Elections and voting FAQ

Updated 15 Mar 2024

The next election for the ACT Legislative Assembly is due to be held on 19 October 2024.

Election dates are set in the Electoral Act 1992. From 1989 until 2004 the ACT had three-year terms. The ACT Legislative Assembly now has fixed four-year terms, with elections held every four years on the third Saturday in October.

The Governor-General can dissolve the Assembly and order an early election if he or she is of the opinion that the Assembly is incapable of effectively performing its functions or is conducting its affairs in a grossly improper manner. An early election can also be held if the Assembly passes a resolution of no confidence in the Chief Minister and does not elect a Chief Minister within 30 days - such an election cannot be held within 6 months of the next scheduled ordinary election.

Timing of elections and the length of terms of office for Members of the ACT Legislative Assembly have changed a number of times since self-government. Elections for the Assembly have been held as follows:

Any person who is 18 years old on or before election day who is on the Commonwealth electoral roll with an ACT address can vote at Assembly elections.

Persons enrolled for an ACT electoral division for an address in Jervis Bay Territory or Norfolk Island are not entitled to vote for ACT Legislative Assembly elections.

Yes. Voting is compulsory for every person on the electoral roll except for eligible overseas electors, Antarctic electors, electors serving a prison sentence outside the ACT and itinerant electors.

Voters mark preferences for candidates in the order of their choice by using the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on. Voters should mark at least as many squares as there are vacancies, but may continue to number as many squares as they wish. Preferences can be written in boxes located in any of the columns on the ballot paper, but there must not be more than one number 1 on the ballot paper. Ticks and crosses are not allowed.

The ballot paper is divided into columns with a party name above each column. Non-party candidates and party candidates where the party is only nominating one candidate for the electorate, are always located in the last column on the right of the ballot paper under the column heading “Ungrouped”.

The list of candidates for an ACT Legislative Assembly election is made publicly available as soon as practicable after the declaration of the nominations. The dates for the nomination period and the declaration of nominations are legislated by the Electoral Act.

Until the declaration is formally made, there are no confirmed candidates. However, intending candidates may promote themselves and their policies at any time before this.

Ballot papers are printed as soon as practicable after the declaration of nominations for use in early voting centres and postal votes.

If you are unable to vote at a polling place on election day, you may vote at an early voting centre during the 3 weeks before the election.

Addresses of the early voting centres and their hours of operation are made available on this site prior to an ACT election. They are also advertised in print media, online, on radio and on television. An election information booklet is also delivered to all households in the ACT before the election.

In the lead up to an ACT election, an application for a postal vote can be made in two ways:

  • By completing the online application form; or
  • Over the phone by calling 6205 0033.

You can apply for a postal vote on behalf of another person if they have authorised you to do this.

After receiving your application, Elections ACT will mail postal voting papers to your nominated address when ballot papers become available after the declaration of nominations.

In the week before election day, polling officials visit most of the ACT's hospitals and nursing homes, as well as the Alexander Maconochie centre so that anyone residing in these institutions, who is unable to visit a polling place, has the opportunity to vote.

If you will be overseas on election day you can:
- Cast an early vote;
- Cast a vote using the overseas electronic voting system (OSEVS); or
- Apply for a postal vote.

Early voting for the ACT election takes place during the three weeks before the election. If you are in the ACT for any part of this period, you should use this option.

If you are overseas before early voting starts, you may vote using OSEVS or by postal voting. OSEVS is only available to electors who are overseas at the time of voting.

Please note that Australian missions are not be supplied with ballot papers.

For information on enrolment requirements if you are heading overseas, see the Australian Electoral Commission's website.

If you are in the ACT on election day you can vote at any polling place.

If you are not in the ACT on election day but will be here during the three-week early voting period before the election, you may cast an early vote.

If you are interstate during the early voting period you may be able to vote at the capital city office of any State or Northern Territory electoral office (not the Australian Electoral Commission). These will be open during normal business hours Monday to Friday. This facility is NOT available on election day.

If you are overseas during the early voting period, you may apply for a postal vote or (pending future Assembly approval) an online vote via the overseas electronic voting system.

