Nomination guide for candidates

The nomination guide for candidates provides a thorough outline of the processes required to nominate as either an endorsed or unendorsed candidate.

Nomination forms

Each nomination must include an individual candidate details form for each candidate plus one or more of the additional forms.

The fillable form can be used to generate a PDF. This can be saved and printed for signing and must be lodged together with the additional form(s), any additional documents, and the deposit by the relevant deadline.

Important information about nomination forms

Nomination forms have been published prior to the issue of the writs to provide additional time for candidates to complete all mandatory requirements before lodgement. Nomination forms can only be lodged after the issue of the writs and before the close of nominations (s 170(2) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918).

Information about how and where to lodge nominations will be available after the issue of writs.

There are risks from completing a nomination form before the issue of writs.

Candidates and registered political parties must ensure that the nomination form lodged is the current approved version at the issue of the writs and provides current factual information.

There is a risk that the legislation will change prior to the issue of the writs, resulting in the need for the approved nomination forms to be amended.

There is a risk to any candidate that the registered officers or deputy registered officers who are able to endorse candidates will change. As at the close of nominations (a date yet to be determined) all information in the nomination forms must be legally and factually accurate.

Collection of 100 nominators signatures

There are also additional risks for candidates needing to obtain 100 signatures.

Electors endorsing a nomination must be entitled to vote at the election in which the candidate is nominating (i.e. enrolled in the state or territory for Senate elections and enrolled in the division for House of Representatives elections).

If a candidate seeks to obtain signatures prior to the issue of writs, it is possible that between obtaining the signatures and close of rolls, enrolment details could change meaning an elector is no longer capable of supporting the candidate’s nomination.

Senate

Nominations for the Senate are made to the Australian Electoral Officer (AEO) for the state or territory.

House of Representatives

Nominations for the House of Representatives are made to the Divisional Returning Officer for the division where the election is to be held. This also applies to by-elections.

For a general election the registered officer of a political party may make a 'bulk nomination' of all endorsed House of Representatives candidates within a particular state or territory. This allows all of a party's candidates to be nominated in one action. Nominations in this form must be made to the AEO for the appropriate state or territory and must be received 48 hours before the hour of nomination (see subsection 175(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918). Bulk nominations cannot be made for a by-election and all nominations must be lodged at the office of the Returning Officer.

Deposit

Senate and House of Representatives candidates must pay a $2000 deposit with their nomination.

Each nomination for the Senate and the House of Representatives must be accompanied by a deposit paid by legal tender (cash), debit card, or a cheque drawn by a bank or other financial institution on itself. Cheques should be made out to the Australian Electoral Commission. Personal cheques cannot be accepted.

These deposits are returned if a candidate is elected, or gains more than 4% of the total first preference votes, or if the candidate is in a group of Senate candidates which polls at least 4% of the total first preference votes.