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Australian Electoral Commission
| Event | Election 2010 |
|---|---|
Election announced Prime Minister announces the intention to hold an election. |
Saturday 17 July 2010 |
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Issue of writ A writ commands an electoral officer to hold an election and contains dates for the close of rolls, close of nominations, polling day and the return of the writ. (Constitution s.12, 32) (the Act s.151) |
6pm Monday 19 July 2010 |
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Close of rolls Rolls close at 8pm, 3 working days after issue of writs, but new names are not added after 8pm on day of issue of writ. (CEA ss.102 [4], 155). Note: This time frame was changed as a result of a High Court Decision handed down on 6 August 2010 and subsequent legislative change in 2011. |
|
New enrolments |
8pm Monday 19 July 2010 |
Changes to enrolment |
8pm Thursday 22 July 2010 |
Amended close of rolls date* |
8pm Monday 26 July 2010 |
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Close of nominations It is not possible to nominate as a candidate for election until the writs have been issued. Candidates must nominate by 12 noon on the date specified on the writs as close of nominations. (the Act s.156) |
12pm Thursday 29 July 2010 |
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Declaration of nominations The public announcement of nominations received followed by a draw for positions on the ballot paper, 24 hours after the close of nominations. (the Act s.176) |
12pm Friday 30 July 2010 |
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Polling day The day on which the majority of electors cast their vote at a polling place. It must be a Saturday and at least 33 days after the issue of the writs. (the Act s.157) |
Saturday 21 August 2010 |
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Return of writ For the House of Representatives, the Electoral Commissioner attaches a certificate to the writ with the name of each candidate elected for each division and returns the Writ to the Governor-General. (the Act s. 284) For the Senate, the Australian Electoral Officer for each State and Territory attaches a certificate to the Writ with the names of the elected Senators for that State or Territory and returns the Writ to the State Governor (for States) and the Governor-General for (Territories) (the Act s.283) Writs must be returned within 100 days of their issue. |
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Senate writ for Tasmania |
Friday 10 September 2010 |
Senate writ for Queensland |
Wednesday 15 September 2010 |
Senate writ for Western Australia |
Wednesday 15 September 2010 |
Senate writ for New South Wales |
Thursday 16 September 2010 |
Senate writ for South Australia |
Thursday 16 September 2010 |
Senate writ for Victoria |
Friday 17 September 2010 |
Senate writ for ACT and NT |
Friday 17 September 2010 |
House of Representative writs for all states and territories |
Friday 17 September 2010 |
Closing date for the lodgement of petitions to the Court of Disputed Returns |
Wednesday 27 October 2010 |
* A High Court decision (Rowe v Electoral Commissioner [2010] HCA 46) was handed down on 6 August 2010 meaning eligible people, who had submitted a correctly completed enrolment form after 8pm on Monday 19 July but before 8pm on Monday 26 July, were entitled to vote in the 2010 federal election. Supplementary certified lists were prepared to facilitate ordinary voting for qualified electors.
Petitions to the Court of Disputed Returns must be filed with the Registry of the High Court within 40 days after the return of the last writ for an election. Accordingly, the closing date for petitions to the Court of Disputed Returns is the same for all elections held on the same day.
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.