Australia’s largest ever federal election kicks off

Updated: 10 March 2025

The 2025 federal election has been announced for Saturday 3 May 2025.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said the announcement serves as the starter’s gun for the AEC’s work to deliver Australia’s largest ever election.

“There are more voters on the electoral roll than ever before, there’ll be more voting venues than ever - both within Australia and overseas, there’ll be greater accessibility options than we’ve ever had, and we again need around 100,000 staff to deliver it,” Mr Pope said.

Key statistics:

710,000 more people on the electoral roll (2022 federal election – end 2024)
570 early voting centres
7,000 polling places
100+ overseas voting centres
100,000 staff needed, 240,000 vests
250,000 pencils, 250,000 lengths of string
40,000 transport routes, 90,000 transport containers, 5,000 rolls of tamper proof tape
80,000 ballot boxes, 1.4 millions security seals

“We’re ready to go. You also need to be ready as well – check your enrolment now and please consider putting up your hand for paid election work. aec.gov.au allows you to do those things in just minutes.”

Enrolment

Enrolment closes at 8pm local time on Monday 7 April 2025.
If you are an Australian citizen and over 18 years of age, it is compulsory by law to enrol and vote.
Enrolling or updating your details is easy via the AEC website and takes five minutes to complete.
Australia’s enrolment rate is the envy of most democratic nations with the last estimate at 97.8% completeness (end 2024).
The AEC expects to process hundreds of thousands of enrolment transactions in the next week.
The final enrolment number and rate for this federal election is highly likely to be a record high.

Postal voting applications

Applications for postal votes are now open on the AEC’s website.
You are eligible to apply for a postal vote if you are unable to get to a polling place on polling day.
The AEC expects around 2.5 million Australians will apply for a postal vote.
Voters are encouraged to consider their eligibility and apply for a postal vote as early as possible.
Postal delivery timeframes may mean voters who wait until the final week of the election period to apply – especially voters in regional areas – may miss out.
While it is legal for political parties to mail postal vote application forms to voters, the AEC is continuing to urge voters to apply directly through the AEC.

Election jobs available

The AEC needs around 100,000 temporary staff to run the election.
Workers are needed across the country but particularly in regional areas.
There are roles available for a single day (Election Day) or for several weeks before, on and after voting day.
It is paid employment, good for the CV and will ensure locals the opportunity to vote close to home.
Register interest online now.

Voting Options

Australia’s access to voting options is significantly better than most democratic nations.
Australians can vote on election day, during the two weeks before election day, interstate, in-person overseas, overseas via international courier, via domestic post, through a mobile voting team at some hospitals and residential care facilities, via a remote area voter services team and via phone (for people who are blind or have low vision or in Antarctica).
Full details of voting options will be made available on the AEC website as they are confirmed.

Further quotes

Attributable to Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope.

“A federal election is Australia’s great festival of democracy, and no matter what your circumstances are the Australian Electoral Commission has voting options available.”

“Today is an important reminder to all Australians who are eligible to vote to visit the AEC’s website, check your enrolment and make sure it is up to date.”

“Australia’s electoral roll is already sitting at an incredible 97.8% of eligible voters enrolled, but we know the announcement of an election will be an incentive for new voters in particular to get enrolled.”

“Enrolling takes less than five minutes and can be done online. For the first time at a federal election, you can now use your Medicare card to enrol – it’s never been easier.”