If you are going to work in the Antarctic (including Heard Island, McDonald Island and Macquarie Island), or are already there, you may be eligible to enrol as an "Antarctic elector". Contact Elections ACT or the Australian Electoral Commission for more details or an application form.

If you are in the Antarctic on election day, or in transit on a ship to or from the Antarctic, special arrangements can be made for you to vote. As this will require the electronic transmission of individual vote details, and because of the small number of electors involved, there may be a limited loss of secrecy of individual votes. For this reason, voting in the Antarctic is not compulsory.

For electors who are overseas, including the Antarctic, during the three-week early voting period before the election an electronic voting service may be offered, pending future Legislative Assembly approval. To be eligible to use the overseas e-voting service, electors must be in an overseas location at the time of voting. A declaration of this fact is required.

Yes, provided they are enrolled, or entitled to be enrolled, for an ACT address. If the elector is held in an ACT prison they have the option of either applying for a postal vote or voting in person when the Elections ACT mobile polling team visits the prison. Prisoners being held in a prison outside of the ACT may apply for a postal vote.

You may either:

  • Cast an early vote during the three-week early voting period before the election; or
  • Apply for a postal vote; or
  • If you are overseas, apply to vote online (pending future Assembly approval) via the overseas electronic voting system; or
  • If you are in hospital, a nursing home or the Alexander Maconochie Centre, you may be visited by a mobile polling team.

A list of all polling places, including early voting centres, is available on this site in the lead up to an ACT Legislative Assembly election. The list is also published in an election information brochure delivered to all households before the election.

In most cases the polling places used are the same as those used at the previous election.

For ACT Legislative Assembly elections you don't need to vote at any particular polling place. You can cast an ordinary vote at any polling place in the ACT, even if you are outside your electorate.

All ACT electors are eligible and encouraged to vote at any of these during the 3 week voting period.

Remember, for ACT Legislative Assembly elections you don't need to vote at any particular polling place. You can cast an ordinary vote at any polling place in the ACT, even if you are outside your electorate.

Casting a vote electronically is available at all early voting centres during the three-week early voting period before the election. These centres will also be open on election day. At the early voting centres, electors can choose to vote either electronically or on a paper ballot.

Voters who choose to vote electronically will be given an e-voting card with a QR code on it and directed to an electronic voting screen. The voter then uses the touchscreen to select the language they want to use for the instructions. The instructions are available in twelve languages including English.

The next screen instructs the voter to scan their e-voting card to start the voting process. This displays the ballot paper screen for their electorate.

The voter then selects the candidates they wish to give preferences to, in order, using the touchscreen. Each time a candidate is selected, a consecutive number will appear in the box beside the candidate name, starting at number 1.

A mistake can be corrected by selecting ‘Undo last choice’. The voter can also select ‘Clear choices’ to remove all preferences entered and start again.

When the voter is finished selecting candidates, they select ‘Next’. A new screen displays the completed vote for the voter to check.

The voter then either selects ‘Go back’ if they wish to make changes or scans the e-voting card again to finalise their vote. It is important that the voter scans the QR code card for the second time to finalise the voting process.

Lastly, the voter places their e-voting card in the ballot box as they leave the polling place.

Staff are available to assist if requested by the voter. The voter can select ‘Hide my vote’ before requesting assistance to ensure its secrecy. This will hide the ballot paper screen.

No. You will need to vote before election day, either at an early voting centre in Canberra during the three-week early voting period before the election or by post.

You will need to vote before election day during the three-week early voting period before the election.

You can do this by:

  • Voting at an early voting centre during the early voting period  before you leave Canberra; or
  • Voting at the capital city office of any State or Northern Territory electoral commission (not the Australian Electoral Commission), during the early voting period; or
  • Applying for a postal vote if you will have a postal address where ballot material can reach you during the early voting period.

After living at your new address for a month, you must update your address on the electoral roll. You can do this online at the Australian Electoral Commission's website.

Please note, updating your details on your driver's licence, does not automatically update your details on the electoral roll.

If you able to go to a polling place, you can nominate someone to help you vote including a polling official. If someone can drive you to the polling place, a polling official can bring voting material out to you in the car. You can vote at any polling place in Canberra, not only those in your electorate.

