The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will be helping thousands of our newest citizens to enrol to vote on Australia Day and, with a federal election to be held in 2013, is also urging all Australians to make sure they are now correctly enrolled.
AEC State Manager for Tasmania, Sandra Riordan said enrolling to vote was an important part of participating in a healthy democracy and it was a concern at the start of this election year that an estimated 20,000 eligible Tasmanian electors are currently not enrolled to vote.
“A federal election must be held in 2013, so now is the time for all eligible Australians to make sure they are enrolled to vote or, if they have recently moved, to check that their address on the roll is up-to-date,” she said.
“Some people missed out on their vote at previous federal elections because they were not enrolled, or didn’t check, until it was too late. By enrolling or updating your address now you will be ready to vote whenever the election is called.
It’s a simple process to enrol to vote, and you are then enrolled for local, state and federal elections,” Sandra said.
To enrol to vote, go online to www.aec.gov.au/enrol, complete an enrolment form, print and sign it and return it to the AEC.
To update your address on the electoral roll, complete an enrolment form online at www.aec.gov.au/enrol/change-address
To check if you’re enrolled to vote, visit www.aec.gov.au/check or call the AEC on 13 23 26. The AEC website has contact details for people wishing to speak to someone in another language.
Paper enrolment forms are also available at any AEC office, Australia Post outlet, Medicare or Centrelink office.
Ms Riordan said it is compulsory for all Australian citizens 18 years and over to enrol to vote and you must be enrolled for your current address to vote in the federal election. Federal provisional enrolment is also available to 16 and 17 year olds in preparation for being able to vote as soon as they turn eighteen years of age.
AEC
