Australian Electoral Commission
AEC news items are available on the AEC news page!
Enjoy speaking your mind?
Want your voice heard?
Then you’ll want to be ready to vote!
The right to vote is one of the privileges of living in a democracy – you get a say in who runs your country. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) makes sure that Australian citizens have the right to vote at federal elections. We manage the electoral roll, run federal elections and referendums, and help people understand the voting system. Basically, we’re here to help you get enrolled and to understand how to cast your vote correctly when the time comes.
In Australia, enrolling and voting is compulsory by law. You must enrol and vote if you are an Australian citizen 18 or older. You can also enrol if you are 16 or 17 so you’re ready to vote as soon as you turn 18!
This is why the AEC is part of National Youth Week. Youth week is all about passionate young people expressing themselves and making a difference. This inspired the AEC to get involved and ask young Australians to make sure they express their views when it comes to electing who represents them in the Parliament. We believe young people want their voices heard by decision-makers and we can help make that happen by providing the tools and inspiration to get you voting.
We’re also sponsoring a National Talent Competition category and asking young Australians to help spread the word that everyone should enrol to vote. We will also be at Youth Week events around the country to assist people with their enrolments and to provide info about voting. That’s right - we are going to do whatever it takes to get you ready to vote!
So if you haven’t enrolled yet, it’s easy! Here’s what you need to know:
- Pick up an enrolment from Australia Post, an AEC office or online at the AEC website.
- Complete, sign and return your form to the AEC.
- You also need to update your enrolment every time you change address.
- This means you will be ready to vote at elections and referendums, whenever they are called – don’t leave it to the last minute!
- To check your enrolment or find out more about enrolling and voting, visit us at www.aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26.