YACSA's polling day guide: referendum edition

THE 6 STEP referendum DAY GUIDE.

Just like for federal and state elections, we’ve got you from the moment you arrive, until the moment you leave. Here's what to expect on 14 October (or before, if you’re voting early)

Step 1: Preparation

WHERE CAN I VOTE?

• You can vote at any AEC polling location. Find one here.

• The easiest and quickest way to vote is always to go to a polling booth within the electorate you are voting in.

If you are not going to be in your electorate, in South Australia, or even if you’re going to be overseas for the election, or if you won't be able to get to a polling booth, click here to find out about postal voting. NOTE: POSTAL VOTE APPLICATIONS CLOSE 6PM WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER.

WHAT DO I BRING?

All you need to bring is yourself! You’re welcome to bring your own writing utensil if you’d like to though.

Step 2: 'How to Vote' forms

The moment you arrive, there will be a bunch of people handing you 'how to vote cards'. These are recommendations from the campaigns on how they would like you to vote and why.

They are NOT mandatory.

Feel free to refuse to take them.

Feel free to use them.

Feel free to recycle them.

Feel free to fold them into unique pieces of origami.

But you don't HAVE to do anything with them. 

Bonus YACSA tip:

'How to vote' cards make fantastic paper aeroplanes.

Step 3: Queuing

You’ll probably have to hop in a que to get into the polling booth.

Depending on the time and location, the queue might be very long.

Brace yourself.

Bonus YACSA tip:

We recommend sharing Smashed Avocado stories with people around you to pass the time (hi, if you’re reading this while waiting to vote).

Step 4: Ticking your name off

Once you get into the polling station, you’ll walk up to the AEC official at the desk.

They will find you on the electoral roll and cross off your name, give you your ballot paper, and send you on your way to a small, cardboard voting booth.

Bonus YACSA tip:

There's thousands of people in their book so it might take them a while to find your name. They've had a long day. Be nice to the election officials.

Step 5: Actually voting

Voting in a referendum is a cake walk compared to a regular state, federal, and even local electorate.

There’s no numbering, no preferencing and no second ballot to fill out.

All you need to do is write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in the box on the ballot you’re given. We’ve got a more in depth look at that here.

If you make a mistake, you can always ask the official for a new sheet.

When you're done, take your ballot papers and put them in the AEC ballot box.

Bonus YACSA tip:

Skip the graffiti on your ballot papers, ultimately only makes the election officials job harder when they’re counting votes. The instructions on your ballot ask you to write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ , following those instructions makes sure there’s no confusion about which way you’ve voted.

There are waaaaaay better ways to express your political views or frustrations - like becoming a YACSA young member! (click here to sign up!)

Step 6: Reward yourself

Congratulations on democracy-ing!

We recommend grabbing a democracy sausage before you leave (or an alternative that fits ya dietary requirements).

The democracy sausage is a time honoured tradition unique to Australian democracy, where the local sausage sizzle is a vital part of the voting experience - and it helps raise money for the local school/community group.

If you’re really lucky you might find a democracy coffee, falafel or cupcake!

The beginning of the count will be broadcast starting later in the evening, but we may not have a confirmed result until up to 13 days later. TV and news organisations have their own count methods and may call the result earlier, but the AEC won’t announce or declare any result until it is mathematically impossible to have a different outcome (which takes time).

How to fill out a referendum ballot

The early voting period has begun, but what does the ballot look like? Chances are you’ve never seen a referendum ballot, and they’re a little different to state, federal and local government ballots. 

The buff (yeah, that’s a real colour) ballot has some similarities to those you might have seen before, it’s the same size as a lower house (small) ballot and still has instructions as to how to correctly fill it out so your vote can be counted. 

But because there’s no preferential voting in referendums there’s just one box to fill in and no numbering to do! 

The ballot has the proposed change (referendum question), and then asks if you approve of it. All you need to do is write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in the box (in English).  

So, it’ll look something like this: 

The AEC also has an interactive version of this here if you’d like to practice. 

You might have heard some confusion around voting using other words or symbols. Here’s what the AEC have to say on that: 

We will always admit a ballot paper to the count where the voter’s intention is clear but any marks or words other than ‘yes’ or ‘no’ (e.g. the use of a tick or check mark) could leave the formality of your vote open to interpretation or challenge. Ultimately, if challenged, the relevant AEC Divisional Returning Officer will decide if your ballot is deemed formal or informal in accordance with the Referendum Act. 

(Formal = a vote that can be understood and counted. Informal = a vote that can’t be counted.) 

In short, following the instructions makes sure your vote can be counted! It also makes the jobs of electoral workers counting your votes and scrutineers overseeing the count easier (which is important – it's a huge job!!) 

Your vote matters, make it count. You can find all your options for casting your vote here.

All the ways you can vote in the referendum

With the early-voting period starting on Tuesday 3 October in South Australia, let’s run through all the options for voting Australians will be utilising up until 14 October. 

Planning your vote is important because voting is compulsory. If you don’t vote by the time the polls close you will be fined, so make sure that you work out if you’ll be able to vote on the day early so you have time to vote using another option. Ready to vote? Find out more about filling in your ballot.

