Is Voting Compulsory in Australia?
Yes. Australia is one of a relatively small number of countries in the world where voting is compulsory for eligible citizens. If you are an Australian citizen aged 18 or over, you are legally required to enrol on the electoral roll and to vote in federal elections, as well as in state and territory elections. Failure to vote without a valid reason can result in a fine.
Enrolling to Vote
Before you can vote, you must be on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) electoral roll. Enrolment is compulsory for all eligible citizens.
You can enrol or update your enrolment details:
- Online at the AEC website (aec.gov.au)
- Through your myGov account
- By filling out a paper enrolment form
- In person at an AEC office
When you move house, you must update your enrolment details with your new address — your enrolment is tied to your electoral division, which determines which candidates appear on your ballot.
Types of Elections in Australia
- Federal elections: Held every three years (maximum). You vote for members of the House of Representatives (lower house) and Senators (upper house).
- State and territory elections: Each state and territory runs its own elections on separate schedules.
- Local government elections: Managed by state and territory governments; these elect councillors and mayors for local councils.
- Referendums: Used to change the Australian Constitution. Require a double majority — a national majority of voters, and a majority of voters in at least four of the six states.
How Australia's Preferential Voting System Works
Australia uses a preferential voting system (also called instant-runoff voting) for the House of Representatives. Instead of voting for just one candidate, you number all candidates in order of preference (1 for your first choice, 2 for your second, and so on).
If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed to those voters' second preferences. This continues until one candidate has more than 50% of the vote. This system ensures the winning candidate has broad support.
Senate Voting (Proportional Representation)
Senate elections use a system of proportional representation, which means seats are distributed in proportion to the share of votes each party receives. You can vote either:
- Above the line: Number at least 6 boxes, ranking your preferred parties.
- Below the line: Number at least 12 individual candidates in order of preference.
On Election Day
- Take your polling card (or simply remember your name and address) to your allocated polling place.
- Provide your name to the polling official — they will cross you off the roll.
- Receive your ballot papers (one for the House of Representatives, one for the Senate).
- Go to a private voting booth and complete your ballot papers according to the instructions.
- Fold your ballot papers and place them in the correct ballot boxes.
Voting Options If You Can't Attend in Person
- Early voting: Pre-poll voting centres open in the weeks before election day.
- Postal voting: Apply to receive your ballot by post if you cannot attend in person.
- Absent voting: Vote at any polling place in Australia, even if it's not your home division.
- Overseas voting: Australians overseas can vote at Australian embassies or consulates.
What Happens If You Don't Vote?
If the AEC records show you did not vote, you may receive a notice asking you to provide a reason. Valid reasons for not voting include illness, religious beliefs, or being outside Australia. If you don't respond or your reason is not accepted, you may be fined. The fine for not voting in a federal election is currently a small amount, but failing to pay can lead to further consequences.
For more information, visit the Australian Electoral Commission at aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26.