Election Guide 2 - Polling Day
Your official election
guide from the
ACT Electoral Commission
Election Guide
The ACT election at a glance
When is the election?
The election for 25 Members of the
ACT Legislative Assembly is being held on Saturday 15 October 2016.
Polling places will be open from
8 am until 6 pm.
Do you have to vote?
Voting in this election is compulsory if you’re on the electoral roll for an ACT address and you are 18 or over. If you don’t vote you may be fined.
Why is voting important?
The Legislative Assembly has the power to make laws and form a government for the ACT. By voting in this election you have an opportunity to choose who will represent you in the Assembly. When you vote, it is your chance to have your voice heard.
Contents | |
Page4 | How to fill in your ballot paperTo record a valid vote, write the numbers |
Page5 | Electronic votingElectronic voting will be available at 6 polling places in the major town centres. |
Page6 | How the votes are countedThe votes are counted using the Hare–Clark proportional representation system which was chosen by ACT voters at a referendum |
Page6 | No how-to-vote cards at polling placesPolitical canvassing, including handing out how-to-vote cards, is banned within 100 metres of a polling place at ACT elections. |
Page7 | Where to go to voteYour local polling place may have changed. There is a complete list of polling places and addresses on pages 7-11. |
Page7 | Which electorate are you in?There are 5 electorates — Brindabella, Ginninderra, Kurrajong, Murrumbidgee and Yerrabi – each electing 5 members. Electorate boundaries have changed. There are maps showing the electorate boundaries on pages 7-11 of this booklet. |
Voting on polling day
The easiest way to vote is to go to your nearest polling place (see the lists on pages 7-11 of this booklet). All polling places are open from 8 am to 6 pm. You don’t have to go to a polling place in your own electorate.
Assistance with voting
Polling officials are there to help you. If you have any difficulty with voting, or if you need help to fill in your ballot paper, just ask. If you prefer, you can ask a friend, relative or a candidate’s scrutineer to help you. If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, just take it back to the polling official who gave it to you and ask for another.
Polling places with suitable access for people with a disability are marked with the symbol ( ) in the lists on pages 7-11 of this booklet. Polling place staff will be happy to provide any assistance you need.
About your ballot paper
A feature of the ACT electoral system is the Robson rotation method of rotating the positions of candidates within each column on the ballot paper.
Candidates’ names are printed in different positions within a column on each ballot paper. The order of the names on your ballot paper may be different from the order on the ballot paper given to the voter next to you. This means that no candidate has the advantage of appearing in the top position on every ballot paper.
By combining Robson rotation with the ban on canvassing within 100 metres of a polling place, the ACT electoral system places in your hands the opportunity to consider each candidate and vote for candidates by name in the order of your choice.
This illustration demonstrates the Robson rotation method of printing candidate names in different orders.
How to fill in your ballot paper
To record a valid vote, write the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on, in the candidate squares in the order of your choice. Don’t use the same number twice.
Remember, use numbers only! One of the most common mistakes is for people to use ticks and crosses on their ballot papers. This means that their vote cannot be counted.
You should fill in at least 5 squares as there are
5 vacancies in each electorate
If you don’t fill in this many squares, your vote will still be counted even if you vote for only one candidate. However, to make the most of your vote, you can continue to fill in the squares until all your preferences are recorded. You may fill in every square if you wish.
If you don’t vote for any candidates, your vote will be informal.
If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, just return it to a polling official and ask for another.
Electronic voting
Electors at certain polling places will
have the option of voting electronically. Electronic voting will be available on polling day at the following 6 polling places:
Belconnen
Belconnen Community Centre,
Swanson Court
Canberra City
Pilgrim House, 69 Northbourne Avenue
Eclipse House, 197 London Circuit
Gungahlin
Gungahlin Library, Hibberson St
Tuggeranong
Salvation Army Hall,
Corner Anketell St and Reed St North
Woden/Phillip
Callam Offices, 58 Easty St
At polling places where electronic voting is available it will also be possible to vote using a traditional paper ballot if you prefer. Just ask for a paper ballot.
Votes cast electronically will be stored securely and combined with the results from paper ballots.
Key steps in the electronic voting process
If you vote electronically you will be issued with a barcode instead of a ballot paper. This barcode will give you secure access to an easy-to-use voting screen.
When you scan your barcode you will see a ballot paper for your electorate on the screen.
By using direction keys on a key pad you can move to any candidate.
As you SELECT the candidates you wish to vote for, preference numbers will be automatically listed for you, starting with your first preference.
When you have completed your selection and pressed the FINISH key, you will be able to see a list of the candidates you have chosen in the order you have ranked them.
