What happens at a voting centre

When you arrive, you might have to line up and wait to vote. When you get to the front of the queue, there will be 2 different desks you can go to:

  • one for people enrolled in the district that voting centre is in
  • one for people who are enrolled in a different district.

You should pick which desk applies to your situation. If you’re not sure, our staff can help you figure out which desk to go to.

When you get to the desk, an election official will ask:

  • for your name and address (unless you’re a silent elector)
  • if you have already voted in the election.

They'll also:

  • confirm what electorate you’re enrolled in
  • mark your name on the roll to record you’ve voted
  • give you your ballot papers.

If you’re voting outside your district or we can’t find your name on the electoral roll, our staff will help you complete a declaration vote.

Our staff will explain how to fill in each ballot paper. You can ask questions if you’re not sure what to do. Then they’ll direct you to a voting booth so you can fill in your ballot papers privately.

When you’ve filled in your ballot papers, place them in the ballot boxes before you leave.

How you can prepare

There are some things you can do to prepare for your visit to a voting centre.

  • 1. Check your enrolment

    Sometimes people are enrolled at an old address, or under a different name. Checking your enrolment details ahead of time can help prevent delays at the voting centre. This will also help you know which desk to visit when you first arrive.

    Check my enrolment

  • 2. Write your full name on some paper

    If you're worried about spelling out your name, you can write it down on some paper for the voting centre staff. They can use this to check your details on the electoral roll.

  • 3. Research the candidates

    To know how to fill in your ballot paper, you need to know which candidate you want to vote for first.

    You can research the candidates in your area to learn which candidate's ideas you like the most. You can also read the how-to-vote cards that volunteers might be handing out when you arrive at the voting centre.

    • Get help at a voting centre

    If you’re not sure how to fill in your ballot paper, you can ask someone for help.

    Help from someone you trust

    You can ask someone you trust to come with you to a voting centre. This person could be:

    • a friend
    • a family member
    • a carer.

    This person can help you fill out your ballot papers. It’s important this person fills out your ballot paper exactly the way you tell them to.

    Help from election staff

    Our election staff are happy to help you fill out your ballot papers. We’ll be wearing maroon vests so we’re easy to find at voting centres.

    Election officials sitting at a desk at an election office

    Wheelchair access

    We check all voting centres and give them a wheelchair accessibility rating.

    You’ll be able to look up each voting centre’s accessibility rating online, along with accessibility information, from Wednesday 4 November on the election venue locator page.

    Assistive devices

    All voting centres will have:

    • at least one accessible voting screen or a table-top voting screen
    • magnifying sheets
    • maxi pencils.

    Early voting centres will have everything listed above, as well as an assistive hearing device.

    Information for carers

    We’ve created some resources to support families and carers of people with a cognitive disability or impairment to enrol and vote.

    Get help in your language

    For every major election we translate information on:

    • how to enrol
    • how to find your candidates
    • how to fill out your ballot papers correctly
    • how to respond to a non-voting fine.

    Some of our election staff can speak other languages as well as English. At a voting centre, they’ll be wearing a sticker to let you know which languages they speak.

    Find election information in your language. You can also talk to us in any language by phoning 03 9209 0112 during business hours.

    Auslan

    We will have Auslan interpreters available on demand using a video link during the early voting period.

    More information