Party officials who have been appointed as scrutineers are allowed to attend residential care facilities with AEC mobile voting teams. These scrutineering arrangements reflect the fact that electoral laws allow for every aspect of voting and counting to be observed – an important part of Australia’s transparent democratic process.

A scrutineer is allowed to assist a person to vote. However, this can only occur if that voter is someone who satisfies the mobile voting team that they do require assistance to vote and if they ask the scrutineer to be the person to do so. The ability to assist a voter in completing their ballot paper also mirrors other voting settings. A voter can ask for assistance to vote from a person of their choice. If the voter fails to appoint someone, an AEC officer can assist with voting, observed by a scrutineer.

AEC mobile voting staff administer voting activities in residential care facilities and other mobile voting settings according to electoral laws. AEC staff explain to each voter what they can and cannot do, what the voting laws are and what material is available to them in order to inform themselves in the casting of their vote.

If someone is unable to understand the nature or significance of voting in a federal election then an application can be made to have them removed from the electoral roll. This application can be made by a family member, carer or friend but must be accompanied by a medical certificate that attests to the circumstances.

A person with dementia who is on the electoral roll at the time of a federal election remains entitled to their say. The information afforded to all voters is the same, including the ability to access campaign material or talk to campaign staff.

The people living in residential aged care page includes information and links to assist families and representatives of people living in residential care to support their participation in the electoral system.