In person voting on polling day 

For most of us, this is probably how we’ll be voting! We’ll rock up to a polling place between 8am and 6pm and cast our vote. Polling day is a Saturday (as always) so if you’re working during the day, play it safe and get your vote in early, don’t risk not making it there in time. 

You can find a polling place here. 

Early voting 

Early voting is for voters who can’t make it to a polling place on 14 October, it runs for the two weeks before polling day – starting on 3 October in SA. 

You can find a polling place here. 

Postal voting 

Postal voting is another option for voting early if you can’t make it to a polling place on referendum day. After applying for a postal ballot, the AEC will send it out along with instructions and a return envelope. 

Postal vote applications will close at 6pm on Wednesday 11 October 2023, you can apply for one and see full eligibility here. 

Voting in care 

If you are a resident in a residential care facility or a homeless shelter an AEC mobile polling team may visit your facility if the administrator of your facility provides access. 

Information about our visit, including the time and date, will be provided by your facility's administration. If you are unsure whether we will be visiting your facility, please speak to the facility's staff. 

Mobile polling teams are AEC staff who will mark you off the electoral roll and collect your referendum ballot paper to be counted. You can ask our staff for assistance casting your vote if you need it. 

If you cannot vote in-person, you can apply for a postal vote or you may be eligible to cast a vote via telephone. 

Remote voter services 

The other in person voting option is for folk living in remote areas. Remote voting services begin earlier to increase access to as many voters as possible so, there may be an early voting or voting on the day centre in a remote area near you. 

You can find a polling place here. 

Overseas voting 

For those of you who won’t be in the country during the voting period there’s two options: in-person voting at overseas voting centres and postal voting depending on what works for you. 

While we encourage you to take up one of these options, voting in a referendum is not compulsory for Australians overseas. If you are unable to vote you should complete and submit an overseas notification form to let the AEC know you’ll be out of the country to avoid them following up afterwards. 

Phone voting 

Phone voting, which you may have used to vote in a past election if you tested positive for COVID-19, is an option again this time around, but it has gone back to just being available to people who are blind or vision impaired. Phone voting works by calling and being identified and ticked off the roll and then transferred to another electoral worker who will record your vote anonymously.  

Prison voting 

Voting in referendums is compulsory for all eligible incarcerated voters serving a full-time sentence of less than three years. Similarly to residential care facilities, the AEC engages with correctional facilities in each state and territory to determine what voting services can be provided. Contact facility administrators about the voting services available, which will include postal voting. 

However you vote (and however you democracy sausage), happy voting!  

Voice referendum timeline

Where do I get information on the referendum?

Information on referendum processes: 

We haven’t had a referendum since 1999, so for anyone under 42, this is the first opportunity to vote in an election of this kind. It’s important to understand how the process works not only so that we know what’s going on when we go to vote, but also because electoral processes are not immune to misinformation. 

Referendums are pretty straightforward – unlike the other elections we’ve had in the past year there’s only one box to fill in, so no preferential voting or anything like that! 

The Smashed Avocado 

You can find more info on how referendums work and what Australian’s have voted on in the past here and this referendum here. We’ll also be putting up more on the referendum between now and 14 October and you’ll be able to find all that here. 

Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) 

Your Answer Matters Podcast 

This podcast is produced by the AEC, the independent body that run elections, and unpacks the process ahead of the referendum so that you can vote with confidence. Episodes range from approximately 5-15 minutes with transcripts available. 

Website 

The AEC also has written explainers around referendums, how they work and what the process will look like. They also have a disinformation register listing prominent pieces of disinformation the AEC has discovered regarding the referendum, and details of actions they’ve taken in response. 

Information on the voice to parliament: 

There’s a lot of, often conflicting, information around not only the referendum process but what the question is asking and the implications of it passing (or not). The AEC are encouraging the public to, stop, check and consider information related to the referendum, and we think this is a pretty solid rule of thumb for the next few weeks. Below are some great resources that cover everything from what the voice is to guides on having respectful conversations and minimising harm during the campaign period. 

Australian Human Rights Commission 

Voice Referendum Resource Kit 

The Commission has produced an educational resource kit to encourage the Australian public to consider the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum through a human rights lens. 

The Commission’s Voice referendum resources seek to minimise harm by encouraging cultural humility and focusing the conversation on human rights principles as they relate to the referendum and proposed Voice to Parliament. 

Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) 

Voice to Parliament Referendum Navigator 

Our friends (and sister-peak) over at YACVic have put together a resource to educate and empower young people about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, the voting process and what it all means that we highly recommend checking out! 

SBS 

Voice to Parliament pamphlets factchecked 

The AEC basically functions as a mailbox when it comes to the official yes/no pamphlet – they receive the cases, format and send it out, but they don’t fact check or edit the content. While claims in both pamphlets are pretty hard to verify definitively because the details of the voice will be worked out after a successful referendum*, the SBS worked with RMIT's FactLab CrossCheck to give some more context to them.  

*As a side note, this is part of how policy works more generally – want more info on what ‘policy’ is and how it works check out our explainer here. 

