Fact sheet - Voting

Updated 29 Apr 2020

Elections are always held on a Saturday. The easiest way to vote is at your nearest polling place, often in your local school. Polling places are open 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can vote at any polling place in the ACT.

Polling officials are there to help you. Some polling places may have officials who speak other languages besides English. Some polling places have suitable access for people with a disability,

At a polling place your name is marked off the electoral roll to show you have voted. You fill in your ballot paper at a voting screen so your vote is secret. You put your ballot paper into a sealed ballot box. It is not unsealed until after the voting has closed. You must not write your name on the ballot paper because the way you vote is private. In some polling places you can choose to vote electronically.

Voting is compulsory.

If you are not going to be able to vote on election day you can vote early. For 3 weeks before every election early voting centres are open around Canberra where you can vote between 9:00 am and 5:00, pm Monday to Friday except public holidays. They remain open until 8:00 pm on the night before the election. You can vote electronically or on a paper ballot at these early voting centres.

Early voting is also available in each state or territory capital city at their Electoral Commission. They are open during normal business hours for the early voting period. They are not open on election day.

People who will not be able to vote on election day or at an early voting centre can apply for a postal vote.You can apply online at elections.act.gov.au, by phone or by email.

Ballot papers can be posted to you up to 2 days before the election if you are in Australia or one week before the election if you are overseas. You must sign the declaration form and post the papers back before election day. They must reach Elections ACT by the Friday after election day.