Enrolment and voting information for people becoming Australian citizens after an election is announced

Updated: 8 May 2016
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There are special arrangements in place for people who become Australian citizens after a federal election has been announced that allows them to become provisional electors.

You are eligible to apply for provisional enrolment if you:

  • have been notified by the Immigration Department that you will become an Australian citizen between the date of announcement and polling day for the election; and
  • are not enrolled; and
  • are not qualified for enrolment, but would be if you were an Australian citizen.

Once you have completed your provisional electoral enrolment form and had it signed by either an AEC employee or an authorised person, you must make sure that you return it to an AEC office before the close of rolls at 8pm Monday 23 May 2016.

How do I enrol?

A special enrolment form [PDF 710KB] is available. This form is called "Provisional electoral enrolment for potential new citizens". The form is fillable on screen but must be then printed, signed and returned to the AEC. The application contains instructions on how to complete the form and return it.

At the time of lodgment of your application, you must provide evidence of the Immigration Department's notification to you of the date of your citizenship ceremony. You have two ways to do this:

  • show the original notification to an AEC employee who will make a note on your enrolment form to say that they have seen the original document

Or

  • show the original or a copy of the notification to an authorised person who will sign your form to say that they have seen your notification. A list of authorised people who can sign your form is shown on the front page of the application.

Remember this must be done before 8pm on the day of the close of rolls for the election.

How do I vote on election day?

Because your citizenship has not been confirmed at the time the election is called, your name will not be on the electoral roll at the polling place. Instead, when you visit a polling place on election day, you will be issued a provisional vote – this involves you completing a declaration vote envelope and lodging your ballot papers in that envelope.

Your vote will not be counted until you show evidence of your Australian citizenship to the AEC. You can do this at the polling place by showing your citizenship certificate to an AEC officer.

If you don't confirm your citizenship at the polling place, you must do so by the Friday 8 July 2016 for the election by providing evidence that you have become an Australian citizen at any AEC office.

If you do not provide your citizenship certificate by this day, your vote will not be counted and your provisional enrolment will be cancelled. You will then need to complete an ordinary enrolment form to be included on future electoral rolls.

Remember, once you become an Australian citizen it is compulsory to enrol and vote. Every time you move, you will need to fill out a new enrolment form.

If you have further questions about enrolment or voting you can get more information by contacting your nearest AEC office on 13 23 26.