Federal election 2022: How to enrol, early voting, postal voting and voting with Covid

The AEC has confirmed it is working on a new telephone voting system for those who test positive to Covid and under isolation orders before the May 21 poll. See how it will work.

Ringing in the votes will take on a new meaning this election as Australians will be able to cast their ballot by telephone for the first time.

For the first federal election during the Covid-era, the Australian Electoral Commission is working on a telephone voting system for those who test positive to Covid and under isolation orders in the three days leading up to the May 21 poll.

Phone voting has traditionally been used by people who are blind, have low vision or are working in Antarctica.

But AEC commissioner Tom Rogers stressed the scaled up measure should only be used as a last resort if voters missed pre-poll and are unable to cast a postal vote.

“I urge people to only use that if they are actually subject to that health order. It truly is a contingency measure,” Mr Rogers said.

Voters who contract Covid in the three days before the federal election on May 21 will be able to vote by telephone.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET COVID?

People who test positive or are subject to isolation orders as a close contact will be allowed to vote via the telephone.

But this service will only be available for the last three days of the election campaign, so from May 19 to 21.

The AEC is still fine tuning the process but Covid-19 positive voters will then register with and be provided with a unique code to cast their ballot.

From there they will call the AEC and use the code to identify themselves and tell the official how they intend to vote.

It’s important to have studied your ballot paper before making the call, as officials will not read out your choices.

While that service is offered to those who are blind or have low vision, to cut expected wait times, that will not be offered to Covid positive voters.

“If we have to read out the Senate ballot paper for people at telephone voting, it’s going to take some time,” Mr Rogers said.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE COVID?

The AEC plans to be quite strict in who it allows to vote by telephone and is even pushing to have states provide exemptions for close contacts to free up the process.

It is negotiating with states and territories to ensure voters are able to turn up to have their voice heard on May 21.

Postal voting for the 2022 Federal Election will close at 6pm on Wednesday, May 18 – three days before the election.

WHAT IF I TEST POSITIVE BEFORE TELEPHONE VOTING OPENS?

You can cast your vote by the mail ahead of election day.

Applications for a postal vote are accepted up until 6pm on the Wednesday before polling day, so May 18.

There are two ways you can apply for a postal vote – either online or fill out a form from an AEC office.

You can also ring 13 23 26 to ask for a form to be sent to you.

From there ballot papers will be mailed to your nominated address but keep in mind your vote will need to be witnessed by someone else on the electoral roll.

The Australian Electoral Commission is encouraging people to vote early to avoid long queues on election day because of Covid precautions.

HOW CAN I VOTE EARLY?

Some polling booths will be open two weeks ahead of election day to give people every opportunity to vote early.

The AEC has warned voters to expect longer waits at polling booths due to Covid precautions.

You can find a list of early voting centres on the AEC’s website. 

Voting on election day will begin at 8am and close at 6pm.

HOW DO I ENROL TO VOTE?

The electoral roll for the federal election will close next Monday at 8pm.

If you’ve moved houses, or have recently turned 18, you need to enrol or change your enrolment at the AEC’s website.

It’s important that you do this before the deadline, or else you won’t be able to vote.

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Originally published as Federal election 2022: How to enrol, early voting, postal voting and voting with Covid