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......................................................... 9

4B......... Act to bind Crown.............................................................................. 9

4C......... Registered officer of political party.................................................... 9

4D......... Application of the Criminal Code.................................................... 10

Part II—Administration 11

Division 1—Preliminary 11

5............ Interpretation.................................................................................... 11

5A......... Application of Part in relation to Northern Territory...................... 12

Division 2—The Australian Electoral Commission 13

6............ Establishment of Commission.......................................................... 13

7............ Functions and Powers of Commission............................................. 13

7A......... Supply of goods and services........................................................... 14

7B......... Fees for goods and services.............................................................. 15

8............ Tenure and terms of office................................................................ 15

9............ Leave of absence............................................................................... 16

10.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 16

11.......... Disclosure of interests...................................................................... 16

12.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 16

13.......... Acting Chairperson........................................................................... 17

14.......... Acting non‑judicial appointee........................................................... 17

14A....... Remuneration.................................................................................... 18

15.......... Meetings of Commission.................................................................. 19

16.......... Delegation by Commission............................................................... 20

17.......... Reports by the Commission............................................................. 20

17A....... Certain particulars not to be included in reports.............................. 21

Division 3—Electoral Commissioner, Deputy Electoral Commissioner and Australian Electoral Officers for States 23

18.......... Electoral Commissioner.................................................................... 23

19.......... Deputy Electoral Commissioner...................................................... 23

20.......... Australian Electoral Officers for States............................................ 24

21.......... Terms and conditions of appointment etc........................................ 24

22.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 24

23.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 25

24.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 25

25.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 25

26.......... Acting Electoral Commissioner........................................................ 26

27.......... Acting Deputy Electoral Commissioner........................................... 27

28.......... Delegation by Electoral Commissioner............................................. 28

Division 4—Staff of the Commission 29

29.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 29

30.......... Australian Electoral Officer for the Australian Capital Territory.... 29

31.......... Assistant Australian Electoral Officers for States............................ 30

32.......... Divisional Returning Officers........................................................... 30

33.......... Assistant Returning Officers............................................................ 31

34.......... Assistant Divisional Returning Officers........................................... 31

35.......... Employment of additional staff, consultants etc.............................. 31

Division 5—Miscellaneous 33

36.......... Candidates not to be officers............................................................ 33

37.......... Keeping of forms.............................................................................. 33

38.......... Offices of Divisional Returning Officers.......................................... 33

Part III—Representation in the Parliament 34

Division 1AA—Interpretation 34

38A....... Interpretation.................................................................................... 34

Division 1—Choosing of senators for Queensland 35

39.......... Senators to be directly chosen by people of State etc...................... 35

Division 2—Representation of the Territories in the Senate 36

40.......... Representation of the Territories in the Senate................................ 36

41.......... Powers, privileges and immunities of senator for Territory............. 37

42.......... Term of service of senator for Territory.......................................... 37

43.......... Time of elections of senators for Territories.................................... 37

44.......... Casual vacancies in places of senators for Territories...................... 37

Division 3—Representation of the States and Territories in the House of Representatives 40

45.......... Interpretation.................................................................................... 40

46.......... Ascertainment of numbers of people of Commonwealth, States and Territories 40

47.......... Supply of statistical information by Australian Statistician............ 41

48.......... Determination of number of members of House of Representatives to be chosen in States and Territories 42

48A....... Northern Territory to elect 2 members of the House of Representatives in the next election 46

49.......... Notification of determination........................................................... 46

50.......... Number of members of House of Representatives to be chosen in States and Territories 47

51.......... Choice of member for Territory....................................................... 48

53.......... Powers, privileges and immunities of member for Territory............ 48

54.......... Time of elections of members for Territories................................... 48

Part IV—Electoral Divisions 49

55.......... Interpretation.................................................................................... 49

55A....... Application to Northern Territory................................................... 49

56.......... States and Australian Capital Territory to be distributed into Electoral Divisions 50

56A....... Certain Territories to be included in same Division......................... 50

