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This Fact Sheet explains your options about overseas voting at the 2007 federal election if you’re on the electoral roll, as well as related general information.

Check your enrolment

You can verify your enrolment, or check which electorate you are enrolled in, by using the AEC Online Enrolment Verification Facility on the AEC website at https://oevf.aec.gov.au/.  Make sure you search for your name just as you would have written it on your enrolment form.

You can also check your enrolment by calling 13 23 26 in Australia or +61 2 6271 4411 from overseas or by emailing a request to info@aec.gov.au.

It is now too late to enrol for the 2007 election, as the roll closed on Tuesday 23 October 2007. 

How to vote overseas for the 2007 federal election

Voting is now available. You can vote in person now at over 100 Australian diplomatic missions before election day, 24 November.  The list of Australian diplomatic missions offering voting services is on the AEC website together with links to their websites. It is important that you check with the mission before you visit to see if and when they are providing these services. Some Australian diplomatic missions cannot offer voting on 24 November local time because all voting must cease by 6pm Western Australian Summer Time on election day.

If you can’t vote in person, you can have a postal vote by applying through any of the Australian diplomatic missions for ballot papers to be sent to you at your overseas address. As this process can take some time, you should allow sufficient time for your application to be received by the Mission, ballot papers to be sent to you, and your completed postal vote to be in the mail before 24 November 2007.  You can print a postal vote application form from the AEC’s website at www.aec.gov.au.

The contact details and voting arrangements of each participating mission are available at www.aec.gov.au or by calling 13 23 26 in Australia or +61 2 6271 4411 from overseas.

Voting at Australian airports before you go

The AEC will have early voting centres set up at some international and domestic airports around Australia prior to and on election day so that you can vote before you leave the country. Details of these centres are available at www.aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26 in Australia for details.

More about enrolling and voting from overseas

The following is general information. It is now too late to enrol for the 2007 election, as the roll closed on Tuesday 23 October 2007.

Going overseas for a short time?

If you’re enrolled and going overseas for up to 1 year and returning to your address, let the AEC know by completing an Overseas Notification Form [PDF 100k].

Going overseas for a long time?

If you’re enrolled and you’re going overseas for more than a year but less than 6 years, you can choose to remain on the roll by completing an Overseas Elector Registration Form [PDF 874k]. This will ensure your name is not removed from the electoral roll and you can vote while outside Australia in federal elections.

Already overseas and not enrolled?
If you’re not enrolled and have been living overseas for less than 3 years and intend to return to Australia within 6 years, you may be able to enrol from outside Australia and register as an overseas elector. You can’t enrol for an overseas address, but you can for the electorate for which you were previously entitled to be enrolled in Australia. If this is not applicable you may enrol for a next of kin’s electorate, or if this is not applicable further rules apply. An ‘Electoral Enrolment From Outside Australia For Federal Elections Form’ [PDF 175k] with further details also available on the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au.

If you’re not enrolled and have been overseas for more than 3 years, you’re not able to enrol from outside Australia.

State and Local Government elections

Arrangements for these elections can be different from federal elections. The Overseas Elector Registration Form also summarises the rules about continued eligibility to vote in State and Territory elections. Contact your relevant State or Territory electoral for more details.  

How to get more information

For more information visit the ‘overseas voters’ section on the AEC website or call 13 23 26 in Australia or +61 2 6271 4411 from overseas.