The federal election is being held on Saturday 18 May. Voting is compulsory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and over who are enrolled to vote.
Accessible voting locations
Visit the Australian Electoral Commission’s website to find a list of local polling places, each with an accessibility rating to assist people with disabilities or mobility restrictions. The ratings are:
- wheelchair accessible
- assisted wheelchair access
- not wheelchair accessible.
Click on the rating listed against each polling place to find out more about its specific accessibility features.
Help to vote
If you need assistance to vote at a polling place, you can ask someone to help you. Polling place staff are trained to assist you or you can nominate anyone (other than a candidate) to assist. This could be a friend, relative or another person. If you don’t nominate someone, then the polling official in charge may help you.
If you can’t get out of the car and the polling official in charge is satisfied that you can’t enter the polling place, someone may bring the ballot papers to you.
Polling places with extra accessibility services
At the 2019 federal election, the AEC is trialing a limited number of pilot venues with extra accessibility services for voters living with disability.
Postal voting
If you have a disability or mobility restriction, you may be eligible to become a general postal voter and receive ballot papers in the mail. for future elections, you can consider this option.
To complete a postal vote, you may choose an assistant (such as a friend or family member) to help fill out the ballot papers and envelope according to your instructions, but you must sign the envelope or make a mark as a signature.
Telephone voting
If you’re blind or have low vision, you can cast a vote in secret from any location, including your own home. For more information, contact the AEC on 13 23 26.