57.......... One member to be chosen for each Electoral Division..................... 50

58.......... Monthly ascertainment of enrolment etc......................................... 50

59.......... Times at which redistributions are to commence............................. 51

60.......... Redistribution Committee................................................................ 54

62.......... Proceedings at meetings of Redistribution Committee etc............... 57

63.......... Sub‑committees................................................................................ 58

63A....... Projection time for equality of enrolments....................................... 58

64.......... Suggestions and comments relating to redistribution........................ 59

65.......... Quota................................................................................................ 60

66.......... Redistribution Committee to make proposed redistribution............ 60

67.......... Reasons for proposed redistribution................................................ 61

67A....... Outline of proposed redistribution................................................... 61

68.......... Notice of proposed redistribution.................................................... 62

69.......... Objections against proposed redistribution...................................... 63

70.......... Augmented Electoral Commission.................................................... 64

71.......... Proceedings at meetings of augmented Electoral Commission etc.... 65

72.......... Consideration of objections.............................................................. 66

73.......... Redistribution of State or Australian Capital Territory................... 68

74.......... Reasons for determination made by augmented Electoral Commission.. 70

75.......... Copies of certain documents to be forwarded to Minister............... 71

76.......... Mini‑redistribution........................................................................... 71

76A....... Application of section 76 to Northern Territory............................. 76

77.......... Decisions under Part final etc........................................................... 77

78.......... Improper influence........................................................................... 78

Part V—Subdivisions and polling places 79

79.......... Subdivisions...................................................................................... 79

80.......... Polling places.................................................................................... 79

Part VI—Electoral Rolls 81

81.......... Electoral Rolls................................................................................... 81

82.......... Subdivision Rolls, Division Rolls and State and Territory Rolls..... 81

83.......... Form of Rolls.................................................................................... 81

84.......... Arrangement with States.................................................................. 81

85.......... New Rolls to be prepared upon Proclamation................................. 82

86.......... New Rolls on creation of new Divisions etc.................................... 82

87.......... Additions etc. to new Rolls.............................................................. 84

88.......... Objections and notices to have effect in relation to new Rolls......... 84

89.......... Printing of Rolls................................................................................ 84

90.......... Commission to determine manner and form of access to Rolls etc.. 84

90A....... Inspection etc. of Rolls..................................................................... 85

90B....... Information on Rolls and certified lists of voters to be provided to particular people and organisations 86

91A....... Use of information from Roll and habitation index.......................... 96

91B....... Prohibition of disclosure or commercial use of Roll or habitation index 98

92.......... Roll reviews...................................................................................... 98

Part VII—Qualifications and disqualifications for enrolment and for voting 100

93.......... Persons entitled to enrolment and to vote [see Note 3]................. 100

93A....... Power to refuse to include in the Roll inappropriate names.......... 102

94.......... Enrolled voters leaving Australia.................................................... 102

94A....... Enrolment from outside Australia.................................................. 107

95.......... Eligibility of spouse or child of eligible overseas elector [see Note 4] 109

95AA.... Norfolk Island electors................................................................... 114

95AB.... Presumption about certain Norfolk Island electors........................ 116

95AC.... Rolls relating to Norfolk Island electors......................................... 116

96.......... Itinerant electors............................................................................. 116

96A....... Enrolment of prisoners................................................................... 120

97.......... Application of Part......................................................................... 120

Part VIII—Enrolment 122

98AA.... Regulations..................................................................................... 122

98.......... Addition of names to Rolls............................................................. 122

98A....... Refusal to include in the Roll inappropriate names........................ 123

99.......... Claims for enrolment or transfer of enrolment............................... 124

99A....... Provisional claim for enrolment by applicant for citizenship........ 125

99B....... Provisional enrolment by applicant for citizenship
[see Note 7].................................................................................... 127

100........ Claims for age 17 enrolment........................................................... 129

101........ Compulsory enrolment and transfer............................................... 129

102........ Action on receipt of claim.............................................................. 131

