Deadlines for enrolling to vote for federal elections

This Fact sheet is available in other languages – choose your language from the Translated Information page.

This document is also available in PDF version [42k]. Ideal for printing or reading offline.

There have been important changes to the deadlines to enrol to vote, or to update your enrolment, for federal elections.

If you are not enrolled, or you haven't made sure that your name or address details on the electoral rolls are up to date, you risk missing out on being able to vote.

The new deadlines, outlined below for different circumstances, will occur after the issue of the writs. The writs are the legal documents necessary to commence the official timetable and process for the federal election. For recent federal elections, the writs have been issued between one and four days after the Prime Minister announces the election date.

In order to vote in a federal election, your enrolment form must be correctly completed and received by the AEC before the close of the electoral rolls:

If you are: The electoral rolls will close and your deadline for the AEC to receive your correctly completed enrolment form is:

Enrolling for the first time

8pm on the same day the writs for the election are issued

Except if:  
you are 17, but will turn 18 years of age between the day after the issue of the writs and election day (inclusive)
Then the deadline is 8pm, three working days after the day the writs for the election are issued
or  
you will become an Australian citizen between the day after the issue of the writs and election day (inclusive)
Then the deadline is 8pm, three working days after the day the writs for the election are issued
Re-enrolling to get back on the roll after having been removed for any reason 8pm, on the same day the writs for the election are issued
On the roll , but with an out-of-dateaddress or name details 8pm, three working days after the day the writs for the election are issued

You must complete an enrolment form every time you move

If you've moved and not updated your enrolment you may be taken off the electoral roll if the AEC becomes aware that your enrolment is out of date.

If you need to update your enrolment, do it now by completing a new enrolment form. It's your responsibility to keep your enrolment up-to-date. Don't risk missing out on being able to vote.

You can check your enrolment status and get more information and forms on the enrolment section of our website, visiting an AEC Officeor calling 13 23 26. Enrolment forms are also available at Australia Post outlets.

Where do I send my form?

This page last updated Tuesday, October 23, 2007