Alternatively, someone can help you vote by post. They can assist you with applying for a postal vote or they can apply for a postal vote on your behalf if you authorise them to do so. Once the ballot material arrives, someone can also assist you to complete the voting process if you wish. If you can't sign your name on postal voting material, someone can sign on your behalf as a witness to your mark.

If you are physically incapacitated, or caring for someone who is, you can register as a general postal voter. You will then automatically receive postal ballot material for each federal and ACT election. If you can't sign your name on postal voting material, someone can sign on your behalf as a witness to your mark.

Telephone voting is available for electors who are blind or have visual impairment and those with a physical disability that makes it problematic to travel to an early voting centre.

Polling officials from Elections ACT visit many of the nursing homes and hospitals in the ACT in the week before election day to allow residents and patients the opportunity to vote.

Elections ACT mails two election information brochures to all ACT households. These provide information on enrolment and voting including key dates, electorate maps, instructions for voting formally, polling place locations and hours, and assistance for voters who can’t vote on election day. These brochures are made available from this website in audio and accessible pdf formats for voters requiring this. The first of these brochures was delivered to ACT households in the week before the voting opened on 28 September.

Please note that voting is still compulsory for elderly voters.

Elections ACT provides assistance to voters with disabilities in a number of ways for an election.

Electronic voting allows voters who are blind or have vision impairment to vote independently. Elections ACT provides electronic voting at all early voting centres for three weeks before the election and at these same polling places on election day. Magnifying sheets, for use with ballot papers, are available on request at all polling places.

Telephone voting is also made available for electors who are blind or have visual impairment or have a disability that makes it physically or mentally problematic to travel to an early voting centre.

All ACT polling places and early voting centres are assessed for accessibility. The accessibility of each is indicated on the list of polling places. This list is available on this website prior to an election and is also in a brochure sent to all ACT households. All polling places and early voting centres are equipped with a voting screen that can be used by a person seated in a wheelchair or in the chair supplied. Polling staff can assist voters if help is asked for.

The Elections ACT election information brochures that are mailed to all ACT households provide information on enrolment and voting including key dates, electorate maps, instructions for voting formally, early voting and polling place locations and hours, and assistance for voters who can’t vote on election day. These brochures are also made available as audio files from this website and in ACT public libraries to assist voters with a hearing disability.

General Postal Voter (GPV) status is available if you have a  physical disability which prevents you from signing your name or if you live at home and you are too ill or infirm to travel to a polling place or you are caring for someone like this. General Postal Voters automatically receive a postal vote for every federal and ACT Legislative Assembly election. You can ask someone to help you complete the form to apply and to complete the ballot paper when you receive it.

Polling officials from Elections ACT visit many of the nursing homes and hospitals in the ACT in the week before election day to allow residents and patients, who are unable to get to a polling place, the opportunity to vote.

Registration as a general postal voter means that you will automatically be sent postal voting material as soon as possible after early voting commences for each federal and ACT election.

You can apply for registration as a general postal voter if:

  • You are a patient in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution that is not provided with mobile polling facilities and you are too ill or infirm to travel;
  • You live at home and you are too ill or infirm to travel;
  • You are caring for a seriously ill or infirm person;
  • You are detained in lawful custody (for example, serving a prison sentence);
  • You have a physical disability which prevents you from signing your name and you have provided upon enrolling, or can provide, a doctor's certificate to this effect;
  • You live more than 20 km by the nearest practicable route from a polling place;
  • You are registered as on overseas elector;
  • Your address is not shown on the roll because you are a silent elector;
  • Your religious beliefs prevent you from attending a polling place;
  • You are a member of the Australian defence forces, or a Defence civilian serving outside Australia; or
  • You are an Australian Federal Police officer or staff member serving outside Australia.

For more detail and access to the application form, go to the Australian Electoral Commission's website

If you don't vote at the ACT Legislative Assembly election, you will receive a letter or email from the ACT Electoral Commission asking for an explanation. Your explanation must be provided in writing either:

  • On the back of the notice sent to you; or
  • Through the online form that is made available on this site when letters are sent out.

