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Australian Electoral Commission
5 August 2010
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is urging Australians who are enrolled to vote and currently overseas—or about to go overseas—to make sure they take advantage of early voting options for the 2010 federal election.
"Enrolled Australians now living, working or holidaying overseas can either vote in person at over one hundred Australian diplomatic missions, or apply for a postal vote," Electoral Commissioner, Ed Killesteyn said.
Alternatively, Australians about to travel overseas can vote early at approximately 500 locations around Australia. Go to www.aec.gov.au for information on early voting (pre-poll) locations, including airport voting options, or call the AEC on 13 23 26 for help.
For Australian electors already overseas, voting will mostly be available from Monday 9 August at over one hundred embassies, consulates and missions.
For overseas electors not near an Australian diplomatic mission offering voting, they can apply directly to a mission for a postal vote. They should do this quickly to avoid running out of time to receive and post back completed ballot papers. Download a postal vote application and get further advice from: Postal Vote Application, 2010 federal election. Diplomatic mission websites have specific contact details and further advice including the times during which voters can attend to vote. Links to mission websites are available from the AEC list of overseas polling places, 2010 federal election or www.dfat.gov.au.
Overseas voting in the federal election cannot continue after polling closes at 6pm 21 August, Western Australian time on election day. Voters should not assume diplomatic missions overseas are open on election day even if they share similar time zones to Australia. People should carefully plan their best voting option and may need to show identification when visiting diplomatic missions.
At the 2007 federal election, approximately 70 000 votes were issued overseas at Australian diplomatic missions. Australia's largest polling place anywhere in 2007 was at Australia House in London with over 16 000 votes issued. Hong Kong came in second with around 10 000 votes.
"These early voting and overseas voting arrangements for the 2010 federal election are just part of the AEC's effort to ensure that every eligible Australian has the opportunity to vote," Mr Killesteyn said.
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.