Join thousands of our newest citizens this Australia Day

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is encouraging thousands of Australia's newest citizens to enrol to vote at citizenship ceremonies across the country this Australia Day.

Acting Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers said Australia Day provides a great reminder to all Australians to go online and check to make sure they are correctly enrolled to vote.

"A record 14.7m Australians were enrolled for the 2013 federal election, however over 1.2m eligible people were not enrolled and missed out on their vote," he said.

AEC staff will be on hand at citizenship ceremonies across the country this Australia Day to assist our newest citizens with enrolling to vote at their very first opportunity.

"Local, state/territory and federal elections are held on different dates so it's important you are enrolled and you keep your enrolment details up to date so you can vote."

It only takes a few minutes to enrol or to update your enrolment details online – just go to www.aec.gov.au to complete the enrolment application.

Alternatively, you can pick up an enrolment application at any AEC office, Australia Post outlet, Australian Taxation Office shopfront, Medicare or Centrelink service centre.

To check if you're enrolled visit www.aec.gov.au/check or call the AEC on 13 23 26.

Translated information on enrolment and voting is available in 26 languages at www.aec.gov.au/translated along with contact details for people wishing to speak to the AEC in another language.

It's compulsory for all Australian citizens 18 years and over to enrol to vote and you must be enrolled before you can vote in Australian elections.