What to expect inside a polling place

The short answer

to expect inside a polling place

When you arrive at an Australian federal polling place you will be greeted by election staff who direct you to the appropriate queue and check that you are at the correct polling place for your electorate. Once inside you present your name and address to an issuing officer who checks the certified list of electors, marks off your name, and hands you two ballot papers: a green one for the House of Representatives and a white one for the Senate. You then take the ballot papers to a private voting screen, mark your preferences as required, and deposit each completed ballot paper into the correct sealed ballot box. No one can tell you whom to support and no one watches how you mark your papers. If you make a mistake you can return the spoiled paper and request a replacement. The entire process is designed to be quick, private and secure, and election staff are available to assist voters who have questions or need help.

This guide explains the federal position first. State, territory and local elections can use different rules, dates and ballot systems, so the commission named on your election material is the final operational source.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

Evidence review

Arriving at the polling place

Polling places for Australian federal elections are typically located in local schools, community halls, churches and public buildings. On polling day they are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm local time. When you arrive you may see campaign volunteers from different political parties standing outside offering how-to-vote cards. These volunteers are not election officials and you are under no obligation to accept their materials or speak with them. The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 sets a minimum distance that campaigners must observe from the entrance of the polling place, so you should not be impeded as you enter. Inside the entrance an election official may direct you to a specific queue depending on your surname or electorate. At larger venues there may be separate queues for different electoral divisions. If you are unsure which queue to join, simply ask a polling official who will direct you to the correct table.

Evidence review

Checking the roll and receiving ballot papers

When you reach the issuing table, a polling official will ask for your full name and residential address. Some officials may also ask for your date of birth or request to see identification. While photo identification is not generally required for federal elections in Australia, the AEC advises voters to bring some form of identification if possible in case their enrolment details need to be verified. The official will locate your name on the certified list of electors for that polling place and draw a line through it, confirming that you have been issued ballot papers. The official cannot refuse to issue ballot papers to you simply because you do not have ID, provided your name is on the roll and you can state your name and address correctly. If your name does not appear on the roll and you believe you are enrolled, you may be given a declaration vote. After your name is marked off, the official hands you a green ballot paper for the House of Representatives and a white ballot paper for the Senate. The official will stamp both papers with an official mark to authenticate them.

Evidence review

Marking your ballot papers in private

After receiving your ballot papers you proceed to a private voting booth, also called a voting screen. These are small open-fronted compartments with a shelf and a pencil provided by the AEC. No one watches you mark your papers and it is an offence under the Commonwealth Electoral Act for any person to look at another voter's ballot paper while they are marking it. On the green House of Representatives ballot you must number every box in the order of your preference, starting with 1 for your first choice, then 2, 3 and so on until every box is numbered. On the white Senate ballot you have two options: you may vote above the line by numbering at least six boxes from 1 to 6 in order of preference for parties or groups, or you may vote below the line by numbering at least twelve boxes for individual candidates from 1 to 12. The AEC provides clear instructions printed on each ballot paper and polling officials can explain the process if you are unsure, but they cannot tell you which candidate or party to choose.

Evidence review

Depositing your ballot papers and ballot box security

Once your ballot papers are marked, take them to the designated ballot boxes. There are separate ballot boxes for the House of Representatives and the Senate, usually located near the exit path. Fold each ballot paper so that your votes are not visible and place the green paper into the House of Representatives ballot box and the white paper into the Senate ballot box. The ballot boxes are sealed with numbered security seals at the start of polling day in the presence of scrutineers and are not opened until counting commences after 6:00 pm when polls close. Scrutineers appointed by candidates may observe the issuing of ballot papers and the counting process, but they are not permitted to interfere with voters. All ballot boxes remain under the supervision of polling officials throughout the day and are transported securely to the counting centre after voting concludes.

Evidence review

Getting assistance and what to do if something goes wrong

Voters who need assistance can bring a friend, family member or support person to help them at any stage of the process. The person assisting must follow the voter's instructions and may not influence how the voter marks their ballot paper. Alternatively, voters can ask a polling official for help. The AEC provides magnifying sheets, large-print instructions and wheelchair-accessible voting screens. Voters who are blind or have low vision can use the AEC telephone voting service. If you make a mistake on your ballot paper do not attempt to correct it yourself. Take the spoiled ballot paper back to a polling official, clearly state that you have made an error and request a replacement. The spoiled paper will be cancelled and you will be given a fresh one. You can do this more than once if necessary. If you feel that someone is interfering with your vote or acting improperly inside the polling place, report it to the officer in charge of the polling place immediately. The AEC takes electoral integrity seriously and polling officials are trained to handle complaints.

Evidence review

Declaration votes and special circumstances

If your name cannot be found on the certified list of electors but you believe you are enrolled, you may be offered a declaration vote. This involves completing your ballot papers as normal and sealing them in a declaration envelope along with a form that records your details and the reason for the declaration. Declaration votes are not counted on election night. Instead they are sent to the relevant divisional returning officer who checks your enrolment status before the vote is admitted to the count. This process can take up to 13 days after election day. Similarly, if you attend a polling place outside your enrolled electoral division you will be given an absent vote, which is a type of declaration vote. Absent votes are forwarded to your home division for verification and counting. Polling officials will guide you through the declaration process if it applies to your circumstances.

Common questions

Before you rely on the answer