Here's how people becoming citizens can vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum

People becoming citizens prior to the referendum on 14 October, or on the day of, will need to fill out a provisional enrolment form from the Australian Electoral Commission.

A hand placing a ballot paper into a cardboard ballot box.

People becoming citizens prior to the Voice to Parliament referendum on 14 October can still vote. Source: SBS News

Key Points
  • People becoming citizens before or on 14 October can vote in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
  • They can an fill out a provisional enrolment form from the Australian Electoral Commission.
  • Sunday 17 September marks citizenship day when thousands of people will become Australian citizens.
Every citizen needs to vote in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum on 14 October, even the newest Australians.

People who are scheduled to attend citizenship ceremonies on or before the day must complete the provisional enrolment form available on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.

If you've been notified of your citizenship ceremony date, that makes you eligible.

Completed forms must be received by 8pm local time Monday 18 September. They can be returned via fax, post, in person to an AEC office or by uploading to the AEC website.
The AEC has and can connect people with translators.

It also has resources for hearing and vision impaired people including a phone voting line for vision impaired people.

Sunday 17 September marks citizenship day, when thousands of people will become Australian citizens in ceremonies around the country.
Australia's , meaning it's not just new Australians who will be voting in a referendum for the first time, but anyone under the age of 42 will be newbies too.

Voters are asked to write Yes or No on the ballot which asks if people want to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory group in the constitution.

It's important to have the details of your current address accurate and up to date ahead of the referendum.

The simplest way to update your details is via the AEC website, where you can also check your details, but you can fill in a paper form.
To maintain your privacy, your enrolment will only be confirmed if the details you enter exactly match those on the electoral roll.

Updating your details will also require identification documents, similar to those required for enrolment, such as a driver's licence, Australian passport number, Medicare card number or an Australian citizenship number.

You can also fill in physical forms which are available online or from an AEC office, and return them to the AEC office.

The AEC may have updated your details if it has obtained your details from another government agency, which the law allows it to do.

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

Visit the to access articles, videos and podcasts in over 60 languages, or stream the latest news and analysis, docos and entertainment for free, at the .

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3 min read
Published 16 September 2023 11:39am
Source: SBS News



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