Postal voting

If you are unable to get to a polling place on Saturday 15 July for the 2023 Fadden by-election, you are eligible to apply to vote by post.

Apply for a postal vote  
Check application status  
Cancel your postal vote  

Submitting your ballot papers

Ballot papers must be completed and witnessed on or before by-election day, and posted back to the AEC as soon as possible.

You have only 13 days after the by-election for your ballot papers to be received by the AEC.

In accordance with s.193 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, an authorised witness for postal voting may be:

  • An elector whose name appears on the Electoral Roll
  • Outside Australia, the following persons are authorised witnesses:
    • an officer of the Defence Force or of the naval, military or air forces of a Commonwealth country,
    • a person appointed or engaged under the Public Service Act 1999,
    • a member of the civil or public service of a State or Territory or of a Commonwealth country,
    • a Justice of the Peace for a State or Territory or a Commonwealth country,
    • a minister of religion or medical practitioner resident in a State or Territory or a Commonwealth country,
    • an Australian citizen.

If you are unable to find one of these people, please see the information in your postal voting guide for further instructions.

A person who is a candidate for the 2023 Fadden by-election cannot be an authorised witness.

If you are a registered general postal voter, you will automatically receive a postal vote pack in the mail.

If you are registered as a silent elector, and you are not a general postal voter, you can complete a postal vote application or vote in person at an early voting centre or on by-election day.

If you are a registered general postal voter, you will automatically receive a postal vote pack via DHL.

If you are a registered overseas elector, and you are not a general postal voter, you can complete a postal vote application. You will receive a postal vote pack via DHL.

If you are unable to find a witness, please click on the link below.

Overseas Postal Vote: Witness declaration alternative  

Candidates or political parties may have sent you a postal vote application which contains their branding, logo or other materials. Candidates and political parties are allowed to send postal vote applications to households.

If you decide to use the form sent to you, the party or candidate must forward your form to the AEC for processing. The AEC has no control over what political parties do with the personal information you provide on your application form before they forward it to us.

You can also return the paper form directly to the AEC instead of the party or candidate:

  • Email applications@pva.aec.gov.au.
  • Fax 02 8009 0814.
  • Or post:
    Australian Electoral Commission
    Reply Paid 9988
    [Your capital city] [Your state]
    (No stamp is needed if posted in Australia)

You don’t have to use the postal vote application sent to you by a political party or candidate. If you prefer, you can directly apply for a postal vote through the AEC.

Updated: 22 May 2023