103........ Penalty on officer neglecting to enrol claimants............................. 135

104........ Request for address not to be shown on Roll................................. 135

105........ Alteration of Rolls.......................................................................... 137

106........ Incorrect enrolment......................................................................... 139

107........ Alterations to be initialled.............................................................. 139

108........ Lists of deaths to be forwarded...................................................... 139

109........ Lists of convictions to be forwarded.............................................. 140

110........ Officers to act on receipt of information........................................ 140

111........ Computer records relating to Roll.................................................. 141

111A..... Claims may be sent by fax.............................................................. 141

112........ Application of Part......................................................................... 142

Part IX—Objections 143

113........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 143

114........ Objection to enrolment................................................................... 143

115........ Form and manner of objection........................................................ 144

116........ Notice of objection......................................................................... 145

117........ Answer to objection....................................................................... 145

118........ Determination of objection............................................................. 146

Part X—Review of decisions 148

120........ Review by Australian Electoral Officer.......................................... 148

121........ Review by Administrative Appeals Tribunal................................ 151

122........ Application of Part......................................................................... 151

Part XI—Registration of political parties 153

123........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 153

124........ Registration of political parties...................................................... 154

125........ Register of Political Parties............................................................. 154

126........ Application for registration............................................................ 154

127........ Party not to be registered during election....................................... 155

129........ Parties with certain names not to be registered.............................. 156

130........ Different levels of party may be registered.................................... 157

131........ Variation of application.................................................................. 157

132........ Procedure for dealing with application........................................... 158

132A..... Commission to give reasons for decisions under this Part............. 159

133........ Registration..................................................................................... 159

134........ Changes to Register........................................................................ 160

134A..... Objection to continued use of name............................................... 163

135........ Voluntary deregistration................................................................. 164

136........ Deregistration of party failing to endorse candidates or ceasing to be a Parliamentary party 165

137........ Deregistration of political party on other grounds......................... 166

138........ Deregistration................................................................................. 167

138A..... Review of eligibility of parties to remain in the Register............... 167

139........ Inspection of Register..................................................................... 168

140........ Service of documents...................................................................... 168

141........ Review of certain decisions............................................................ 169

Part XIII—Writs for elections 172

151........ Issue of writs for election of Senators for Territories.................... 172

152........ Forms of writs [see Note 5]........................................................... 172

153........ Writs for election of Senators......................................................... 172

154........ Writs for election of members of House of Representatives.......... 173

155........ Date for close of Rolls.................................................................... 174

156........ Date of nomination......................................................................... 175

157........ Date of polling................................................................................ 175

158........ Polling to be on a Saturday............................................................. 175

159........ Date of return of writ..................................................................... 175

160........ General election to be held on same day......................................... 175

161........ Application of Part......................................................................... 175

Part XIV—The nominations 176

162........ Candidates must be nominated....................................................... 176

163........ Qualifications for nomination [see Note 6].................................... 176

164........ State and Territory members not entitled to be nominated............ 176

165........ Multiple nominations prohibited................................................... 177

166........ Mode of nomination....................................................................... 177

167........ To whom nominations made.......................................................... 180

168........ Grouping of candidates................................................................... 181

169........ Notification of party endorsement................................................. 181

169A..... Notification of independent candidacy........................................... 182

169B..... Verification of party endorsement.................................................. 182

169C..... Combination of requests and nominations..................................... 183

170........ Requisites for nomination............................................................... 183

171........ Form of consent to act.................................................................... 185

172........ Rejection of nominations and requests........................................... 185

173........ Deposit to be forfeited in certain cases.......................................... 185

174........ Place of nomination........................................................................ 186

175........ Hour of nomination........................................................................ 186

176........ Declaration of nominations............................................................. 186

177........ Withdrawal of consent to a nomination.......................................... 188

178........ Return of deposit in case of candidate’s death............................... 189

179........ Proceedings on nomination day...................................................... 189

180........ Death of candidate after nomination............................................... 190

181........ Failure of election........................................................................... 190

