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Australian Electoral Commission
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The independent statutory authority established in 1984 to maintain and update the Commonwealth electoral roll, raise public awareness and conduct federal elections and referendums.
The AEC's chief manager in each state and the Northern Territory. An AEO for the Australian Capital Territory is only appointed for each election period. The AEO is the returning officer for the Senate in their state or territory.
An election held to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives resulting from death, resignation, absence without leave, expulsion, disqualification or ineligibility of a member.
A person standing for election to the Senate or House of Representatives.
The legislation governing the Commonwealth electoral process.
The AEC officer responsible for conducting the election in each division. The DROs are the returning officers for the House of Representatives in their divisions.
For representation in the House of Representatives, Australia is divided into voting areas known as divisions or electorates. One member is elected from each division.
(For representation in the Senate, each state and territory is one electorate. All states are multi-member electorates and have the same number of Senators. Territory representation is determined by the federal parliament).
A postal vote or a vote cast at an early voting centre, an AEC divisional office or via a mobile polling team in the lead-up to election day. They are cast by electors who will not be able to get to a polling place on election day.
Regulation that support the operation of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984.
The officer who performs the functions of the chief executive officer of the AEC.
A re-check of votes cast conducted by the DRO in the days following election day.
One of two houses of the federal Parliament of Australia, whose members are elected on a population basis.
A ballot paper is generally considered informal if it is not filled out correctly in accordance with the Act and the instructions on the ballot paper. It cannot therefore be included in the scrutiny.
Polling officials who issue ordinary ballot papers to electors whose names are found on the certified list of voters, mark the certified list, complete the account of ballot papers and assist with the count of ballot papers after the close of the poll.
The part of the polling place where ballot papers are issued to electors.
The officer who is in charge at a polling place. They are called 'presiding officers' during polling (8am to 6pm). From 6pm, during the scrutiny, they are called the Assistant Returning Officer.
An ordinary vote is recorded by an elector whose entitlement to vote is verified at the place of polling and whose name is marked off on a certified list of electors. Ordinary votes may be cast on, or in certain circumstances, before election day. These votes are counted on election day after the close of voting.
There are two categories of polling officials engaged for federal elections – those who are required to work in the period immediately before election day to assist with mobile and early voting and those who are required to work in a polling place on election day only.
The DRO determines the hours of duty of mobile and early voting. Polling officials employed on election day are advised of the hours of duty where an offer of employment is made.
Duty can commence as early as 7am and staff are required to remain on duty after 6pm until all work at the polling place is completed.
A place appointed to take the votes of electors from that state or territory on election day.
The mark – a tick, a cross or a number – made by an elector to indicate a first preference when voting above the line in the Senate. For all other ballot papers the first preference mark is a number '1' only.
A system of voting in which the voter completes the ballot paper by putting the number '1' in the box next to the candidate who is their first choice, the number '2' in the box next to their second choice, and so on until every box is numbered.
A proposal to alter the Constitution put to the vote. The Constitution can only be altered by a 'double majority' – a national majority of electors from all states and territories and a majority of electors in a majority of states passing the proposed amendment.
The legislation governing the Referendum process.
One of two houses of the federal Parliament of Australia, which has 76 Senators, 12 from each of the six states and two each from Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
The counting of votes, which leads to the election result.
An above the line vote on a senate ballot paper.
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.