If you have a valid reason you will not be fined.

If you do not have a valid reason, you will be given the opportunity of paying a $20 penalty. If you do not pay the penalty you may be taken to court, where the penalty can be increased to $80 plus court costs.

You should contact Elections ACT as soon as possible if you will be or have been unable to vote at the election.  If you have a valid reason, you will not be sent the failure to vote notice.

Twenty-five (25) Members are elected to the Legislative Assembly at an ACT election.

The ACT is divided into 5 electorates - Brindabella, Ginninderra, Kurrajong, Murrumbidgee and Yerrabi - each electing 5 Members to the Legislative Assembly.

In preparation for each Legislative Assembly election, a redistribution of electoral boundaries is commenced two years before. The most recent redistribution was concluded in September 2023. These revised boundaries are to be used for the 2024 ACT election. A list of suburbs in each electorate is available on this website.

The Hare-Clark electoral system is used for ACT Legislative Assembly elections. This is the electoral system chosen by a majority of voters at the referendum held on 15 February 1992.

The Hare-Clark system is a method of proportional representation. To be elected, a candidate must obtain a quota of votes in an electorate.

Electors vote by showing preferences for individual candidates.

Each elector has a single vote, which can be transferred from candidate to candidate according to the preferences on the ballot paper until all the vacancies are filled.

Candidates' names are listed on the ballot papers in columns. Two or more candidates nominated by a registered political party are listed in a party column. Independent candidates and candidates nominated by registered political parties that have nominated only one candidate for that electorate, are included in "ungrouped" columns on the ballot papers.

Ballot papers are printed using "Robson rotation". This means that the names in each column of candidates are printed in different orders on consecutive ballot papers. Robson rotation gives each candidate an equal share of each position in a column and no candidate in a column has the advantage of appearing in the same position on every ballot paper. For example, if there are 5 candidates in a column, that column will be printed with one-fifth of all ballot papers having candidate "A" in the top position, another fifth of all ballot papers having candidate "B" in the top position, and so on for each candidate in the column.

Robson rotation means that the order of candidates listed on the ballot paper you receive as a voter may be different from sample ballot papers, published lists or how-to-vote cards you have seen. Voters wishing to vote for particular candidates should be aware of this.

For more information on ballot papers, Robson rotation and a sample ballot paper, view our ballot paper factsheet.

This depends on the number of candidates, but the final result is expected around 1 to 2 weeks after voting closes. Preliminary results are available on election night.

Requirements for authorising printed electoral matter (including in an electronic form such as an internet site) are regulated under the Electoral Act 1992 and are outlined in the authorising electoral material factsheet and the Candidate's Information Handbook.

Authorisations for TV and radio political advertising are regulated under the Commonwealth's Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (TV and radio are under Commonwealth jurisdiction under the Constitution). The responsible authority is the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The relevant rules for TV and radio political advertising are set out on the Australian Communications and Media Authority's site - visit the ACMA's website for rules concerning TV and radio advertising.

Election advertising in the electronic media is subject to a 'blackout' from midnight on the Wednesday before election day until election day. The blackout does not relate to news broadcasts or to the printed media. This is a requirement of the Broadcasting Act not the Electoral Act. For further information contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority For ACT elections, the blackout only applies to election advertisements related to an ACT election that are broadcast in or across the ACT.

Yes. As much paper and cardboard electoral material is reused or recycled as possible. Recycled paper is also used wherever possible for electoral documents. The cardboard equipment used in polling places, such as the voting screens, has been specially selected for sustainability. It is made from unbleached cardboard with 100% recycled content. To avoid environmental contamination, the cardboard is not printed on.

Where possible, electronic formats have replaced paper formats. For example, an electronic format of the electoral roll is used to mark off electors' names before voting. Electors can vote electronically instead of on a paper ballot if they wish at early voting centres.

The 2020 election cost around $8.002 million in addition to the regular budget for the ACT Electoral Commission. This includes around $2.1 million for public funding of candidates and parties. More details on the Commission's budget are contained in each year's annual report.

More details on elections and voting may be obtained by contacting the ACT Electoral Commission.

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