Contents
Part I—Preliminary                                                                                                               1
1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1
3............ Repeal [see Note 2]............................................................................ 1
4............ Interpretation...................................................................................... 2
4A......... Extraterritorial operation of Act......................................................... 8
4B......... Act to bind Crown.............................................................................. 9
4C......... Registered officer of political party.................................................... 9
4D......... Application of the Criminal Code...................................................... 9
Part II—Administration                                                                                                    10
Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                           10
5............ Interpretation.................................................................................... 10
5A......... Application of Part in relation to Northern
Territory...................... 11
Division 2—The Australian Electoral Commission                                   12
6............ Establishment of Commission.......................................................... 12
7............ Functions and Powers of Commission............................................. 12
7A......... Supply of goods and services........................................................... 13
7B......... Fees for goods and services.............................................................. 14
8............ Tenure and terms of office................................................................ 14
9............ Leave of absence............................................................................... 15
10.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 15
11.......... Disclosure of interests...................................................................... 15
12.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 15
13.......... Acting Chairperson........................................................................... 16
14.......... Acting non‑judicial appointee........................................................... 16
14A....... Remuneration.................................................................................... 17
15.......... Meetings of Commission.................................................................. 18
16.......... Delegation by Commission............................................................... 19
17.......... Reports by the Commission............................................................. 19
17A....... Certain particulars not to be included in reports.............................. 20
Division 3—Electoral Commissioner, Deputy Electoral
Commissioner and Australian Electoral Officers for States                                                                                                22
18.......... Electoral Commissioner.................................................................... 22
19.......... Deputy Electoral Commissioner...................................................... 22
20.......... Australian Electoral Officers for States............................................ 23
21.......... Terms and conditions of appointment etc........................................ 23
22.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 23
23.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 24
24.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 24
25.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 24
26.......... Acting Electoral Commissioner........................................................ 24
27.......... Acting Deputy Electoral Commissioner........................................... 26
28.......... Delegation by Electoral Commissioner............................................. 27
Division 4—Staff of the Commission                                                                 28
29.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 28
30.......... Australian Electoral Officer for the Australian
Capital Territory.... 28
31.......... Assistant Australian Electoral Officers for
States............................ 29
32.......... Divisional Returning Officers........................................................... 29
33.......... Assistant Returning Officers............................................................ 30
34.......... Assistant Divisional Returning Officers........................................... 30
35.......... Employment of additional staff, consultants etc.............................. 30
Division 5—Miscellaneous                                                                                     32
36.......... Candidates not to be officers............................................................ 32
37.......... Keeping of forms.............................................................................. 32
38.......... Offices of Divisional Returning Officers.......................................... 32
Part III—Representation in the Parliament                                                         33
Division 1AA—Interpretation                                                                              33
38A....... Interpretation.................................................................................... 33
Division 1—Choosing of senators for Queensland                                    34
39.......... Senators to be directly chosen by people of State
etc...................... 34
Division 2—Representation of the Territories in the Senate              35
40.......... Representation of the Territories in the Senate................................ 35
41.......... Powers, privileges and immunities of senator for
Territory............. 36
42.......... Term of service of senator for Territory.......................................... 36
43.......... Time of elections of senators for Territories.................................... 36
44.......... Casual vacancies in places of senators for
Territories...................... 36
Division 3—Representation of the States and Territories
in the House of Representatives  39
45.......... Interpretation.................................................................................... 39
46.......... Ascertainment of numbers of people of
Commonwealth, States and Territories   39
47.......... Supply of statistical information by Australian
Statistician............ 40
48.......... Determination of number of members of House of
Representatives to be chosen in States and Territories         41
48A....... Northern Territory to elect 2 members of the House
of Representatives in the next election               45
49.......... Notification of determination........................................................... 45
50.......... Number of members of House of Representatives to
be chosen in States and Territories     46
51.......... Choice of member for Territory....................................................... 47
