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What do we do?

The ACT Electoral Commission provides a range of electoral services to the ACT community. These services are listed on this page as an expanded version of our corporate plan.

The corporate mission of the ACT Electoral Commission is:

To provide the ACT Community with high quality electoral services that ensure fair and open elections and referendums.


To achieve this mission, we have the following goals and key result areas:

Goal 1 - To conduct high quality elections and referendums

Goal 2 - To provide high quality information, education, advice and servicesrelated to the electoral process

Goal 3 - To improve the quality of electoral services by ensuring best possible management practice

Goal 1 - To conduct high quality elections and referendums

1.1 Elections and referendums for the ACT Legislative Assembly

The main role of the ACT Electoral Commission is to conduct elections and referendums for the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The last election was on 16 October 2004. After 2004, elections will be held every four years with the next election due on 18 October 2008. More information is available on the elections pages.

Referendums may be held at the same time as an election, or may be at a different time. The last one was held with the election in 1995. More information is available on the referendum pages.

1.2 Election and referendum services to other agencies

The ACT Electoral Commission is available to assist other organisations with their elections. This includes elections for universities or clubs and ballots for collective agreements. Services provided may include conduct of attendance polling, postal voting and/or scrutiny. Services are provided on a cost recovery basis, as well as a fee for time spent by permanent staff. If you require electionservices please contact Elections ACT.

Goal 2 - To provide high quality information, education, advice and services related to the electoral process

2.1 Non election information and advice

The Commission provides a telephone and counter electoral enquiry service. Commission staff are available to provide electoral advice to clients.

2.2 Electoral enrolment

Elections ACT assists in the maintenance of the ACT electoral roll. The Commissioner is a member of the Electoral Council of Australia. The roll is available for public inspection at the Commission office. More information is available on the enrolment pages.

2.3 Electoral education

The education office of the ACT Legislative Assembly and the ACT Electoral Commission have developed a comprehensive education program designed to introduce members of the community to the ACT electoral system and the ACT Legislative Assembly.

We can offer:

  • Tours of the ACT Legislative Assembly
  • Mock elections
  • Fact sheets
  • Information on Hare-Clark
  • Seminars on the system of government in ACT
  • Resources
  • Advice on units of work modelled on curriculum framework
  • Guest speakers (including MLA's)
  • Maps of electorates

More information is available on the electoral education pages.

2.4 Other electoral statutory requirements

The Commission also undertakes the following statutory functions:

Goal 3 - To improve the quality of electoral services by ensuring best possible management practice

3.1 Human resource management

The Commission endeavours to foster an environment of continuous improvement and strives to provide satisfying work and development opportunities. Staff are encouraged to pursue secondments to other electoral authorities and to develop new skills through on-the-job training and external training courses.

The Commission uses industrial democracy as a tool for enhancing the quality of working life and the delivery of electoral services. As the Commission is a small organisation, all staff meet in regular forums to participate in decision making. These include weekly staff meetings and corporate and strategic planning workshops.

The ACT Electoral Commission is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and recognises the necessity of discouraging all forms of discrimination and ensuring the effective use of the abilities and skills of staff from diverse backgrounds. The Commission has adopted the Department of Justice and Community Safety's EEO policy.

In all of its activities, the Commission gives careful consideration to occupational health and safety principles and practices. The Commission has adopted the Department of Justice and Community Safety's OH&S policy.

More information may be found in the Commission's annual reports.

3.2 Financial management

The Commission is included in the Department of Justice and Community Safety portfolio for budgetary purposes. The Commission is included in the department's purchase agreement as "Output Class 2.7 Electoral Services", with the following performance measures:

  • Quantity
    • Number of people on electoral roll.
    • Number of elections/referendums conducted or assisted with.
  • Quality
    • Compliance with standards.
    • Percent of clients satisfied with electoral services.
  • Timeliness
    • Compliance with standards and statutory requirements.
    • Election results finalised within standards.
  • Cost
    • Average cost per elector for electoral services.
    • More information may be found in the Commission's annual reports.

3.3 Records management

The Commission maintains its paper records as part of the ACT Government's registry system. Electronic records are stored on the ACT Government's central server system, maintained by InTACT, the ACT Government's information technology management agency.

3.4 Information technology management

Commission staff create and maintain databases and other IT applications in-house. All work on the Commission's web site is also completed in-house.