How to cast a postal vote in the 2025 Federal Election

Voting is compulsory in Australia so if you can’t make it to a polling place on Saturday May 3, you’ll need to vote early or apply for postal voting to escape a fine – so here’s how to do it.

Voting is compulsory in Australia so if you can’t make it to a polling place on Saturday May 3, you’ll need to vote early or apply for postal voting to escape a fine – so here’s how to do it.

Firstly you need to check you are enrolled through the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website, or if you are not already on the electoral roll, enrol to vote – all Australian citizens aged 18 years old and older must vote.

If you do not vote and have not applied for a postal vote, you may receive a fine.

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR POSTAL VOTING?

You are able to use the postal voting system if you are unable to attend a voting centre on the day for one of these reasons:

• if you are away from your electorate on election day

• if you are more than 8km from a polling place

• if you are travelling

• if you cannot leave your workplace on election day

• if you are ill, infirm, have just given birth or are about to give birth; or caring for someone who meets those criteria

• if you have a disability or are caring for someone with disability

• if you are in hospital

• if you have religious beliefs preventing you from attending a polling place

• if you are in prison for a sentence of less than three years or are otherwise detained

• if you are a silent elector

• if you have a ‘reasonable’ fear for your safety.

Ballot papers for postal votes will be mailed out after April 11.

WHEN IS THE POSTAL VOTE APPLICATION CUT-OFF DATE?

Applications for postal voting must be received by the AEC by 8pm on Monday April 7.

WHAT IF I WILL BE OVERSEAS?

You must notify the AEC if you will be overseas, but it is not compulsory to vote if you won’t be in the country. However, assuming you do want to exercise your democratic right, the AEC also sends postal votes to overseas addresses. The AEC can only legally count postal votes that received back in Australia by the 13th day after the election.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR POSTAL VOTING?

Candidates and political parties often mail-drop information about postal voting to harvest your data before sending the application on, so the AEC recommends eligible voters apply online directly via the aec.gov.au website.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY POSTAL VOTE?

After the Declaration of Nominations at 11am on Friday 11 April, which dictates how candidates will appear on the ballot papers, all ballot papers will then be printed and sent out. The AEC will keep you updated by email or text if you’ve provided your contact details.

WHEN DO I HAVE TO POSTAL VOTE?

Postal votes must be completed on or before election day and must be signed in the presence of a witness. A postal vote certificate must also be signed by 6pm on election day.

You can’t vote by post after the day of the election, on May 3.

HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY POSTAL VOTE?

Your ballot papers and everything you need to complete them will be sent to you by the AEC by mail, to the address you have registered on the electoral roll.

HOW DO I CAST MY VOTE?

You will be sent a pack that contains an instruction pamphlet, your ballot papers, and a certificate that must be signed by a witness, who can be any person you know. Make sure you follow the enclosed instructions for placing the certificate and ballot papers inside the return envelope to ensure your vote is counted.

IS POSTAL VOTING SECURE?

Australia’s voting system is one of the safest in the world, and postal voting is no exception, with the AEC using “a security question and answer process and a legal declaration made by voters” during the application process. The AEC also carefully scrutinises the electoral roll and ticks you off once you’ve voted – there is no way that you can vote twice using this system.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET A POSTAL VOTE FROM A THIRD PARTY?

The AEC is aware that some people are receiving postal vote applications, or links to online postal vote applications, in the mail from third parties (e.g. political parties).

This is legal and occurs every election/referendum. However, the AEC encourages people who need a postal vote to apply directly through the AEC’s website instead.

Applying for a postal vote directly through the AEC’s website means a ballot paper will be able to be posted out quicker. The AEC also operates under the Privacy Act and postal vote applications involve the disclosure of personal details.