Part XV—Postal voting 192

182........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 192

183........ Grounds of application for postal vote.......................................... 192

184........ Application for postal vote............................................................ 192

184A..... Application for registration as general postal voter....................... 193

184AA.. Application forms for postal votes................................................ 195

184B..... Register of General Postal Voters................................................... 195

185........ Registration as general postal voter................................................ 195

185B..... Review of Registers........................................................................ 197

185C..... Cancellation of registration............................................................. 197

186........ Dispatch of postal voting papers to registered general postal voters 198

187........ Duty of witness.............................................................................. 198

188........ Issue of certificate and ballot‑papers.............................................. 199

189........ Inspection of applications.............................................................. 200

189A..... Access to electronic list of postal vote applicants......................... 201

189B..... Restriction on use or disclosure of information.............................. 202

190........ Numbering of applications and certificates.................................... 203

192........ Form of postal vote certificate....................................................... 204

193........ Authorised witnesses..................................................................... 204

194........ Postal voting................................................................................... 204

195........ Duty of authorised witnesses etc................................................... 206

195A..... Procedure for dealing with postal vote certificates etc................... 207

196........ Opening of postal ballot‑paper...................................................... 209

197........ Failure to post or deliver postal vote application etc..................... 209

198........ Inducing elector to hand over marked ballot‑paper........................ 210

199........ Correction of formal errors............................................................. 210

200........ Mistakes......................................................................................... 210

Part XVA—Pre‑poll voting 211

200A..... Grounds of application for pre‑poll vote....................................... 211

200B..... Pre‑poll voting officers................................................................... 211

200BA.. Pre‑poll voting offices.................................................................... 211

200C..... Application for pre‑poll vote......................................................... 212

200D..... Place and time of application.......................................................... 213

200DA.. Scrutineers at the pre‑poll voting office......................................... 214

200DB.. Provisions relating to scrutineers at pre‑poll voting office............. 214

200E...... Pre‑poll voting................................................................................ 215

200F...... Form of pre‑poll vote certificate.................................................... 216

200G..... Record of issue of pre‑poll voting papers...................................... 216

200J...... Opening of pre‑poll voting envelope.............................................. 217

200K..... Obligations of persons present when pre‑poll vote cast................ 217

201........ Correction of formal errors............................................................. 218

202........ Mistakes......................................................................................... 218

Part XVB—Trials of electronic voting methods 219

Division 1—Trial of electronically assisted voting for sight‑impaired people 219

202AA.. Definitions...................................................................................... 219

202AB.. Regulations may provide for voting by an electronically assisted voting method 219

202AC.. There must be a record of who has voted using the electronically assisted voting method 220

202AD.. There must be a printed record of the vote.................................... 221

202AE... How this Act applies in relation to voting using the electronically assisted voting method 221

202AF... Minister may decide that electronically assisted voting trial is not to proceed 222

Division 2—Trial of remote electronic voting for defence personnel serving outside Australia 223

202AG.. Definitions...................................................................................... 223

202AH.. Regulations may provide for remote electronic voting by defence personnel serving outside Australia 223

202AI.... Regulations must provide for registration of remote electronic voters 224

202AJ... There must be a record of who has voted using the remote electronic voting method 225

202AK.. Transmission of electronic votes to the Electoral Commission and scrutiny of votes 225

202AL... How this Act applies in relation to voting using the remote electronic voting method 226

202AM. Minister may decide that remote electronic voting trial is not to proceed 226

Part XVI—The polling 227

202A..... Undertaking by officers and scrutineers......................................... 227

203........ Arrangements for polling................................................................ 228

204........ Substitute........................................................................................ 229

205........ Use of licensed premises as polling booth...................................... 229

206........ Separate voting compartments....................................................... 229

207........ Ballot‑boxes.................................................................................... 229

208........ Certified lists of voters................................................................... 230

209........ Ballot‑papers.................................................................................. 230

209A..... Official mark................................................................................... 231

