Why have I received an email, letter or SMS from the AEC?

Updated: 8 February 2023

In Australia, it is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 and over to enrol to vote. If you don't update your enrolment details, you may be removed from the electoral roll and unable to vote.

To help keep the roll as complete and correct as possible, the AEC makes use of information including contact details we receive from other government agencies.

The AEC may contact you about enrolment via email, letter or SMS if we have received information and it appears you are not currently enrolled, or you have moved and not updated your enrolment.

We might also contact you by phone, email, letter or SMS when responding to an enrolment query or if we need more information to process an enrolment application you submitted.

Is it a scam?

Our emails are from enrol@aec.gov.au and prompt you to visit the AEC website to enrol or update your details. Our emails contain links but if concerned you can search for “AEC enrol” or use the link below.

SMS enrolment prompts are from AEC and prompt you to visit the AEC website to enrol or update your details. These SMS messages don’t contain links.

If you want to check that a message you received is from us, please contact the AEC and provide your name and the reference number from the message.

I need to enrol or update my address

If you receive an email, letter or SMS advising you to enrol or update your address, you can:

If you have received a message with a reference number starting with AHT please select either “enrol to vote” or “get back on the roll”. If you ask to “change my address” but are not currently enrolled we won’t be able to process the application.

After we finish processing an application you submit the AEC will contact you by email or letter to confirm whether it has been approved. We may contact you to request further information.

If you have received a letter that asks for more information you can upload an image of the completed section instead of posting the form back to us.

I am being enrolled, or my address is being updated, based on information from another government agency

Yes. You may receive a letter advising you that the AEC intends to enrol you, or update your address, using information from another government agency.

You do not need to respond to the letter if your details are correct.

If you have received a letter and the details are not correct you can upload an image of the completed section instead of posting the form back to us.

If you are a relative of a person with a condition that prevents them from understanding the nature and significance of enrolling and voting, please contact the AEC. If you have any other special needs, you can find out about special enrolment options.