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Australian Electoral Commission
The AEC is urging people who cannot make it to vote in-person, and need to cast a postal vote in the 2025 federal election, to apply early or risk missing out.
Every effort is made for applications lodged late in the election period, including using priority and express mail services, but depending on a voter’s circumstances, there may be a chance it is not received in time.
“Australia has some of the best in-person voting options in the world. If a voter can turn up to a voting centre, then that is what they must do. “
A list of early voting centres will be available on the AEC website soon. Early voting starts on Tuesday 22 April.
Each federal election there are around 2-2.5 million postal vote applications received by the AEC – many of those arrive late in the election period. All require local roll verification checks, processing and ballot pack printing prior to delivery.
The AEC is not only urging people needing a postal vote to apply early but also to apply directly through the AEC.
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“Australians are very fortunate when it comes to the voting options that are available to them but that doesn’t mean there is no need to plan, and potentially act early.”
“You should only apply for a postal vote if you cannot make it to a voting centre, either on election day or in the two week early voting period.”
“If you need a postal vote, there’s no time to waste. The best time to apply was yesterday. The second-best time to apply is right now.”
“You can apply online, including via your mobile, and it only takes a few minutes.”
“We can’t print or send postal vote packs until after the candidates are announced at the end of next week and ballot papers are printed, but we want to be in the position at that point to send as many as we can.”
“There’s a real risk if you wait until the last week to apply for a postal vote at this election.”
“For applications received in the final week, we undertake local printing across the country and use express deliveries but when we’re not given sufficient time, we can’t always guarantee delivery prior to election day.”
“We work very closely with Australia Post to do everything possible to fulfill every postal vote application we can. We really deeply value this partnership – it enables more than two million people to vote when they can’t make it to a voting centre.”
“Australia Post has been working with the AEC and preparing for the federal election for some months. We will continue to work closely with the AEC throughout the election to ensure all postal votes are delivered.
“We are expecting to deliver a record number of official guides and ballot packs for Australians this election and have organised extra staffing, weekend deliveries and customised mail sorting processes, including during public holidays where needed, to make sure election materials make their way through our network as quickly as possible.
“I encourage Australians wanting to lodge a postal vote to register early, particularly those living in rural and remote regions. Our teams are ready and waiting to deliver your votes.
“I want to thank our frontline team members who will be working around the clock to manage the increased volumes during this period.”
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.