Enrol to vote: How and when to enrol for 2022 federal election

The federal election date has been announced, and that means it’s time to make sure you are properly enrolled to vote. Worry not – it’s a simple process.

The Australian Electoral Commission has eased fears that voters would miss out on the opportunity to cast a ballot because Easter public holidays will shorten an already-tight deadline to enrol.

Voters must be correctly enrolled by 8pm on Monday April 18, which is Easter Monday, to vote in the federal election.

Hours after the Prime Minister announced the election would take place on May 21, concerns were raised that Easter would interfere with the process of enrolment.

“URGENT: if you need to check your electoral enrolment or get on the electoral roll, you need to get on it NOW because - surprise! - Scott Morrison’s timing of the announcement coincides with Easter public holidays so you have less time to get on the roll than you think,” writer Van Badham tweeted.

But the AEC put that fire out quickly. “We will be working on the public holidays, Van,” they wrote back. “Democracy rests for nobody.”

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We'll still be working on the public holidays, Van. Democracy rests for nobody.

— AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) April 10, 2022

The looming election does mean it’s time to make sure you are properly enrolled to vote, but don’t worry – it’s a simple process and should take very little time.

Here is everything you need to know.

Do I have to vote?

If you don’t want to get fined, yes. Voting is compulsory if you’re an Australian citizen aged 18 years or older.

The penalty for failing to vote is $20 for first time offenders and rises to $50 for subsequent offenders. That is money better spent elsewhere. So enrol!

Of course, there’s also the argument that you shouldn’t miss out on having your say about the future of the country.

You can add your name to the electoral roll from the age of 16, but can’t actually cast a vote until you turn 18.

To be eligible to enrol, you must be a citizen, and you must have lived at your current address for at least one month.

Australia: the only country on Earth where people vote in bikinis and board shorts. Picture: Braden Fastier

How do I enrol to vote?

The easiest way is to visit the Australian Electoral Commission’s website, where you can enrol online. All you need is your driver’s licence or passport number.

First, you’ll be asked which state you live in. Then you will need to confirm you are a citizen, provide evidence of your identity, and give the AEC your residential address.

When you’ve filled in that information, you just need to click a box declaring it’s all accurate, sign the form (which you can do electronically) and submit it.

What if you have neither a licence nor a passport? In that case, you need someone who is already enrolled to sign the form vouching for your identity. A parent, for example, will do fine.

This means the form will need to be printed off and signed physically, so it adds an annoying step to the process, but it’s still simple enough.

What if I don’t want to do it online?

If you’d rather fill out a physical form, you can get one from any AEC office, or call the AEC on 13 23 26 and ask for one to be sent to you.

The questions you have to answer will be the same as those described above.

When you’re done, you can either take your form to an AEC office, scan it and upload it onto the AEC website, or send it in the mail.

Should you choose the latter option, the address is: AEC, Reply Paid 9867, and the name of your state or territory’s capital city. You don’t need to use a stamp.

What happens next?

A few weeks after you enrol to vote, you will receive a letter from the AEC confirming your name has been added to the electoral roll.

And that’s it, you’re all set.

A row of voting booths. Does the sight not excite you?

What if I have moved house?

To keep the electoral roll accurate and ensure you are voting in the correct electorate, you need to tell the AEC whenever you move.

Doing so is simple enough. You just go through the same process described above, filling in a new enrolment form. There will be a box you tick at the beginning to specify that you need to update your address.

Is there a deadline?

Scott Morrison today announced the election would be held on May 21.

We don’t yet know the exact deadline at which the electoral roll will close, but it is within a matter of weeks, so you’re running out of time.

Best not delay!