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Australian Electoral Commission
The 2022 federal election is Saturday 21 May 2022 and you must be enrolled to vote. If you are not correctly enrolled by this deadline, you may not be able to vote.
For the 2022 federal election, it is recommended that all overseas voters apply for a postal vote. Postal vote packs will be sent from Australia, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
The AEC is in regular contact with federal health authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to provide the safest and most effective voting services possible in these difficult circumstances.
If you are living/working overseas you can apply to be registered as an overseas elector and a general postal voter.
If you are already registered as an overseas elector you can apply to become a general postal voter.
As a general postal voter, you will be sent ballot papers as soon as practicable after the declaration of nominations for a federal election.
Not all overseas voting centres will be able to offer in-person voting for the 2022 federal election. Please see the list overseas voting centres for locations providing both in-person and postal vote return services.
You will receive a postal voting pack that includes all the information you need to complete your ballot papers and return them to the AEC.
Once you receive your postal voting pack, complete and return your ballot papers as soon as possible. The AEC can only legally accept ballot papers into the count up to 13 days after election day – the sooner you complete and send your postal vote, the more likely it can be counted.
With the majority of Australians overseas likely needing to cast their vote via post, the AEC is working with DFAT to put in place measures to speed up the return of completed postal voting ballot papers to the AEC.
The instructions in your overseas postal voting pack may include the ability to return your ballot papers to the local embassy who 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.
Voting in a federal election 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.
No. Australia’s electoral laws do not allow for online voting.
Contact the AEC from overseas: