper

We recommend always following the instructions on the ballot paper. To make sure your vote is able to be counted in a referendum, you need to clearly write either 'Yes' or 'No' opposite the question - as per the instructions.

We will always admit a ballot paper to the count where the voter's intention is clear but any marks or words other than 'yes' or 'no' (e.g. the use of a tick or check mark) could leave the formality of your vote open to interpretation or challenge. Ultimately, if challenged, the relevant AEC Divisional Returning Officer will decide if your ballot is deemed formal or informal in accordance with the Referendum Act.

• Fill out a practise ballot paper

Please don’t.

The formal voting instructions for the referendum are to clearly write yes or no, in full, in English. This will be part of our campaign advertising, it is on our website, in the guides delivered to all Australian households, it will be the instruction on the ballot paper and will be re-enforced by our polling officials when people are issued with their ballot paper.

We expect the vast, vast majority of voters to follow those instructions. 

The formality rules for referendums has been the same for a long period of time – this includes ‘savings provisions’ (the ability to count a vote where the instructions have not been followed but the voter’s intention is clear). Savings provisions exist for federal elections as well. The AEC does not have any discretion to simply ignore savings provisions. They are a long-standing legislative requirement. Since 1988 the AEC has followed legal advice regarding the application of savings provisions to ‘ticks’ and ‘crosses’ on referendum ballot papers (over 30 years and multiple referendums). This is not new.

The issue with a cross is that on many forms people in Australia use in daily life, and in some other languages, a cross represents a ‘check mark’ indicating yes - it is therefore open to interpretation as to whether the cross denotes approval or disapproval. A clear ‘tick’ can be interpreted as denoting approval for the proposal.

A clear ‘y’ or ‘n’ can indicate the voter’s intent – however if the handwriting is unclear it could risk an informal vote. This is why the Commissioner, and the AEC will be very clear and regular with our communication that people need to write the word ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in English, in full. 

While the provision of pencils used to be a legal requirement, since 2020 under section 206 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 the AEC is required to provide an 'implement or method for voters to mark their ballot papers'.

The AEC has found from experience that pencils are the most reliable implements for marking ballot papers. Pencils are practical because they don't run out and the polling staff check and sharpen pencils as necessary throughout election day. Pencils can be stored between electoral events, and they work better in tropical areas.

There is, however, nothing to prevent an elector from marking their ballot paper with a pen if they so wish.

The only thing you need to bring to the polling place is yourself. When you arrive at the polling place, a polling official will ask you three questions:

• What is your full name?
• Where do you live?
• Have you voted before in this referendum?

If your answers match what we have on the electoral roll, and you have not voted before in the referendum, the polling official will mark you off the electoral roll, hand you a ballot paper and a pencil, and direct to a voting screen where you can cast your vote.

If you want to bring your own pen, you are free to do so.

You can apply to be registered as a silent elector if you believe having your address included on the publicly available electoral roll could put you or your family's safety at risk.

Silent enrolment means your address will not be shown on future editions of the publicly available roll.

Apply to be a Silent Elector.

Assistance is provided if the polling official in charge of the polling place is satisfied that you are unable to vote without help. The potential for this to be the case is different for a referendum as opposed to an election given the requirement to write an answer to a question on a ballot paper as opposed to using numbers. The following electors may seek help:

• the elderly;
• people with a disability (including visual impairment);
• non-literate people;
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Polling staff are trained on how to assist you. You can nominate any person to assist. This person could be a friend or relative, a Scrutineer or a party worker. If you do not nominate someone, then the polling official in charge will provide assistance.

If the polling official in charge is the one providing assistance, Scrutineers have the right to be present while the ballot papers are filled in.

If assistance is being provided by a person nominated by you, you and the nominated assistant enter an unoccupied polling booth. The assistant helps to complete, fold and deposit the ballot paper in the ballot box. In this situation Scrutineers ARE NOT allowed to enter the polling booth while the ballot paper is being completed.

No. If a voter manipulates the wording of a referendum question on their ballot paper, whether by adding or deleting words, this will likely only have the effect of making that voter's intention regarding the actual question unclear. Doing so is likely to lead to an informal vote.

No. The AEC conducts referendums in accordance with the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984. The introduction of Electronic voting would require legislative change, which is a matter for Parliament.

