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Australian Electoral Commission
With Australia’s next federal election on the horizon, the Australian Electoral Commission is encouraging any group intending to register as a political party to apply ASAP or risk missing out.
The AEC also extends this message to existing political parties who may want to change their registered name, abbreviation and/or logo prior to the federal election.
Once a writ is issued for a federal election the AEC legally must cease all work on party registration applications. The AEC does not know when the federal election will be. However, the window for a standard House of Representatives and half-Senate federal election is now open and runs through to Saturday 17 May 2025.
Party registration applications take a minimum of four months to complete due to mandated timeframes prescribed in the Electoral Act for some components of the process. This timeframe can be longer if there is an incomplete or erroneous application, or if public objections require significant consideration.
Electoral laws are in place to ensure that registered political parties do not use similar names, abbreviations or logos, and that prospective parties have an appropriate amount of community support.
Prospective political parties are required to have a valid constitution and at least 1,500 members, or existing representation in the federal Parliament. There is a verification step for membership lists as one component of the party registration application process. All applications are also advertised for public objection.
For further information, refer to the guide or party registration FAQs.
Quotes from Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers are available below.
“Registering as a political party isn’t mandatory in order to run as a candidate but it does allow a group to display their party name, abbreviation and logo on the ballot paper.”
“Independent candidates can be listed on a ballot paper of course, but for the Senate in particular this may mean being grouped in a separate, unmarked column on the right-hand side of the ballot paper.”
“The risk of missing out is significant, especially as the election window is now open. Groups wanting to register must act now and be sure to complete any applications properly.”
“There are legal requirements in place that prevent parties from registering with similar names or logos to existing parties, with the aim of reducing confusion for voters at the ballot box.”
“We’re here to assist with party registration applications – our team can talk intending groups through the steps and there is a comprehensive guide as well.”
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
