1st Time Voters

Compulsory voting

Compulsory voting means that every Australian citizen (18 years or older) is required by law to enrol and vote. If a person does not vote and is unable to provide a "valid and sufficient" reason, a penalty is imposed. Compulsory voting is a distinctive feature of the Australian political culture. More...

Who is eligible to enrol?

Any person who:

• is 18* years of age or over, and
• is an Australian citizen**, or
• was a British subject on a Commonwealth electoral roll as at 25 January 1984. More information is available about British Subjects Eligibility; and
• has lived for at least one month at their current address.

• Checked if you are enrolled
• Find out how to enrol

Who is not eligible to enrol?

You are not qualified to enrol if you:

• are not 18 years of age or over (17 year olds may enrol provisionally but can not vote until they turn 18);
• are not an Australian citizen;
• are of unsound mind (incapable of understanding the nature and significance of voting);
• have been convicted of treason or treachery and have not been pardoned.
• are a permanent resident but not an Australian citizen

Make Your Voice Heard

Register to vote here: http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/

*If a person is 17 years old and an Australian citizen, they may enrol but are not entitled to vote until they turn 18. If you will turn 18 years old between the announcement of the election (date of the writ) and polling day and have not already applied for provisional enrolment, you have until close of rolls to apply for enrolment.

**A person who expects to become an Australian citizen between the date of the writ and polling day and is not already enrolled will have until close of rolls to apply for provisional enrolment. Their enrolment will be confirmed once they have provided evidence that they have been granted citizenship.