Telephone voting is available those who are blind or low vision, and for those living in Antarctica.

No. It is an offence under the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to vote more than once in a referendum.

If your name cannot be found on the certified list, you will be asked to spell your name or print it on a piece of paper and the certified list will be rechecked. You may also be asked if you could be on the roll under a different name (do you have a former name?).

If your name still cannot be found, or your name on the list has been marked in some way, you will be directed to cast a declaration vote.

No. There is no provision for proxy voting in referendums in Australia.

Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 years or older. If you do not vote and don't have a valid and sufficient reason, you may be fined. The AEC will write to you at the address listed on the electoral roll and ask you to provide a reason why you did not vote.

It is at the discretion of the AEC's Divisional Returning Officer (DRO) for each electorate to determine whether you have provided a valid and sufficient reason for not voting. The DRO will consider the merits of your individual case and take into account any specific circumstances at the polling places within their division in making a determination.

No. While the AEC makes every effort to reach as many Australians as possible, the varying timings and nature of cruises means that the AEC cannot have voting teams board cruise liners. For people who are departing near to, or after, the start of the early voting period we recommend you plan your vote - by heading to an early voting centre or applying for a postal vote. More information is available here: Voting options.

There will always be some circumstances (like being in the middle of the ocean during the voting period) where we simply cannot provide a voting service. Such circumstances will be a valid reason for not casting a vote.

Yes. It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens aged 18 and older to enrol and vote in referendums and federal elections.

If you are already on the electoral roll for federal elections you DO NOT need to enrol again to vote in a referendum.

The AEC understands that people from varying backgrounds and experiences will have differing feelings about Australia's system of compulsory enrolment and voting. However, compulsory enrolment is the AEC's responsibility and it is our job to implement it.

As with every eligible voter from any background, we encourage people to think about the benefit in having a say in who represents you in parliament as well as the ability to have a say on referendum topics that arise. The decisions of people elected to federal parliament, and the decisions that voters make in referendums, do affect the lives of everyone in Australia and it's better to have a say in that than not.

The AEC's Federal Direct Enrolment and Update (FDEU) program is used to assist some Australians meet their enrolment obligations by applying trusted third-party information directly onto the electoral roll, without the need for that person to complete an enrolment application.

It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens aged 18 and older to enrol and vote in federal elections and referendums.

If you are already on the electoral roll for federal elections, you DO NOT need to enrol again to vote in a referendum.

The AEC understands that people from varying backgrounds and experiences will have differing feelings about Australia's system of compulsory enrolment and voting. However, compulsory enrolment and voting is the AEC's responsibility and it is our job to implement it.

The electoral roll is not available for sale in any format. Under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the electoral roll (containing names and addresses):

• is supplied to prescribed authorities, such as members of parliament, political parties, approved medical researchers, and public health programs
• is used to maintain state and territory electoral rolls as part of joint roll arrangements with these electoral bodies
• must be made available to members of the public at any AEC office during ordinary office hours.

No. If you have lived at your address for at least one month, that is the address you should be enrolled at.

Yes.

Find out where you're enrolled by checking your details.

Australia's much-admired, manual system of counting for the federal referendums is one of the most complex and time-consuming counting operations in the world. While it can at times require patience, the counting process delivers integrity to the results, concentrating on accuracy in a highly transparent manner.
Results will become available progressively from 6pm on polling night via the AEC tally room. The tally room will be accessible via the AEC website.

All votes cast on voting day will be counted on voting night, along with a portion of the votes cast at early voting centres. While there could be a public indication of a potential results on the night, if it is close it may take days or several weeks for the count of additional pre-poll votes, overseas votes and postal votes to come back to the AEC and be counted.

Transport takes time.

• More information on the referendum count

At the referendum the proposed alteration must be approved by a 'double majority'. That is:

• a national majority of all formal votes cast
• a majority of formal votes cast in a majority of the states (i.e. at least four out of six states).

• Double majority fact sheet

Every single vote cast in the referendum will be counted more than once in a process called 'fresh scrutiny'. This is a validation measure that is consistent with what occurs in a federal election. This is not what is commonly referred to as a recount.

