What do we do?

Updated 28 Jun 2023

The ACT Electoral Commission's corporate plan:

Our vision

An ACT community confident in the integrity of its elections and quality of our electoral services.

Our purpose

To deliver trusted, transparent, secure and accessible electoral services.

Our Values

Our everyday behaviour will reflect our values of:

  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Collaboration
  • Innovation
  • Independence
  • Impartiality
  • Accountability

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.

To achieve our mission, we have the following strategic priorities and key performance indicators:

Strategic Priority 1 - Deliver trusted, transparent, secure and accessible electoral services

Actions

  • Successfully deliver electoral events in accordance with legislated requirements and Elections ACT’s Service Delivery Plan
  • Ensure high levels of functionality, security, integrity and reliability of electoral ICT systems and processes
  • Maximise opportunities for electoral participation by all eligible electors
  • Undertake formal evaluations of the conduct of elections to identify key areas for improvement in delivery of services

Key performance indicators

  • Electoral services delivered within legislated requirements and Elections ACT’s Service Delivery Plan
  • High levels of elector and stakeholder satisfaction with conduct of elections
  • High levels of demonstrated functionality, security, integrity and reliability of electoral ICT systems and processes

Strategic Priority 2 - Engage the community and stakeholders to promote electoral awareness, participation and compliance

    Actions

  • Deliver an education program to improve understanding and trust of ACT electoral processes
  • Deliver an information and awareness campaign to promote public participation in elections and confidence in electoral outcomes
  • Deliver an information, education and support campaign to inform stakeholders of their compliance obligations and new legislation related to prohibited donors and misleading political advertising
  • Administer an effective non-voter compliance program to promote electoral participation
  • Key performance indicators

  • High levels of participation in elections especially within sectors of community with traditionally low turnout rates
  • Continuing low level of informal votes
  • High levels of awareness and understanding of public awareness campaigns
  • High levels of compliance by relevant stakeholders with their legislative obligations, where within the influence of Elections ACT.

Strategic Priority 3 - Foster a high performing team in Elections ACT

    Actions

  • Align the organisation with our strategic priorities
  • Employ efficient and accountable governance, business support and HR systems and policies
  • Build and sustain a diverse, capable, trained and resilient workforce
  • Foster a positive values based culture and safe respectful workplaces
  • Key performance indicators

  • Costs managed within budget allocation
  • Financial, HR and records management compliant with relevant legislation and policy
  • High levels of staff satisfaction
  • Continued high levels of diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Strategic Priority 1 - Deliver trusted, transparent, secure and accessible electoral services

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 17 October 2020. The next election is due on 19 October 2024. 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.

The Commission has adopted a range of performance indicators for reporting purposes.

Indicators:

Accountability indicatorMeasuresTarget
High level of voter turnout at ACT Legislative Assembly election Turnout as a percentage of eligible elector population > 90% of eligible elector population
Timely finalisation of election result of ACT Legislative Assembly election Date of announcement of election result < 14 days from polling day
High level of electoral enrolment Participation rate > 95% of eligible population  

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 election services please contact Elections ACT.

Strategic Priority 2 - Engage the community and stakeholders to promote electoral awareness, participation and compliance

2.1 Electoral 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 and New Zealand. 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 Electoral boundaries

The Electoral Act 1992 requires a redistribution of electoral boundaries before each general election for the ACT Legislative Assembly. This process commences 2 years before the next ACT Legislative Assembly election. The Electoral Commissioner is a member of both the Redistribution committee and the Augmented Electoral Commission, as part of the redistribution process.

2.5 Party registration

The Commission maintains a register of ACT registered political parties.

2.6 Election funding, expenditure and financial disclosure

The ACT’s election funding, expenditure and financial disclosure scheme is administered by the ACT Electoral Commissioner and the staff of Elections ACT.

Strategic Priority 3 - Foster a high performing team in Elections ACT

3.1 Financial management

In the period up to 2013/2014 the Commission was included in the Justice and Community Safety portfolio for administrative purposes. However, following the commencement of the Officers of the Assembly Legislation Amendment Act 2013, from 1 July 2014, the members of the Commission became Officers of the Legislative Assembly. This change in the status of the Commission reinforced the Commission's statutory independence from the Executive.

3.2 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 SSICT, the ACT Government's information communication technology management agency.

3.3 Information technology management

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

3.4 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 Justice and Community Safety Directorate's EEO policy.

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

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