Australia is one of the few democracies where voting is compulsory. That makes the electoral roll, the official list of people entitled to vote, one of the most important lists in the country. If you are not on it, you cannot vote.
Who needs to enrol
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says you can enrol if you are an Australian citizen, aged 18 or over, and have lived at your address for at least one month. It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens to enrol and vote.
Younger people can get ready early. If you are 16 or 17, you can enrol now so you are able to vote when you turn 18.
What you will need
To enrol online, the AEC asks for one of the following:
an Australian driver licence number
an Australian passport number
Medicare card details
an Australian citizenship number
or someone who is already enrolled to confirm your identity.
The AEC notes that 18+ and Proof of Age cards are not accepted.
One form, every level of government
Enrolling with the AEC lets you take part in federal elections, by-elections and referendums, and in relevant state, territory and local government elections. The AEC itself only runs federal events.
Keep it up to date
If you move house or change your name, update your enrolment. Rolls close before each election, and after that it is too late to change your details for that vote. Checking your enrolment takes a few minutes and means your vote counts where you live.
About the author
RullikClear, sourced explainers on Australia and the world
Rullik is the pen name of the founder of Australia Illuminate (Auslume). Rullik writes plain-language explainers on life in Australia, from immigration, study and work to money, sport and screen culture, always linking to the official sources behind each story. Every story is reviewed before publication.
More from Rullik ↗This article was prepared with AI assistance.
