Postal voting

If you are unable to get to a polling place on Saturday 1 April for the 2023 Aston by-election, you are eligible to apply to vote by post.

Apply for a postal vote  
Check application status  
Cancel your postal vote  

Submitting your ballot papers

Ballot papers must be completed and witnessed on or before by-election day, and posted back to the AEC as soon as possible.

You have only 13 days after the by-election for your ballot papers to be received by the AEC.

In accordance with s.193 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, an authorised witness for postal voting may be:

  • An elector whose name appears on the Electoral Roll
  • Outside Australia, the following persons are authorised witnesses:
    • an officer of the Defence Force or of the naval, military or air forces of a Commonwealth country,
    • a person appointed or engaged under the Public Service Act 1999,
    • a member of the civil or public service of a State or Territory or of a Commonwealth country,
    • a Justice of the Peace for a State or Territory or a Commonwealth country,
    • a minister of religion or medical practitioner resident in a State or Territory or a Commonwealth country,
    • an Australian citizen.

If you are unable to find one of these people, please see the information in your postal voting guide for further instructions.

A person who is a candidate for the 2023 Aston by-election cannot be an authorised witness.

If you are a registered general postal voter, you will automatically receive a postal vote pack in the mail.

If you are registered as a silent elector, and you are not a general postal voter, you can complete a postal vote application or vote in person at an early voting centre or on by-election day.

If you are a registered general postal voter, you will automatically receive a postal vote pack via DHL.

If you are a registered overseas elector, and you are not a general postal voter, you can complete a postal vote application. You will receive a postal vote pack via DHL.

If you are unable to find a witness, please click on the link below.

Overseas Postal Vote: Witness declaration alternative  
Updated: 27 February 2023