A referendum is coming

Okay we’re really, really having a referendum. On June 19 a bill to amend the constitution passed parliament, but in order for the change to be made it must first be approved by the public.

The referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament is going onto calendars across the country for Saturday 14 October.

Most importantly right now this means you need to make sure you’re enrolled to vote and your details are up to date and correct. Enrolment of 18-24-year-olds has increased from 87.6% to over 90% from the end of 2022 in anticipation of the referendum already – the highest enrolment has ever been for this age group!

The official Yes/No pamphlet from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has been finalised to be mailed out to voters and published online here. The pamphlet contains:

• a statement containing the proposed change to the Constitution,

• the case that is in favour of the proposed constitutional alteration, and

• the case that is against the proposed constitutional alteration.

The pamphlets were prepared by parliamentarians who voted for and against the proposed law and had to be authorised by a majority of the members of Parliament who voted, respectively, for and against the proposed change to the Constitution.

The AEC were not involved in the development of the pamphlet material and they were not independently fact checked. The Guardian have published both the Yes and No pamphlet annotated and factchecked.

The AEC will also be producing versions of the pamphlet in a range of translations and accessible formats. These versions of the pamphlet will be made available ASAP (and we’ll link where you can find them when they are).

AND, if you want to work during the referendum register your interest with the AEC. They pay $25.54 to $48.29 per hour, depending on the job!

Preparing for a referendum

The process to a referendum is well and truly underway with legislation having passed Federal Parliament, so let’s talk about getting prepared.

While it may feel like referendum talk is only beginning, this has been a journey that started years ago with the development of the Uluru Statement from the Heart through consultation with First Nations people. The Uluru Statement website has a lot of information on this whole process, including a digital learning platform on the Voice to ensure you’re informed and participating in the referendum confidently.

Not sure how a referendum really works? We’ve got you covered here. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) also have a page with a bunch of different info regarding the process which you can find here.

They also have a disinformation register, which lists prominent pieces of disinformation they have discovered regarding the announced Voice to Parliament, which includes the action taken in response. It’s a great resource to check for any claims you may have seen that you’re not sure about, and to prepare you for any conversations where you may have to debunk claims in conversations with the people in your life. An informed voter is a prepared voter!

It is compulsory for eligible Australian citizens to vote in referendums, so please make sure to enrol if this is the first time you’re eligible, or check your enrolment details to ensure they’re current and correct. You can also apply to work for the AEC during, before or after the referendum – more info (including pay rates) here.

First Nations young people, if you need some extra support, anytime, but especially during this process, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the below:

13 YARN (13 19 76) Crisis support 24/7 for First Nations People

WellMob Social, emotional and cultural wellbeing online resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Lifeline 13 11 14 & webchat 24/7

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 & webchat 24/7

What is a referendum?

A referendum is a vote by the public required to make any changes to the constitution.  

For an amendment to be made it must be approved by a ‘double majority’ of the public, a majority of voters nationally AND a majority of voters in a majority of the states* (at least four out of six).  

*ACT and NT votes count toward the national majority only. 

How does it work? 

After a bill with proposed changes passes both houses of Federal Parliament a referendum will be scheduled, and Australians will head to the polls on the chosen day (which like elections must be a Saturday). Just like state and federal elections, enrolling and voting in referendums is compulsory – but no need to enrol again if you’re already on the roll (just remember to check your details are correct). 

Referendums are run by the Australian Electoral Commission, the same body that run our federal elections and the process is much the same. Polling stations will open from 8am – 6pm and there will be early polling and postal vote alternatives if you’re unable to make it on the day. 

A referendum ballot is a little different to the federal, state and local ballots we saw last year – there won’t be any boxes to number, just one box to write either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. As always, it’s important to make sure you fill out the ballot correctly so that you’re submitting a formal vote that can be counted. 

Then if the change is approved by a double majority it is carried and the change to the constitution will be made, if not then no change will be made. 

Past referendums 

Previously, Australia has voted on 44 proposed changes to the constitution, only eight of which were approved. The last referendum in 1999 posed two changes, to ‘To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic with the Queen and Governor-General being replaced by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament’ and ‘To alter the Constitution to insert a preamble’, neither was carried. 

Our last constitutional changes were made following a referendum in 1977 which posed four changes, three of which were carried. These changes provided retiring ages for judges of Federal courts, allowed the territories to vote in referendums along with the states and changed the way we fill vacancies in the Senate mid-term with someone from the same political party. 

The largest ‘yes’ vote in a referendum in Australia was in 1967, carried with 90.77% in favour of changes to enable the Commonwealth to make laws about Indigenous people and to have First Nations people counted in the census. 

The lowest ‘yes’ vote was in 1988, with 69.21% voting against the amendment to extend the right to trial by jury and religious freedom and ensure fair terms for persons whose property is acquired by any government. 

We’re heading to the polls later this year to vote in a referendum on an enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament, making 2023 our first referendum 24 years. The question posed to Australians will be:

A proposed law to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?

If you want more info on referendums, from how they work to past polls visit the AEC website. If you want more info on getting prepared to vote, check out our post here.