53.......... Powers, privileges and immunities of member for
Territory............ 47
54.......... Time of elections of members for Territories................................... 47
Part IV—Electoral Divisions                                                                                         48
55.......... Interpretation.................................................................................... 48
55A....... Application to Northern Territory................................................... 48
56.......... States and Australian Capital Territory to be
distributed into Electoral Divisions 49
56A....... Certain Territories to be included in same Division......................... 49
57.......... One member to be chosen for each Electoral
Division..................... 49
58.......... Monthly ascertainment of enrolment etc......................................... 49
59.......... Times at which redistributions are to commence............................. 50
60.......... Redistribution Committee................................................................ 53
62.......... Proceedings at meetings of Redistribution
Committee etc............... 56
63.......... Sub‑committees................................................................................ 57
63A....... Projection time for equality of enrolments....................................... 57
64.......... Suggestions and comments relating to
redistribution........................ 58
65.......... Quota................................................................................................ 59
66.......... Redistribution Committee to make proposed
redistribution............ 59
67.......... Reasons for proposed redistribution................................................ 60
67A....... Outline of proposed redistribution................................................... 60
68.......... Notice of proposed redistribution.................................................... 61
69.......... Objections against proposed redistribution...................................... 62
70.......... Augmented Electoral Commission.................................................... 63
71.......... Proceedings at meetings of augmented Electoral
Commission etc.... 64
72.......... Consideration of objections.............................................................. 65
73.......... Redistribution of State or Australian Capital
Territory................... 67
74.......... Reasons for determination made by augmented
Electoral Commission.. 69
75.......... Copies of certain documents to be forwarded to
Minister............... 70
76.......... Mini‑redistribution........................................................................... 70
76A....... Application of section 76 to Northern
Territory............................. 75
77.......... Decisions under Part final etc........................................................... 76
78.......... Improper influence........................................................................... 77
Part V—Subdivisions and polling places                                                                 78
79.......... Subdivisions...................................................................................... 78
80.......... Polling places.................................................................................... 78
Part VI—Electoral Rolls                                                                                                  80
81.......... Electoral Rolls................................................................................... 80
82.......... Subdivision Rolls, Division Rolls and State and
Territory Rolls..... 80
83.......... Form of Rolls.................................................................................... 80
84.......... Arrangement with States.................................................................. 80
85.......... New Rolls to be prepared upon Proclamation................................. 81
86.......... New Rolls on creation of new Divisions etc.................................... 81
87.......... Additions etc. to new Rolls.............................................................. 83
88.......... Objections and notices to have effect in relation
to new Rolls......... 83
89.......... Printing of Rolls................................................................................ 83
90.......... Commission to determine manner and form of access
to Rolls etc.. 83
90A....... Inspection etc. of Rolls..................................................................... 84
90B....... Information on Rolls and certified lists of voters
to be provided to particular people and organisations              85
91A....... Use of information from Roll and habitation index.......................... 93
91B....... Prohibition of disclosure or commercial use of Roll
or habitation index 95
92.......... Roll reviews...................................................................................... 95
Part VII—Qualifications and disqualifications for
enrolment and for voting           97
93.......... Persons entitled to enrolment and to vote [see
Note 3]................... 97
93A....... Power to refuse to include in the Roll
inappropriate names............ 99
94.......... Enrolled voters leaving Australia...................................................... 99
94A....... Enrolment from outside Australia.................................................. 104
95.......... Eligibility of spouse or child of eligible
overseas elector [see Note 4] 105
95AA.... Norfolk Island electors................................................................... 111
95AB.... Presumption about certain Norfolk Island electors........................ 112
95AC.... Rolls relating to Norfolk Island electors......................................... 112
96.......... Itinerant electors............................................................................. 113
96A....... Enrolment of prisoners................................................................... 116
97.......... Application of Part......................................................................... 116
Part VIII—Enrolment                                                                                                      118
98.......... Addition of names to Rolls............................................................. 118
98A....... Refusal to include in the Roll inappropriate names........................ 118
99.......... Claims for enrolment or transfer of enrolment............................... 119
99A....... Provisional claim for enrolment by applicant for
citizenship........ 120
99B....... Provisional enrolment by applicant for citizenship....................... 121
100........ Claims for age 17 enrolment........................................................... 123
101........ Compulsory enrolment and transfer............................................... 124
102........ Action on receipt of claim.............................................................. 126
103........ Penalty on officer neglecting to enrol claimants............................. 129
104........ Request for address not to be shown on Roll................................. 130
