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Australian Electoral Commission
As the voting period commences, the AEC is reminding all voters to plan their vote.
If people can vote on election day, then that is what they need to do. Only if they can’t vote on election day then they may vote at hundreds of early voting centres that will open progressively across the country from tomorrow until Friday 2 May.
Given past trends in early voting, the AEC anticipates that approximately half of all voters will cast their vote during the early voting period (a combination of in-person early votes, mobile and postal voting).
It is important that people check the opening dates on the AEC website.
Whenever there is a process with 18 million people effectively choosing when and where they turn up, there will be some queues. With national public holidays and school holidays in some states impacting the early voting period, it is even more important for people to plan when and where they will vote.
There is potential for people to rush in early on day one of the voting period or an influx on Saturday 26 April (the Saturday in between the two weeks of early voting) or significant volumes on the final day of early voting.
The AEC has forecasted potential traffic at our venues, will monitor volumes and is planning as much as possible to minimise queues where it is possible. Please carefully plan.
Remote voter services will also commence tomorrow. Throughout this two-week period, 70 mobile AEC teams are using light aircraft, 4WDs, helicopters and occasionally boats to set up temporary voting sites in some of Australia’s most remote areas.
The service offering in remote communities is the largest ever provided at a federal election with nearly 500 different remote locations being visited by teams that are travelling a combined total of around 200,000 kilometres. It is a uniquely Australian election service offering as part of the broader effort to make voting as accessible as possible to all Australians. Visits are being advertised in advance in some newspapers, through local radio, community noticeboards, community leaders and other mediums.
Note: There may be changes to the schedule for reasons beyond the AEC’s control. Many remote communities are still experiencing wet season conditions, which may affect our ability to access some communities. If weather conditions lead to changes in the AEC’s remote voter services schedule, updates will be available on the AEC’s website and communicated into communities.
Many of the places the AEC’s remote mobile teams visit are in the NT, WA and QLD. Locations and times for remote voter services visits are now available on the AEC’s website.
The AEC has also begun visiting residential aged care, hospitals, mental health care, and other residential facilities and establishments to help people cast their vote.
Mobile polling is conducted by teams of AEC staff and can be observed by scrutineers appointed by election candidates. The AEC works closely with residential care facilities and hospital administrators to ensure that access is provided in a way that is safe for all residents.
Applications for postal voting have now been open for some time, with approximately 1.8 million postal vote applications made.
Postal vote packs have already started to be dispatched to Australian voters here and overseas.
While applications for postal voting do not close until Wednesday next week, anyone who cannot make it to a polling place or early voting centre should apply for a postal vote as soon as possible. Please be mindful of Australia Post delivery timeframes when applying.
Early voting doesn’t just commence in Australia tomorrow – 111 embassies, consulates, and high commissions around the world will also throw open their doors and become polling places in the fortnight before election day.
A full list of overseas voting centres is available on the AEC’s website. Voters should check the website of their embassy, consulate, or high commission for information about opening days and times, as well as any other requirements.
In addition to being pre-poll voting centres, Australia’s overseas voting locations can also receive completed postal vote packs via local mail or in-person drop-off. Postal votes sent this way will then be returned to Australia via diplomatic mail.
Voting is not compulsory for Australians who are overseas but we encourage all enrolled Australians overseas to vote if you can.
“Tomorrow marks the start of the voting period for the 2025 federal election. If you can vote on election day Saturday 3 May then that is what you need to do. If you can’t then you can vote at one of our many early voting centres across the country. I encourage all voters to consider their circumstances and plan their vote.”
“The bulk of our work still happens on election day, but for a variety of reasons it’s clear from past elections that more Australians are needing to access early voting options. Just over half of all voters cast an early vote, including a postal vote in 2022, and we expect that number to be similar this year.”
“Tomorrow also marks the beginning of our voter outreach work in Australia and around the world. No matter whether you’re in remote Australia or on the other side of the world, the AEC is pulling out all the stops to reach you.”
“Australian elections are unique and special in many ways – including the variety of voting options provided. In many democracies around the world people have just a single location and single day to cast their vote.”
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.