Remote voting kicks off across the country with a special launch on the Tiwi Islands

One year of planning for two weeks, 200 polling stations, 45 four-wheel drives, 20 charter flights and four helicopters. Find out what’s behind remote voting in the Territory.

Remote voters attended the AEC mobile polling station in Pirlangimpi for the launch of the 2025 federal election. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

As an estimated 230,000 voters flocked to early voting stations across the country on Tuesday, an equally massive remote voting operation launched in Pirlangimpi on the Tiwi Islands.

Nationally, 70 Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) remote voting services teams will visit 489 locations.

The Northern Territory has about 30 of those teams and 200 of those locations, servicing mostly Indigenous communities.

“In terms of First Nations people in the Northern Territory, around 88 per cent of eligible people are on the roll,” Australian Electoral Officer Geoff Bloom said

“That’s never been done before, and we’re very proud of that.

More eligible Indigenous people than ever are enrolled to vote this year. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The Northern Territory has the biggest remote footprint.

“We’re looking to visit somewhere towards 200 locations over a two-week period.

“We’re using around 45 four-wheel-drives, around 20 charter flights and four helicopters — we’re agile, we’re flexible.”

Geoff Bloom is the Australian Electoral Officer for the Northern Territory. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The AEC remote teams will visit locations with as little as 10 registered voters.

“Voting is a right for every eligible Australian,” Mr Bloom said.

“It’s our obligation to deliver this service.”

There are about 250 eligible voters on the roll at Pirlangimpi.

Pirlangimpi voters were eager to execute their democratic rights. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

By 11am on Tuesday morning, there was a line of eager voters queuing out the door.

“It’s fantastic to see such a strong turnout and people here queuing outside the polling place,” Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said.

The remote voting team included local interpreters and community members encouraging people to vote.

The AEC officials said the party volunteers serve as informal scrutineers of the voting process. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Volunteers from the different parties acted as informal scrutineers of the process.

Tiwi Bombers star Anthony Munkara was glad the AEC had visited his community.

“It’s helpful that they’ve come to town,” he said.

Anthony Munkara thanked the AEC for coming to Pirlangimpi. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Tristan Lippo, 21, has voted every opportunity he has had since he turned 18.

But he said he would not have voted if the AEC had not come to him.

“If they didn’t come here, I wouldn’t vote,” Mr Lippo said.

“It’s important they’re here.”

The major parties joined the AEC for the voting process. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“When the AEC comes to town we get to talk to the politicians and have a say in what we want for our community,” Michelle Murakami said.

Many other residents the NT News spoke to shared Mr Lippo and Ms Murakami’s opinion — the AEC needs to come to these remote communities to ensure everyone has a right to vote.

Tony Brown has worked as a FIFO at Port Melville for seven years.

He is on the Gippsland electoral roll in Victoria.

Jeff Pope Australian Electoral Commissioner and remote voter from Gippsland, Tony Brown. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Brown was surprised to discover the AEC mobile polling station could cater for him.

“I just showed my ID, they asked where I was from and I told them Gippsland,” Mr Brown said.

“And they produced some Gippsland voting papers — I was surprised.”

Mr Brown was happy with the service the AEC delivered, and appreciated that they had made the trip to Tiwi.

“If you have a vote you have a voice,” he said.

Originally published as Remote voting kicks off across the country with a special launch on the Tiwi Islands