Enrol to vote at elections

Introduction

If you're an Australian citizen aged 18 years or over, you are required by law to enrol to vote with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

Once you have enrolled to vote, it is your responsibility to keep your enrolment details up to date. 

You must vote in federal, state and local elections. If you fail to vote without a valid reason, you could be fined. 

To find out about upcoming elections in NSW, visit the NSW Electoral Commission.

Learn more about how to vote in an election.

Eligibility

You can enrol to vote with the AEC if you:

• are an Australian citizen
• are a British citizen who was enrolled to vote in Australia on or before 25 January 1984, and
• are aged 16 years or older, and
• have lived at your current address for at least one month.

Note: You can enrol when you turn 16 years of age but cannot vote until you’re 18.

What you need

• your personal details
• your address details
• one proof of identity document:
  • Australian driver licence
  • Australian passport
  • endorsement of an enrolled voter who can confirm your identity.

How to enrol

You can enrol to vote online.

1. Select the ‘Enrol online’ button.
2. Complete the online form.
3. Read the declaration.
4. Submit the form.

If you cannot enrol online:

For help updating your enrolment details, call 13 23 26.   

More information

• If your circumstances affect your ability to enrol to vote (for example, you are living overseas, have no fixed address or are in prison), you may be eligible to use the special enrolment options. 
• If you enrolled online, you can use the receipt number provided to check the progress of your enrolment.
• To get back on the electoral roll, visit the Australian Electoral Commission website.