If you wish to change your selection you can simply go back and correct it.
If you are happy with your selection, scan your barcode a second time and your vote will be securely recorded.
The barcode must be deposited in the ballot box as you leave the polling place. Each barcode can be used only once.
Special audio facilities will be available to enable electors who are blind or vision impaired to vote electronically in secret and in private. Electronic voting instructions will also be available in a number of community languages.
Further information about electronic voting is available at www.elections.act.gov.au
How the votes are counted
Your vote is counted according to the preferences you indicate on your ballot paper. First preference (number 1) votes are counted first then your later preferences (numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on) are counted as described below.
To be certain of election under the Hare–Clark system, a candidate must obtain a set proportion (or quota) of the votes for his or her electorate. Any candidate whose votes equal or exceed a quota is elected.
A quota is calculated using the following formula:
The quota in each 5 Member electorate is one sixth plus one, or roughly 16.67% of the valid votes.
A candidate may reach the quota simply by receiving first preference (number 1) votes, or by receiving a combination of first preference votes and votes transferred from other candidates who have been elected or excluded.
If a candidate has more votes than the quota and not all vacancies have been filled, the surplus votes of that candidate are distributed to other candidates according to the preferences indicated on those ballot papers.
If, after all the surplus votes have been distributed, vacancies remain to be filled, the candidate with the fewest total votes is “excluded” and his or her ballot papers are distributed to continuing candidates according to the preferences shown by voters.
After ballot papers are distributed from an excluded candidate, the total votes for each continuing candidate are recalculated to determine whether any candidate has now received votes equal to or greater than the quota. The process of distributing surplus votes from elected candidates and excluding the candidate with the fewest votes continues until all vacancies are filled.
No how-to-vote cards at polling places
Remember that political canvassing, including distributing how–to–vote cards, is banned within 100 metres of a polling place.
This means that you need to plan in advance how you want to vote.
What your ballot paper will look like
Sample ballot papers are shown on pages 7-11. While the party columns won’t change, remember, under Robson rotation candidates’ names can appear in different positions within each column.
Please read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Write numbers in the squares – no ticks or crosses – and don’t repeat any number.
Brindabella polling places
Open 8am to 6pm
Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.
Polling places | ||
BONYTHON | Bonython Primary School, Hurtle Ave | |
CALWELL | Calwell High School, Casey Cres | |
CHISHOLM | Caroline Chisholm School (primary campus), Hambidge Cres | |
CONDER | Charles Conder Primary School, Tom Roberts Ave | |
FADDEN | Fadden Primary School, Hanlon Cres | |
GILMORE | Gilmore Primary School, Heagney Cres | |
GORDON | Gordon Primary School, Knoke Ave | |
GOWRIE | Gowrie Primary School, Jeffries St | |
ISABELLA PLAINS | Isabella Plains Early Childhood School, | |
MONASH | Monash Primary School, Corlette Cres | |
RICHARDSON | Richardson Primary School, | |
THARWA | Tharwa Public Hall, North St | |
THEODORE | Theodore Primary School, Lawrence Wackett Cres | |
TUGGERANONG | Salvation Army Hall, Cnr Anketell St & Reed St North, Greenway | |
WANNIASSA | Wanniassa School (senior campus), Wheeler Cres | |
WANNIASSA | Wanniassa Hills Primary School, Langdon Ave |
Ginninderra polling places
Open 8am to 6pm.
Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.
Polling places | ||
ARANDA | Aranda Primary School, Banambila St | |
BELCONNEN | Belconnen Community Centre, | |
BRUCE | Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Cres | |
BRUCE | Calvary Hospital, Haydon Drive | |
CHARNWOOD | Charnwood-Dunlop School, Bettington Cct | |
CHARNWOOD | St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Lhotsky St | |
FLOREY | St Francis Xavier College, Barnard Cct | |
FRASER | Fraser Primary School, Tillyard Dr | |
HOLT | Kingsford Smith School, Starke St | |
LATHAM | Latham Primary School, O’Loghlen St | |
MACGREGOR | Macgregor Primary School, Hirschfeld Cres | |
MACQUARIE | Macquarie Primary School, Bennelong Cres | |
MELBA | Mount Rogers Primary School, Alfred Hill Dr | |
PAGE | St Matthew’s School, Stutchbury St | |
SCULLIN | Southern Cross Early Childhood School, | |
Weetangera | Weetangera Primary School, Southwell St |
Kurrajong polling places
Open 8am to 6pm.
Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.
