Referendum voting services

While completing a ballot paper for a referendum is different to an election, the voting options available will be quite similar. Just like a federal election, there will be a range of voting services to cater to the circumstances of more than 17 million eligible voters.

Polling day

Polling day will be held on a Saturday with thousands of polling places open between 8am and 6pm around the country.

You will be able to cast your vote at any polling place within your state or territory. If you’re interstate on polling day and need to cast your vote, you will need to visit a designated interstate voting centre.

Early voting centres

Hundreds of early voting centres will be available in the two weeks leading up to polling day.

You can vote early either in person or by post if on voting day you:

  • are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
  • are more than eight kilometres from a polling place
  • are travelling
  • are unable to leave your workplace to vote on voting day
  • are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
  • are a patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital
  • have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
  • are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
  • are a silent elector
  • have a reasonable fear for your safety or wellbeing.

Postal voting

Postal voting will be available for anyone not able to make it to vote in-person, either on polling day or during the early voting period.

Postal voting applications will open closer to the referendum period. If you are registered as a ‘general postal voter’ with the AEC we will send you a postal vote for the referendum  - you do not need to apply separately.

Mobile voting teams

Mobile voting teams will visit a range of residential care facilities and remote communities in the weeks leading up to polling day. Mobile voting schedules are yet to be finalised. The AEC will communicate ahead of scheduled visits.

Overseas voting

If you’re overseas during the voting period, you may be able to vote at an overseas voting centre or by post.

Depending on the environment at the time of the referendum, the AEC is planning on returning to its pre-COVID service offering for overseas voting centres. Overseas voting locations will be announced closer to the referendum period.

Telephone voting

Voters who are blind or have low vision, and voters stationed in Antarctica, will be able to cast a vote using our dedicated telephone voting service. Registration will be available during the referendum period with details on how to access the service available at that time.

Telephone voting will not be available to people who do not meet the above criteria.