Types of jobs

There are paid temporary jobs for before, on and after voting day. You’ll get paid for any training you need to do. The table below shows the types of jobs available. Let us know which jobs suit you when you register your interest.

To reflect the diverse community we serve, the AEC welcomes people from all backgrounds and locations, including First Nations people and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Eligible people under 18 years old can work before and after voting day. They can’t work on voting day.

Remember: If you are interested in one of these jobs, you must be an Australian Citizen and political and issue neutral. Being politically neutral means not expressing an opinion or taking actions in relation to political parties, political candidates, and their policies. Being issue neutral means not expressing an opinion or taking actions that support either side of the subject of the referendum.


Work before voting day

 Job descriptions

Before voting day, there is work available at places where people can vote early. This is often called pre-polling. These places normally operate for the two weeks leading up to voting day.

These jobs include:

  • providing people with ballot papers, managing queues, and answering voter's questions.
  • managing the polling place, making sure ballot papers are secure, supervising staff and speaking with voters, campaign workers and other stakeholders.
  • support roles ensuring things run smoothly and helping to resolve any issues.

To work in these jobs, you need to:

  • have an eye for detail and follow processes.
  • communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds.
  • be flexible, adaptable, and work as part of a team.
  • can sit or stand for long periods, if required.
  • potentially lift up to 12 kilograms at times.
  • have good organisational and management skills (for a senior role).

Click on the links in the right-hand column to learn more.

Work on voting day

 Job descriptions

Voting occurs between 8am and 6pm, then the place is packed up and the vote counting begins.

Most staff start around 7am and finish no later than 11pm, when all required duties are complete. There are some 5hr shifts available, during busy times and at night.

Voting day jobs involve:

  • providing people with ballot papers, managing queues, and assisting with voter queries.
  • helping to keep the ballot box and ballot papers secure.
  • sorting and counting votes.
  • helping to pack up all AEC materials at the polling place.

In a more senior job, you could be:

  • managing the polling place.
  • making sure ballot papers are secure.
  • supervising staff.
  • talking with voters, campaign workers and other stakeholders.
  • managing the vote count.
  • overseeing and supporting Officers in Charge at up to five different polling places.

To work in these jobs, you need to:

  • have an eye for detail and be able to follow processes.
  • communicate effectively with people from all walks of life.
  • be flexible, adaptable, and work as part of a team.
  • be able to sit or stand for long periods, if required.
  • potentially lift up to 12 kilograms at times.

Click on the links in the right-hand column to learn more.

Work after voting day

 Job descriptions

After voting day, there is work available to help count votes and provide support in packing up and finishing an event. Depending on the type of event, this can be for a couple of days or up to several weeks.

There are some jobs available to people under 18 years of age (in line with your state or territories minimum working age requirements).

Most of this work takes place in outposted centres. An outposted centre is a temporary facility, much like a warehouse, where the main task is counting votes. They are also used to securely store voting materials, distribute them to polling places, and receive them back when voting ends.

The jobs in outposted centres include:

  • warehousing, clerical, and administrative tasks.
  • sorting and counting votes.
  • supervising staff.

To work in an outposted centre you need to:

  • have an eye for detail.
  • follow processes well.
  • work cooperatively in small teams.
  • have organisational and people management skills.

Click on the links in the right-hand column to learn more.

Deliver voting services in aged care facilities, and other facilities

 Job descriptions

Our Mobile Polling teams take voting services to people who may not be able to get to a polling place. They operate in cities and regional areas, delivering voting services for two weeks before voting day. Each team is small and is usually made up of two to three people, including a team leader.

If you are working in one of these teams you are required to meet the facilities entry requirements, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccination requirements (for more details, view the job description in the right-hand column).

To work in one of these teams you need to:

  • provide information and support to voters in a patient, compassionate and supportive manner.
  • be comfortable working in different environments, like aged care facilities, homelessness shelters, and prisons.
  • be flexible, adaptable, and resilient.
  • communicate clearly with people from different backgrounds.
  • have an eye for detail.
  • have good organisational and management skills (for a team leader role).

If working in one of these teams, you might be asked to:

  • set up and dismantle voting areas up to twice a day as you move between areas. That involves lifting.
  • provide ballot papers and marking voters’ names off the electoral roll to show they voted.
  • help ensure the ballot box and ballot papers are always secure.

Click on the links in the right-hand column to learn more.

Deliver voting services in remote and regional communities

 Job descriptions

Remote Service Delivery Teams take voting services to people living in remote and regional communities across Australia. These teams operate for several weeks, delivering voting services in the weeks before and on voting day, and complete other logistical activities after voting day.

Each team is usually made up of four people, including a team leader.

If you are working in one of these teams you are required to meet the facilities entry requirements, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccination requirements (for more details, view the job description in the right-hand column).

To work in one of these teams, you need to:

  • be comfortable travelling to and working in remote communities, such as First Nations communities and isolated towns.
  • be comfortable travelling in different types of transport, such as 4-wheel drive vehicles, light aircraft, helicopters, small boats, or barges.
  • be flexible, adaptable, and resilient.
  • need to communicate clearly with people from all walks of life.
  • have an eye for detail.
  • have good organisational and management skills (for team leader jobs)
  • be able to drive a 4x4 in various conditions including off road, wet weather, and hot conditions.

If working in one of these teams, you can expect that you may:

  • be working and staying in remote locations for several weeks.
  • undertake 1 week of training.
  • undertake or be trained in 4WD training to operate in different terrains.
  • have or be trained in first aid skills.
  • be setting up and dismantling voting places up to twice a day as you move between areas.
  • potentially lift 12 kilograms at times.
  • be engaging with a community to let them know voting is available.
  • be providing ballot papers and marking voters’ names off the electoral roll to show they voted.
  • be helping to ensure the ballot box and ballot papers are always secure.

Click on the links in the right-hand column to learn more.
Updated: 24 January 2024