• Ordinary vote
• Absent vote
• Early vote
• Postal vote
• Interstate vote on election day
• Provisional vote
• Mobile polling votes

Ordinary vote

An ordinary vote is a vote cast in a polling place in the elector’s home division on election day. This is the simplest way to vote and the method used by the majority of electors (approximately 84 per cent).

Absent vote

An absent vote is a vote cast by an elector out of their home division but still within their home State or Territory on election day. At the last election there were 851,951 absent votes cast (6.22 per cent of the total votes cast).

Early vote

These types of votes can be cast by an elector who will not be within their home State or Territory on election day, is seriously ill, infirm, unable to leave work, or for religious reasons is unable to attend a polling place.

Electors can cast an early vote either in person or by post in the following two ways.

Early (pre poll) vote

An early (pre poll) vote can be cast at an early voting centre in the 2 weeks leading up to election day.

Postal vote

A postal vote is cast before election day by post. To apply for a postal vote you must print off and complete an "Application for a postal vote" form. The AEC will then send ballot papers to you.

Interstate vote on election day

An interstate vote can be cast on election day at an interstate voting centre by an elector who is not within their home State or Territory. It's important to remember you can't vote at just any polling place; it has to be a special interstate voting centre. At the last election the total number of early (pre-poll) votes cast before election day and interstate votes cast on election day was 610,107. This represented approximately 4.79 per cent of the total number of votes.

Provisional vote

A provisional vote is cast in circumstances where an elector’s name cannot be found on the roll or the name has already been marked off the roll. The vote cannot be counted until a careful check of enrolment records and entitlements has been made.

Electors making a postal, early, interstate or provisional vote must complete a declaration giving their personal details. This will be checked by divisional staff before the votes are counted.

Mobile polling votes

AEC mobile polling teams take portable polling places to many electors who are not able to get to a polling place. Mobile polling places are set up in some hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and remote areas of Australia. Mobile polling is carried out around Australia prior to election day and on election day.