Section 95 of the Referendum Act allows for a recount of referendum ballot papers to be directed by an Australian Electoral Officer (AEO) or the Electoral Commissioner (EC). A recount may also be directed by the EC on request from the Governor‑General, the Governor of a state, the Chief Minister for the Australian Capital Territory or the Administrator of the Northern Territory.

If the margin of votes between the Yes and No votes is small, the AEO or EC may form the opinion that a recount of votes is warranted. A recount can also be triggered by allegations/incidents regarding the conduct of the scrutiny that indicate valid and specific grounds for supposing that it could change the state or territory level result of the referendum.

Recounts are an exception, not the rule and must have valid grounds to be granted.

Yes. Stalls can be set up outside a polling place as long as they are 6 metres from the entrance to the booth and they do not obstruct voters access to the booth.

After you've been marked off the electoral roll you will be given:

• A ballot paper
• A pencil
• Instructions on how to cast a formal vote. These instructions can also be found on the ballot paper.

You will then be directed to a vacant voting screen to vote.

However, the AEC will not direct you on “who to vote for” or “what to vote for”. The AEC does not provide pens or any how-to-vote cards/material; but you can use your own pen and bring in any voting material you'd like.

While the AEC only provides voters with a ballot paper and a pencil, you are free to bring in a pen or any how-to-vote card or material you wish.

But please remember to take everything away with you when you leave the polling place. Do not leave anything behind. Our AEC staff can be very busy and may not have time to remove rubbish or voting material before the next voter uses the voting screen. You may also wish to return the campaign material to the party workers outside the polling place who gave it to you.

Please bring the material to the attention of our staff, who will remove it. You can also help to keep polling places tidy by removing any campaign material, such as a how-to-vote card, that you have brought into the polling place with you. Our staff will be able to show you where to dispose of this material.

No. There is a blanket ban on campaigning inside a polling place, or within 6 metres of the entrance to a polling place. For specifics on where campaigning is banned at a given polling place or pre-poll voting office, please speak to our staff on the ground.

A referendum can be held at any time, it does not need to be held in conjunction with a federal election.

For a referendum to occur a bill that sets out the question to be put to voters needs to pass federal Parliament. The issue of writs for a referendum must be issued no earlier than two months, and no later than six months, after the bill has passed Parliament. A referendum period - from the issue of writs to polling day - has a minimum of 33 days.

In a federal election, you're voting for candidates to fill the seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. A referendum is a question, proposing an alteration to the Australian Constitution. All eligible voters are required to vote on a referendum, just like in a federal election, but instead of voting for a candidate, electors vote on whether they 'approve' or 'do not approve' the proposed alteration. A double majority must be achieved for the referendum to pass.

• More on referendums

The votes will be counted, and the result will be declared. If the referendum is approved by a double majority, the Constitution will be altered. If the referendum is not approved, the constitution will not be altered.

A writ is a document commanding an electoral officer to hold an election or referendum, and contains dates for the close of rolls, the close of nominations, the polling day and the return of the writ.

Yes. The results of the Referendum must be carried out by parliament and are legally binding. In effect, the voter's approval or disapproval is the final step (aside for royal assent) for the bill that is passed by parliament in order to hold the referendum.

It's easy to potentially confuse the 2017 postal survey, run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with a federal referendum which is run by the AEC.

A referendum is compulsory for all eligible Australians - the postal survey was not. Voting services for a referendum will be very similar to a federal election, unlike the postal survey which was conducted exclusively via post. A referendum relates to a potential change to the constitution, whereas the postal survey did not.

Yes, there can be multiple referendum questions put to voters on a single referendum day.

While the AEC does not have a specific estimate at this stage, the cost of running the 2023 referendum will be similar to the costs for the 2022 federal election.

Since Federation there have been 44 proposals for constitutional change put to Australian electors. Only 8 of these have been approved.

• Past referendum dates and results

The South Australian Government is holding elections on 24 March 2024 for the First Nations Voice to the South Australian Parliament. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are on the South Australia electoral roll can vote in the First Nations Voice to the South Australian Parliament.

The Australian Government is holding a referendum later this year on whether to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice (2023 Referendum). The Australian Government has not set the date yet, but it is expected to be held later in the year.

These are two different events.

• More information on the 2023 Referendum vs First Nations Voice to the South Australian Parliament [PDF 268KB]