How to vote if you test positive for Covid-19

If you’ve tested positive to Covid-19 and will be stuck in isolation on or before Saturday’s election day, you can still cast a vote. Here’s how.

Queenslanders who have tested positive to Covid-19 and will be stuck in isolation on or before election day this Saturday can still exercise their democratic right and cast their vote.

On the eve of the election, the state recorded 6220 new Covid cases and sadly nine more deaths.

There were 478 people hospitalised, including 11 in intensive care and a total of 38,812 active cases in the state.

There are avenues for Covid-positive people to vote in the federal election depending on if they tested positive on or after Friday, May 13, after changes were made to telephone voting eligibility on election eve.

Initially, those who tested positive to the virus after 6pm Tuesday were asked to register for telephone voting via the Australian Electoral Commission website.

But on Friday morning, Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers signed a brief asking the government to allow telephone voting to be extended to those who tested positive earlier.

After consultation between the federal government and opposition, Scott Morrison this morning announced Covid-positive voters who tested positive anytime on Friday, May 13, or after would also be allowed to register to telephone vote.

Registration will remain open until 4pm AEST on Saturday.

Covid-positive voters must provide evidence they have tested positive for the virus when they register and include one of the following:

• The location of the testing centre, date and time a positive PCR test was received positive test result, and if available, the reference number from the relevant health authority or,
• The receipt number from the health authority from a registered positive RAT test, and if available, the brand and serial number of that RAT test.

Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers has this morning signed a brief to Government recommending that eligibility for the telephone voting service for people who have tested positive to COVID-19 be expanded.

More updates: 🧵 pic.twitter.com/EA5seYG2em

— AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) May 19, 2022

After registering Covid-positive voters will be required to choose a six-digit PIN will be issued an 8-digit registration number via email or SMS which will be used to identify each telephone voter when they call, without having to use their name or address.

Voters will have to call 1800 413 960 to vote and have been asked to prepare their voting choices and have their electorate’s electronic ballot papers – which can be found online – open and ready before calling.

An AEC staff member will answer the call and record the telephone vote on a physical piece of paper, before sealing it in an envelope and placing it in the voters electorate specific ballot box.

Telephone voting will be available at the following specific times:

• Friday, May 20 until 6pm local time
• Saturday, May 21 between 8am and 6pm local time