210........ Printing of Senate ballot‑papers..................................................... 232

210A..... Form of party name on ballot‑papers............................................ 233

211........ Group voting tickets....................................................................... 233

211A..... Individual voting tickets................................................................. 235

212........ Ballot‑papers for House of Representatives elections................... 237

213........ Determination of order of names.................................................... 238

214........ Printing of political party names etc. on ballot‑papers.................. 240

215........ Ballot‑papers to be initialled.......................................................... 241

216........ Group voting tickets to be displayed............................................. 241

217........ Scrutineers at the polling................................................................ 241

218........ Provisions relating to scrutineers.................................................... 242

219........ Participation by candidates in conduct of election......................... 242

220........ The polling...................................................................................... 243

221........ Elections at which electors entitled to vote.................................... 243

222........ Where electors may vote................................................................ 244

223........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 244

224........ Mobile booths—hospitals that are polling places.......................... 245

225........ Mobile booths—other hospitals.................................................... 245

226........ Provisions related to sections 224 and 225.................................... 247

226A..... Mobile booths—prisons................................................................ 249

227........ Mobile booths—Remote Divisions................................................ 250

228........ Forwarding of declaration votes..................................................... 253

229........ Questions to be put to voter.......................................................... 256

230........ Errors not to forfeit vote................................................................ 257

231........ Right of elector to receive ballot‑paper.......................................... 257

232........ Voters to be recorded...................................................................... 257

233........ Vote to be marked in private.......................................................... 258

234........ Assistance to certain voters............................................................ 258

234A..... Certain voters may vote outside polling place............................... 259

235........ Provisional votes............................................................................ 260

238........ Spoilt ballot‑papers........................................................................ 262

239........ Marking of votes in Senate election................................................ 263

240........ Marking of votes in House of Representatives election................. 264

240A..... Temporary suspension of polling.................................................. 264

241........ Adjournment of polling.................................................................. 264

242........ Adjournment in other cases............................................................ 265

243........ Voting at adjourned polling............................................................. 265

244........ Arrangement where elections held in some Divisions only............ 265

245........ Compulsory voting......................................................................... 265

Part XVII—Special provisions relating to the polling in Antarctica 270

246........ Interpretation.................................................................................. 270

247........ Antarctic Returning Officers and Assistant Antarctic Returning Officers 271

248........ Application of Part XVI to polling in Antarctica........................... 271

249........ Antarctic electors............................................................................ 272

250........ Arrangements for the polling in Antarctica.................................... 273

251........ Ballot‑papers to be initialled.......................................................... 274

252........ Candidates not to take part in polling............................................ 274

253........ The polling in Antarctica................................................................ 274

254........ Entitlement of Antarctic electors to vote....................................... 274

255........ Questions to be put to voter at Antarctic station.......................... 274

256........ Right of Antarctic elector to receive ballot‑paper.......................... 275

257........ List of Antarctic electors to be marked.......................................... 275

258........ Application of sections 233 and 234.............................................. 275

259........ Proceedings by Antarctic Returning Officer on close of poll......... 275

260........ Result of the polling in Antarctica.................................................. 276

261........ Preservation of ballot‑papers etc.................................................... 277

262........ Application of Part......................................................................... 277

Part XVIII—The scrutiny 278

263........ Scrutiny.......................................................................................... 278

264........ Scrutineers at scrutiny.................................................................... 278

265........ Scrutiny, how conducted................................................................ 278

266........ Preliminary scrutiny of declaration votes....................................... 279

267........ Action on objections to ballot‑papers............................................ 280

268........ Informal ballot‑papers.................................................................... 280

269........ Formal votes according to group voting ticket............................... 281

270........ Certain votes with non‑consecutive numbers to be formal............ 282

271........ Officers not to mark ballot‑papers so that voter can be identified. 283

272........ Senate ballot‑papers deemed to be marked according to group voting tickets 283

273........ Scrutiny of votes in Senate elections.............................................. 286

273A..... Computerised scrutiny of votes in Senate election........................