105........ Alteration of Rolls.......................................................................... 132
106........ Incorrect enrolment......................................................................... 133
107........ Alterations to be initialled.............................................................. 134
108........ Lists of deaths to be forwarded...................................................... 134
109........ Lists of convictions to be forwarded.............................................. 134
110........ Officers to act on receipt of information........................................ 135
111........ Computer records relating to Roll.................................................. 135
111A..... Claims may be sent by fax.............................................................. 136
112........ Application of Part......................................................................... 136
Part IX—Objections                                                                                                         138
113........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 138
114........ Objection to enrolment................................................................... 138
115........ Form and manner of objection........................................................ 139
116........ Notice of objection......................................................................... 140
117........ Answer to objection....................................................................... 140
118........ Determination of objection............................................................. 141
Part X—Review of decisions                                                                                       143
120........ Review by Australian Electoral Officer.......................................... 143
121........ Review by Administrative Appeals Tribunal................................ 146
122........ Application of Part......................................................................... 146
Part XI—Registration of political parties                                                            148
123........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 148
124........ Registration of political parties...................................................... 149
125........ Register of Political Parties............................................................. 149
126........ Application for registration............................................................ 149
127........ Party not to be registered during election....................................... 150
129........ Parties with certain names not to be registered.............................. 151
130........ Different levels of party may be registered.................................... 152
131........ Variation of application.................................................................. 152
132........ Procedure for dealing with application........................................... 153
132A..... Commission to give reasons for decisions under this
Part............. 154
133........ Registration..................................................................................... 154
134........ Changes to Register........................................................................ 155
134A..... Objection to continued use of name............................................... 158
135........ Voluntary deregistration................................................................. 159
136........ Deregistration of party failing to endorse
candidates or ceasing to be a Parliamentary party 160
137........ Deregistration of political party on other grounds......................... 161
138........ Deregistration................................................................................. 162
138A..... Review of eligibility of parties to remain in the
Register............... 162
139........ Inspection of Register..................................................................... 163
140........ Service of documents...................................................................... 163
141........ Review of certain decisions............................................................ 164
Part XIII—Writs for elections                                                                                    167
151........ Issue of writs for election of Senators for
Territories.................... 167
152........ Forms of writs [see Note 5]........................................................... 167
153........ Writs for election of Senators......................................................... 167
154........ Writs for election of members of House of Representatives.......... 168
155........ Date for close of Rolls.................................................................... 169
156........ Date of nomination......................................................................... 170
157........ Date of polling................................................................................ 170
158........ Polling to be on a Saturday............................................................. 170
159........ Date of return of writ..................................................................... 170
160........ General election to be held on same day......................................... 170
161........ Application of Part......................................................................... 170
Part XIV—The nominations                                                                                         171
162........ Candidates must be nominated....................................................... 171
163........ Qualifications for nomination [see Note 6].................................... 171
164........ State and Territory members not entitled to be
nominated............ 171
165........ Multiple nominations prohibited................................................... 172
166........ Mode of nomination....................................................................... 172
167........ To whom nominations made.......................................................... 175
168........ Grouping of candidates................................................................... 176
169........ Notification of party endorsement................................................. 176
169A..... Notification of independent candidacy........................................... 177
169B..... Verification of party endorsement.................................................. 177
169C..... Combination of requests and nominations..................................... 178
170........ Requisites for nomination............................................................... 178
171........ Form of consent to act.................................................................... 180
172........ Rejection of nominations and requests........................................... 180
173........ Deposit to be forfeited in certain cases.......................................... 180
174........ Place of nomination........................................................................ 181
175........ Hour of nomination........................................................................ 181
