Voting options expanded for flood-affected Victorians
Saturday 12 November 2022
For immediate release
Voters impacted by the State's recent floods are encouraged to plan ahead and vote early in this year’s State election, as the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) today released a list of designated areas eligible for telephone assisted voting.
Voters across the State are reminded that they have a range of voting options available to them. In-person voting is available at any early voting centre or election day voting centre in Victoria. For those who prefer a postal vote, applications are easily accessed online at vec.vic.gov.au
People who have been disrupted by the recent floods and have been able to return to their homes should use the VEC’s online Voting Centre Locator to see if their regular voting location is available, or whether it has had to be relocated.
Victorians within the designated areas who are unable to vote in person on or before election day, will be eligible to vote by calling the VEC’s telephone assisted voting service from Saturday 19 November. The areas designated for telephone assisted voting are listed at vec.vic.gov.au. More areas may be added to this list, which has been developed following consultation with the Emergency Management Commissioner.
Electoral Commissioner, Warwick Gately reminded voters to use in-person and postal voting options if possible. ‘Telephone assisted voting is available primarily for people who face significant barriers to voting in person or by post, including blind and low vision voters, those with a physical disability and, now also, those flood-affected voters who cannot get to a voting centre from Saturday 19 November to 6 pm on Saturday 26 November.’
‘If you are flood-affected and you are still able to access the internet and receive mail, please apply online for a postal vote to conserve the telephone voting service for those with no ability to receive mail or travel to a voting centre,’ Mr Gately said.
A mobile voting team will visit the Mickleham Centre for National Resilience on Thursday 17 November to take votes from Victorians who have been temporarily relocated to that location. There will also be an election day voting centre at the Elmore Athenaeum Hall in Elmore, in close proximity to the Rochester Temporary Village (Elmore).
Flood-affected voters who qualify for telephone assisted voting, can call 13 57 23 from Saturday 19 November up to 6 pm on election day (Saturday 26 November) to register to vote by phone.