Information for people with disability or mobility restrictions

Accessible voting options

Postal voting

If you are unable to travel to a polling place to vote for the Cook by-election, you can apply for a postal vote.

A voter with a disability or mobility restrictions may also be eligible to become a general postal voter and receive ballot papers in the mail for each federal electoral event.

To complete a postal vote, the voter may choose an assistant (such as a friend or family member) to help complete the ballot paper and envelope according to the voter’s instruction, but the voter must sign the envelope or make a mark as a signature.

Telephone voting

Voters who are blind or have low vision can cast a vote in secret from any location, including their own homes by calling the AEC. A telephone number will be provided soon.

Step 1: Call to register

Registering for telephone voting will commence on Tuesday 2 April 2024 and will be available on weekdays between 8:30am and 5:30pm AEDT. It will also be available on by-election day Saturday, 13 April 2024, from 8am to 12 midday AEDT.

If you wish to vote by telephone, you must first register by calling the number when provided.

You will be asked questions to check your details on the electoral roll and will be asked to choose a PIN. You will then receive a telephone voting registration number by your choice of an email, SMS, or phone call.

Step 2: Call to vote

Telephone voting will be available for this by-election commencing on Tuesday 2 April 2024, on weekdays between 8:30am and 5:30pm AEDT. It will also be available on by-election day Saturday, 13 April 2024, from 8am to 6pm AEDT.

Once you have received your registration number and chosen your PIN, you will need to call again to cast your vote.

To cast your vote, call the number when provided.

When you call, do not give your name. Please have your telephone voting registration number and chosen PIN number ready. You can vote anonymously, and these numbers will be used to mark you off the electoral roll.

An AEC voting assistant will record your vote. A second voting assistant will ensure your vote is recorded as you intended.

Your vote remains secret because the AEC voting assistant will not know your name or address.

Once your vote is complete, the voting assistant will place the ballot paper into a secure ballot box.

Remember, you have until 12 midday AEDT on by-election day Saturday, 13 April 2024 to register, and until 6pm AEDT to cast your vote.

Polling place accessibility

A list of polling places is available soon.

Each polling place is given an accessibility rating to assist people with disabilities or mobility restrictions. These ratings are:

  • wheelchair accessible
  • assisted wheelchair access, or
  • not wheelchair accessible

You can click on the rating listed against each polling place to find out more about its specific accessibility features.

Assistance to vote at a polling place

If you need assistance to vote at a polling place, you can ask someone to help you.

If you cannot get out of the car and the polling official in charge is satisfied you cannot enter the polling pace, someone may bring the ballot paper to you.

Accessible voting information

Official guide to the Cook by-election

A printed version of the Official guide to the Cook by-election is being delivered to all households in the Division of Cook.

Accessible formats of the guide will soon be available to download. You will also have the option of calling the AEC at 13 23 26 to have a copy emailed or sent to you.

Candidate list for the Cook by-election

Accessible formats of the candidate list will be available once candidates have been announced. Check this page after declaration of candidate nominations on Friday 22 March.

You can also have a copy of the Official guide to the Cook by-election and the list of candidates sent to you in an accessible format including braille, audio or large print format by calling the AEC at 13 23 26.

Easy read guides

These guides explain how to enrol to vote and how to vote at a federal election.

The information in these guides is written in an easy to read way.

Pictures are used to explain some ideas.

Easy Read icon

Updated: 7 March 2024