How and when to enrol to vote after Federal Election 2025 called

The starting gun for the 2025 Federal Election has finally been fired, sparking a crucial seven-day deadline every Australian should know about.

The 2025 Federal Election has finally been called, and Australia will head to the polls in a matter of weeks.

This marks the start of a crucial deadline, with only seven calendar days to enrol to vote, or to update your details.

Anyone who has turned eighteen recently, moved house, returned after a lengthy stint living overseas or is for any other reason not enrolled to vote in the area where they live, has until 8pm on April 4 to update or register with the Australian Electoral Commission.

If you don’t, the Australian Electoral Commission warns you could cop a fine.

So, what do you need to do to earn that democracy sausage?

Australians have seven calendar days from the date the election is called to update their details or register with the AEC. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Is enrolling to vote compulsory?

Yes.

If you’re an Australian citizen aged 18 years or older it is law to make sure you are enrolled to vote in a federal election.

This means it is your responsibility to ensure your name has been added to the ‘electoral roll’ - the list of people entitled to vote in an election.

Those who fail to vote in federal elections without a valid reason will have to pay a $20 fine. You’re also throwing away an opportunity to decide who runs the country.

If you didn’t enrol or vote in previous federal elections, you will not face any penalty for missing those when you enrol for this one.

About 98 per cent of the eligible population were enrolled to vote at the end of 2024. Picture: AEC

How do I enrol?

You must be an Australian citizen aged 18 or over and have lived at your current address for more than a month.

If you have no fixed place of living, you may be eligible to enrol as an itinerant voter.

You can enrol when you are 16 or 17 but will not be able to vote until you are 18.

To kick off the enrolment process, head to this link at the AEC website and follow the prompts. You will be asked to fill out a form.

To enrol you will need either your driver’s licence, your passport number, or someone who is enrolled to confirm your identity.

Proof of Age cards are not accepted by the AEC.

You can also head online if you need to update your name or address.

Only those on the electoral roll are able to vote in the 2025 Federal Election. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

How do I check I am correctly enrolled?

For privacy reasons, the AEC will only confirm your electoral enrolment if the details you enter are an exact match to your details on the electoral roll.

If you cannot confirm your electoral enrolment online it doesn’t always mean you are not on the electoral roll. Contact the AEC and they can check for you.

If you have recently completed an enrolment form, allow a few days for the AEC to receive your form, process it and update the electoral roll.

What if I am overseas, or about to go overseas?

If you are not enrolled and going overseas for a short period use the same form as above to enrol.

In all other circumstances, see the AEC’s information on going overseas.