'No time to waste' for those requiring a postal vote
Australians who can't cast their ballots on election day have been urged to organise a postal vote, as the number of people enrolled to vote reaches a record high.
The countdown to the May 3 federal election has begun and Australians are racing to ensure their voices are heard.
More than 200,000 have enrolled or updated their details in the six days since the election was announced.
The total number of people enrolled has hit a new high of 18 million, or 98 per cent of eligible Australians, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Australia - you're on track for yet another enrolment record! 200,000 people have submitted an enrolment transaction since the election was announced. If you've turned 18, moved recently or are just not sure if you're enrolled, go to https://t.co/pv99YKD0X2 now! pic.twitter.com/ns4HqSiTdn
— AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) April 2, 2025
While the commission prefers Australians vote in person, those who can't make it to an early voting centre or polling booth on the day need to apply for a postal vote as soon as possible, or risk missing out.
"If you need a postal vote, there's no time to waste," acting electoral commissioner Jeff Pope said.
"The best time to apply was yesterday, the second-best time to apply is right now."
The deadline to apply is April 30, but any application after April 24 could result in the late arrival of a postal vote pack.
"When we're not given sufficient time, we can't always guarantee delivery prior to election day," Mr Pope said.
These ballots must then be completed on or before election day and returned to the commission before May 16, otherwise the vote may not be included.
Voters in rural and regional areas in particular have been encouraged to lodge their postal votes early.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Australians have increasingly cast their ballots through the mail, with 2.3 million postal votes lodged at the 2022 election - hundreds of thousands more than the 2019 contest.
Voters can apply for a postal vote at the Australian Electoral Commission's website and the deadline for enrolments closes at 8pm (AEST) on Monday.
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