How to cast an early vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum

From who can do it to how to find a voting centre, here's what you need to know about early voting in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.

Early voting for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum has now opened. Source: Getty / James D. Morgan

On 14 October, many Australians will visit polling stations across the country to have their say on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

At Australia's first referendum in nearly a quarter of a century, they will be asked to vote Yes or No to a single question: A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?

• What are the arguments for and against a Voice?
• How do you vote in the referendum? The rules explained
• We gave the Voice to Parliament pamphlets to fact checkers. Here's what they said
• A First Nations Treaty and the Voice. What does the Uluru Statement actually say?

But not everyone will be able to cast their ballot on referendum day, and the Australian Electoral Commission's (AEC) early voting centres are now open to cater to those who can't.

Here's what you need to know.

When, and where can I vote early in the Voice to Parliament referendum?

Early voting centres opened in Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania on Monday, 2 October.

In NSW, Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT, they opened on Tuesday, 3 October. The one-day difference is due to these jurisdictions having a public holiday on Monday.

Early voting centre locations and their opening days and hours can be found here.

Who can vote early?

Those who can't vote on referendum day — 14 October, when you will be able to cast your ballot at a polling station between 8am and 6pm.

If you can't do so early or on the day, postal vote applications remain open until 6pm, 11 October.

The AEC says you can vote early or by post if, on referendum day, you will be:

• Outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
• More than eight kilometres from a polling place
• Travelling
• Unable to leave your workplace to vote on voting day
• Seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
• A patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital
• Unable to attend a polling place due to religious beliefs
• In prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
• A silent elector
• In reasonable fear for your safety or well-being

What if I am an Australian living overseas?

Then you may be able to cast your vote at an Australian embassy or high commission.

If you're unable to visit one of these locations in person, then you can apply for a postal vote.

A postal vote can be returned either to an embassy or high commission that accepts them or via international mail. The AEC says a ballot paper must be received no more than 13 days after referendum day in order for them to be counted; so recommends completing and returning it as quickly as possible.

You can find out which embassies and high commissions offer in-person voting and postal vote collection here.

Do I have to vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum?

Voting is compulsory; so if you are an Australian citizen aged 18 or older and are on the electoral roll, you are required to cast a ballot.

If you don't vote, you will receive a "non-voter notice" from the AEC which will require you to explain why you didn't.

If the AEC decides your reason isn't valid, then you will receive a $20 fine.

Can I still enrol to vote?

No - the deadline to enrol and update your electoral roll details was 18 September.

However, you will already be on the electoral roll if you have previously voted in a federal election.

You can check your enrolment details here.

Stay informed on the 2023 Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum from across the SBS Network, including First Nations perspectives through NITV.

Visit the SBS Voice Referendum portal to access articles, videos and podcasts in over 60 languages, or stream the latest news and analysis, docos and entertainment for free, at the Voice Referendum hub on SBS On Demand.