Electoral Commission implores Australians to ‘stop and consider’ before casting their vote

This election arguably presents the most complex information environment voters have ever had to navigate, writes AEC acting commissioner Jeff Pope.

Over 18 million Australians are about to start casting their votes in the federal election. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Within a matter of days, over 18 million Australians will begin to cast their vote in Australia’s largest ever election.

Australians are fortunate to have a system unlike any other – a manual system of preferential voting with incredibly high levels of participation, multiple options to vote (this election will have the largest polling footprint we’ve ever provided), more accessible services, consistent voting and counting processes across Australia, and as always transparency from us, the independent electoral administrator.

This is not to mention the community atmosphere with democracy sausage sizzles and cake stalls run by local community organisations. Elections in Australia are a festival of democracy where we come together to decide on Australia’s future – and participation is one of our most important civic duties.

These wonderful elements of the Australian way of running elections can sometimes get overlooked in the argy-bargy of political debate. Not to the AEC though. We’re very alert to the precious nature of how Australian elections are administered and are working hard on behalf of all Australians to play our role in preserving it.

This election arguably presents the most complex information environment voters have ever had to navigate as they contemplate how they will cast their vote.

The continued proliferation of channels, the speed of communication, new technologies (including generative artificial intelligence), changes in social media platforms and the increased influence of storylines or commentary from beyond our shores, are all making the task of voting more challenging. It’s a task that now requires even more individual pause for thought.

Acting Electoral Commissioner, Jeff Pope. Picture: Martin Ollman

The spread of false or misleading information is lightening fast in the modern age. We can take some comfort though that most often so too is the clarification, correction or contextual reality. However, to digest that, voters must be open to stepping outside their algorithm and consuming multiple sources of information.

Voters can also be assisted in navigating the environment during an election by:

• media and new media alike disseminating factual, balanced information – being a force for good;

• tech platforms honouring their commitments to progressing verification tools and upholding platform policies; and

• political participants campaigning respectfully, transparently and within the law - with their influence on the environment as big as anyone’s.

But as voters head into the polling place they need to distil the information they’ve consumed, do their research and contemplate a voting decision on matters that are important to them. Through meaningful and considered participation all voters can again demonstrate - nationally and internationally - how much Australians value our elections.

At the AEC, we are very clear on our role with respect to the communication environment and where the line must sit for us, and this is clearly outlined in election laws. We are the independent administrator and will apply the law fairly, but we are not the internet police or a body that should determine how people see or think about political statements – beyond the requirement for people to apply authorisation statements to their communication so that voters know the source of what they’re seeing.

We can assist voters to do their job though – and for this election we’re providing a range of tools and reminders about the voter’s role. We’re running an expanded ‘Stop and Consider’ campaign: a multi-channel, national communication program that provides tips and techniques for voters to navigate the information environment and ultimately remember that their vote is their choice, no-one else’s. Our research tells us that knowledge is key to arming a person against the impact of false and misleading information, so our work in this space is geared towards providing that knowledge.

Your vote will help shape Australia. For the 2025 federal election, I implore all voters to ‘stop and consider’ the information you are consuming as you work your way through the election period and into that tranquil, private space that is the voting screen to cast your important vote.

Jeff Pope is Acting Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission

Originally published as Electoral Commission implores Australians to ‘stop and consider’ before casting their vote