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Australian Electoral Commission
Party workers, sometimes referred to as Campaign workers, are volunteers and staff working for political parties and election candidates at the polling place. They are an important part of the federal election process.
The information provided here is designed to help Party workers prepare for their role at the booth.
Each pre-poll voting centre or polling place has an AEC Officer in Charge (OIC). Their job is to oversee their staff and run the voting operation in accordance with electoral laws. Part of doing this will involve the OIC talking to you as a party worker about the venue and what rules must be followed. Throughout the voting period, the OIC will also be talking to voters, permanent AEC staff and potentially the owners or managers of the venue being used for polling.
OICs are undertaking a complex operation. They are paid staff members who receive good training but, like all polling officials, they are temporary staff members. Like you, they’re providing a valuable input into the conduct of Australia’s elections. Our OICs are directed to be respectful of your role in the election and in their interactions with you, and we’d expect the same in return – even if there is a question or concern about the arrangements in place at the venue.
The AEC also has Polling Place Liaison Officers who assist across a number of polling places as the need arises.
It is likely that a large part of your job will be about communication material. This may include the erection of candidate or party signage, distribution of how-to-vote cards (or other flyers) and even the party-branded clothing you wear.
Electoral laws require any ‘electoral matter’ to be at least six metres away from the entrance to a polling place. This includes you if you’re wearing campaign material (e.g. t-shirt) when you’re going to vote yourself. For this reason, it is important to have a jumper or alternative clothing available if you’ll need to enter the venue. Please adhere with this requirement and if you are unsure about where that six-metre boundary is, you can ask the OIC.
We would also strongly urge you to interact respectfully with other party workers at the venue regarding this requirement, and about the election itself. We occasionally get reports about disagreements between party workers regarding who can be closest to the entrance of a polling place or fairness around the quantity or placement of signage. It is not the AEC’s role to determine any such disputes. It would not be appropriate.
You’re likely in your role because you have strong beliefs and are passionate. A strength of Australia’s elections has always been the civility between participants despite heightened passion and differences in opinion.
Working outside a polling place can be long and tiring day. Please take the time to discuss with the party/candidate that you are representing and formulate a plan to best prepare for how to look after yourself and your needs at the venue. Based on our experience of engaging with party workers over many elections we provide the following to assist with your conversations and planning.
Please talk to the OIC in the first instance as they are best placed to assist swiftly. Alternatively, you can contact us. The federal election is a very large operation held in a short period of time with approximately 18 million participants. Please be mindful of the limitations of the AEC’s role and that we may not be able to address every concern.
*If you wish to make a complaint about another party worker for behavioural conduct not relating to electoral laws it is best to contact the relevant party directly. The AEC does not have jurisdiction over party workers. If you’re unable to contact them directly, we can endeavour to pass on your concern on to the relevant party or candidate for their consideration and action.
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.