Early Voting is Open – Here's What You Need to Know Before Hitting the Booth
Hey everyone, just a quick heads-up — early voting for the 2025 federal election has officially kicked off! If you’re like me and want to avoid the crowds on election day, now's the time to get organized and cast your vote ahead of schedule. But before you head off to a voting centre, there are a few things you should know to make sure everything goes smoothly.
First off, not everyone can just rock up and vote early. There are certain conditions. You’re eligible if you’ll be away from your electorate, working on election day, have a disability or medical reason, are caring for someone, in prison (but only for a sentence under three years), or if you have religious reasons that prevent you from voting on May 3. Also, if you're in a remote area or more than 8km from a polling place — early voting is for you.
Now, how do you actually vote early? You can either visit an early voting centre in person or apply for a postal vote — just make sure you get that postal vote in by 6pm on April 30. If you need help finding an early voting centre near you, head over to the Australian Electoral Commission’s website and search under “before election day.”
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When you vote, you’ll be handed two papers: a small green one for the House of Representatives and a big white one for the Senate. On the green ballot, you’ll need to number every box in order of preference. That’s super important — don’t tick, cross, or leave any blanks, or your vote might not count. On the Senate ballot, you have two choices: vote above the line by numbering at least six boxes, or below the line by numbering at least 12. It’s your call — just be clear and consistent.
And if you’ve ever wondered what that “how to vote” card is that someone hands you at the gate, don’t stress. You’re not obligated to follow it. It’s just a suggestion from a party or candidate. Your vote is your voice, and you get to rank who you believe in most.
Preferential voting is how we do things in Australia. Even if your first pick doesn’t win outright, your vote still matters — it can flow to your next preference. So yes, your vote does count, and it can be the deciding factor in close seats.
Lastly, if you’ve got accessibility needs — there are services in place. Whether it’s braille, translation, or voting via phone from Antarctica (yep, really!), the AEC’s got options to help you participate.
So, check your eligibility, find your closest early voting spot, and get your vote in early if you can. Don’t wait for May 3 if you don’t have to. Every vote matters, and early voting makes sure yours gets in with time to spare.
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