AEC to help thousands of Australia's newest citizens to enrol to vote this Australia Day

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

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.

"Australia Day is a time to celebrate everything about being Australian, including our right to vote," he said.

AEC staff will be on hand at hundreds of citizenship ceremonies across the country to assist new citizens in joining approximately 15 million fellow Australians on the electoral roll.

"Enrolling and voting in elections is a fundamental right and responsibility for all Australians 18 years and over. Enrolment is compulsory and you must be enrolled before you can vote in Australian elections.

"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 are ready to vote when an election is called," Mr Rogers said.

"In 2013–14, AEC officers attended more than 1400 citizenship ceremonies across Australia, helping our newest citizens to enrol to vote so they can have their say at election time.

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

Translated information on enrolment and voting is available in 26 languages at www.aec.gov.au/translated. There are also details on how to contact the AEC using a telephone translator service.

Editor's note:

Enrolment statistics are available on the AEC website at http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/Enrolment_stats/index.htm.