176........ Declaration of nominations............................................................. 182
177........ Withdrawal of consent to a nomination.......................................... 183
178........ Return of deposit in case of candidate’s death............................... 184
179........ Proceedings on nomination day...................................................... 184
180........ Death of candidate after nomination............................................... 185
181........ Failure of election........................................................................... 185
Part XV—Postal voting                                                                                                   187
182........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 187
183........ Grounds of application for postal vote.......................................... 187
184........ Application for postal vote............................................................ 187
184A..... Application for registration as general postal voter....................... 188
184AA.. Application forms for postal votes................................................ 189
184B..... Register of General Postal Voters................................................... 190
185........ Registration as general postal voter................................................ 190
185B..... Review of Registers........................................................................ 191
185C..... Cancellation of registration............................................................. 191
186........ Dispatch of postal voting papers to registered
general postal voters 191
187........ Duty of witness.............................................................................. 192
188........ Issue of certificate and ballot‑papers.............................................. 192
189........ Inspection of applications.............................................................. 193
189A..... Access to electronic list of postal vote applicants......................... 194
189B..... Restriction on use or disclosure of information.............................. 194
190........ Numbering of applications and certificates.................................... 196
192........ Form of postal vote certificate....................................................... 196
193........ Authorised witnesses..................................................................... 196
194........ Postal voting................................................................................... 197
195........ Duty of authorised witnesses etc................................................... 199
195A..... Procedure for dealing with postal vote certificates
etc................... 199
196........ Opening of postal ballot‑paper...................................................... 200
197........ Failure to post or deliver postal vote application
etc..................... 200
198........ Inducing elector to hand over marked ballot‑paper........................ 200
199........ Correction of formal errors............................................................. 200
200........ Mistakes......................................................................................... 201
Part XVA—Pre‑poll voting                                                                                           202
200A..... Grounds of application for pre‑poll vote....................................... 202
200B..... Pre‑poll voting officers................................................................... 202
200C..... Application for pre‑poll vote......................................................... 202
200D..... Place and time of application.......................................................... 203
200DA.. Scrutineers at the pre‑poll voting office......................................... 203
200DB.. Provisions relating to scrutineers at pre‑poll
voting office............. 204
200E...... Pre‑poll voting................................................................................ 205
200F...... Form of pre‑poll vote certificate.................................................... 206
200G..... Record of issue of pre‑poll voting papers...................................... 206
200J...... Opening of pre‑poll voting envelope.............................................. 207
200K..... Obligations of persons present when pre‑poll
vote cast................ 207
201........ Correction of formal errors............................................................. 207
202........ Mistakes......................................................................................... 208
Part XVI—The polling                                                                                                     209
202A..... Undertaking by officers and scrutineers......................................... 209
203........ Arrangements for polling................................................................ 210
204........ Substitute........................................................................................ 211
205........ Use of licensed premises as polling booth...................................... 211
206........ Separate voting compartments....................................................... 211
207........ Ballot‑boxes.................................................................................... 211
208........ Certified lists of voters................................................................... 212
209........ Ballot‑papers.................................................................................. 212
209A..... Official mark................................................................................... 213
210........ Printing of Senate ballot‑papers..................................................... 214
210A..... Form of party name on ballot‑papers............................................ 215
211........ Group voting tickets....................................................................... 215
211A..... Individual voting tickets................................................................. 217
212........ Ballot‑papers for House of Representatives
elections................... 219
213........ Determination of order of names.................................................... 220
214........ Printing of political party names etc. on ballot‑papers.................. 222
215........ Ballot‑papers to be initialled.......................................................... 223
216........ Group voting tickets to be displayed............................................. 223
217........ Scrutineers at the polling................................................................ 223
218........ Provisions relating to scrutineers.................................................... 224
219........ Participation by candidates in conduct of election......................... 224
220........ The polling...................................................................................... 225
221........ Elections at which electors entitled to vote.................................... 225