Polling places | ||
AINSLIE | North Ainslie Primary School, Majura Ave | |
BARTON | Telopea Park School, New South Wales Cres | |
BRADDON | Ainslie School, Donaldson St | |
CAMPBELL | Campbell Primary School, Chauvel St | |
CANBERRA CITY | Pilgrim House, 69 Northbourne Ave | |
CANBERRA CITY | Eclipse House, 197 London Circuit | |
DEAKIN | Canberra Girls Grammar School (junior school), Grey St | |
DICKSON | Northside Community Centre, 2 Rosevear Place | |
DOWNER | Downer Community Centre, Frencham Place | |
GRIFFITH | St Edmund’s College, Canberra Ave | |
LYNEHAM | Lyneham Primary School, Brigalow St | |
NARRABUNDAH | Narrabundah Early Childhood School, | |
OAKS ESTATE | Oaks Estate Community Hall, 2 William St | |
RED HILL | Red Hill Primary School, Astrolabe St | |
TURNER | Turner School, Condamine St | |
WATSON | Majura Primary School, Knox St | |
YARRALUMLA | Yarralumla Primary School, 24 Loftus St |
Murrumbidgee polling places
Open 8am to 6pm.
Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.
Polling places | ||
CHAPMAN | Chapman Primary School, Perry Dr | |
COOMBS | Charles Weston School, 80 Woodberry Ave | |
CURTIN | Curtin Primary School, Theodore St | |
DUFFY | Duffy Primary School, Burrinjuck Cres | |
FARRER | Farrer Primary School, Lambrigg St | |
GARRAN | Garran Primary School, Gilmore Cres | |
HOLDER | St Judes Primary School, Mulley St | |
HUGHES | Hughes Primary School, Groom St | |
KAMBAH | Namadgi School, O’Halloran Crct | |
KAMBAH | St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, | |
KAMBAH | Taylor Primary School, Marconi Cres | |
LYONS | Lyons Early Childhood School, Tarraleah Cres | |
MAWSON | Mawson Primary School, Ainsworth St | |
PEARCE | Melrose High School, Marr St | |
WARAMANGA | Arawang Primary School, Nemarang Cres | |
WESTON | Weston Creek Community Centre, Parkinson St | |
WODEN | Callam Offices, 58 Easty St |
Yerrabi polling places
Open 8am to 6pm.
Your local polling place may have changed. Check this list carefully.
Polling places | ||
AMAROO | Amaroo School, Katherine Ave | |
BONNER | Neville Bonner Primary School, | |
EVATT | Evatt Primary School, Heydon Cres | |
EVATT | Miles Franklin Primary School, Alderman St | |
FORDE | Burgmann Anglican School, Cnr Francis Forde Blvd & Hurrell St | |
FRANKLIN | Franklin Early Childhood School, | |
GIRALANG | Giralang Primary School, Atalumba Cl | |
GUNGAHLIN | Gungahlin Library, Hibberson St | |
HALL | Hall Primary School Museum, Victoria St | |
HARRISON | Harrison School, Wimmera St | |
KALEEN | Kaleen Primary School, Ashburton St | |
KALEEN | Maribyrnong Primary School, Alberga St | |
NGUNNAWAL | Ngunnawal Primary School, Unaipon Ave | |
NICHOLLS | Gold Creek School (primary campus), Kelleway Ave | |
PALMERSTON | Palmerston District Primary School, Kosciusko Ave |
electronic voting
full wheelchair access
assisted wheelchair access
. polling place
polling place
- polling place
Elections ACT is committed to making its information, services, events and venues accessible to as many people as possible.
Translating and interpreting service
Alternative format
If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format – such as large print or audio – please phone (02) 6205 0033.
National Relay Service
If you are deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, you can contact Elections ACT through the National Relay Service (NRS) -
call 13 36 77 and then ask for (02) 6205 0033.
For more information, visit www.relayservice.gov.au
ACT Deafness Resource Centre for the deaf and hearing impaired please phone (02) 6287 4391,
(02) 6287 4393,TTY (02) 6287 4394.
Need more information?
Visit the Elections ACT website at www.elections.act.gov.au or call (02) 6205 0033 or email elections@act.gov.au
Authorised by Phillip Green
ACT Electoral Commission
197 London Circuit CANBERRA CITY ACT
If you live in or near one of these suburbs, your local polling place may have changed since you last voted.
- Bonner
- Bruce
- Charnwood
- Coombs
- Dickson
- Downer
- Evatt
- Franklin
- Hall
- Kambah
- Ngunnawal
- O’Connor
- Reid
- Scullin
- Stirling
- Woden
- Yarralumla
To find your nearest polling place, see pages 7-11.
Electorate boundaries have also changed!
Electorate boundaries have changed since the 2012 election. See the electorate boundaries maps on pages 7-11.
Your polling place may have changed!