222........ Where electors may vote................................................................ 226
223........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 226
224........ Mobile booths—hospitals that are polling places.......................... 227
225........ Mobile booths—other hospitals.................................................... 227
226........ Provisions related to sections 224 and 225.................................... 229
226A..... Mobile booths—prisons................................................................ 231
227........ Mobile booths—Remote Divisions................................................ 232
228........ Forwarding of declaration votes..................................................... 235
229........ Questions to be put to voter.......................................................... 238
230........ Errors not to forfeit vote................................................................ 239
231........ Right of elector to receive ballot‑paper.......................................... 239
232........ Voters to be recorded...................................................................... 239
233........ Vote to be marked in private.......................................................... 240
234........ Assistance to certain voters............................................................ 240
234A..... Certain voters may vote outside polling place............................... 241
235........ Provisional votes............................................................................ 242
238........ Spoilt ballot‑papers........................................................................ 244
239........ Marking of votes in Senate election................................................ 245
240........ Marking of votes in House of Representatives
election................. 245
240A..... Temporary suspension of polling.................................................. 246
241........ Adjournment of polling.................................................................. 246
242........ Adjournment in other cases............................................................ 247
243........ Voting at adjourned polling............................................................. 247
244........ Arrangement where elections held in some Divisions
only............ 247
245........ Compulsory voting......................................................................... 247
Part XVII—Special provisions relating to the polling in
Antarctica     252
246........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 252
247........ Antarctic Returning Officers and Assistant
Antarctic Returning Officers             253
248........ Application of Part XVI to polling in
Antarctica........................... 253
249........ Antarctic electors............................................................................ 254
250........ Arrangements for the polling in Antarctica.................................... 255
251........ Ballot‑papers to be initialled.......................................................... 256
252........ Candidates not to take part in polling............................................ 256
253........ The polling in Antarctica................................................................ 256
254........ Entitlement of Antarctic electors to vote....................................... 256
255........ Questions to be put to voter at Antarctic station.......................... 256
256........ Right of Antarctic elector to receive ballot‑paper.......................... 257
257........ List of Antarctic electors to be marked.......................................... 257
258........ Application of sections 233 and 234.............................................. 257
259........ Proceedings by Antarctic Returning Officer on
close of poll......... 257
260........ Result of the polling in Antarctica.................................................. 258
261........ Preservation of ballot‑papers etc.................................................... 259
262........ Application of Part......................................................................... 259
Part XVIII—The scrutiny                                                                                              260
263........ Scrutiny.......................................................................................... 260
264........ Scrutineers at scrutiny.................................................................... 260
265........ Scrutiny, how conducted................................................................ 260
266........ Preliminary scrutiny of declaration votes....................................... 261
267........ Action on objections to ballot‑papers............................................ 262
268........ Informal ballot‑papers.................................................................... 262
269........ Formal votes according to group voting ticket............................... 263
270........ Certain votes with non‑consecutive numbers
to be formal............ 264
271........ Officers not to mark ballot‑papers so that
voter can be identified. 265
272........ Senate ballot‑papers deemed to be marked
according to group voting tickets        265
273........ Scrutiny of votes in Senate elections.............................................. 268
273A..... Computerised scrutiny of votes in Senate election........................ 279
273B..... Combination of manual and computer scrutiny
permitted............. 281
274........ Scrutiny of votes in House of Representatives
elections............... 282
275........ Scrutiny prior to receipt of declaration ballot‑papers.................... 287
276........ Provisional scrutiny........................................................................ 287
277........ Scrutiny for information................................................................. 287
278........ Re‑count at Senate elections........................................................... 288
279........ Re‑count at House of Representatives
elections............................ 288
279A..... Notice of re‑count........................................................................... 288
279B..... Conduct of re‑count........................................................................ 288
280........ Powers of officer conducting re‑count............................................ 290
281........ Reservation of disputed ballot‑papers........................................... 290
282........ Re‑count of Senate votes to determine order
of election in other circumstances    291
Part XIX—The return of the writs                                                                            292
283........ Return of writ for election of Senators........................................... 292
284........ Declaration of poll and return of writs for House
of Representatives 292
285........ Correction of errors........................................................................ 293
286........ Extension of time............................................................................ 294
Part XX—Election funding and financial disclosure                                       295
Division 1—Preliminary                     Â
