Delivering the 2019 Federal Election - SERVICE PLAN
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Delivering the
2019 Federal Election
SERVICE PLAN
FINAL / 5 April 2019Delivering the 2019 Federal Election SERVICE PLAN Foreword2 Overview3 Agency purpose 3 AEC Values 3 Election timetable 4 Election delivery 5 The federal election story 7 AEC service standards 8 Achieving the AEC Service Standards 12 FINAL / 5 April 2019
Foreword
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is committed to delivering
trusted, reliable, high quality and high integrity electoral events and services.
The AEC has continued the important change journey started in The 2019 federal election will be contested on redistributed
2013, delivering a series of improvements to ensure it meets the electoral divisions in the Northern Territory (completed in February
expectations of the Australian people and the Australian Parliament 2017), Tasmania (completed in November 2017), Queensland
in delivering safe, trusted electoral events. These have resulted (completed in March 2018), and the Australian Capital Territory,
in the delivery of multiple highly successful electoral events, South Australia and Victoria (all three completed in July 2018).
and the AEC will continue to build on this framework through
enhancements for future events. The AEC is committed to continuous improvement. This service
plan outlines the key election services and standards that will
A significant body of change is still underway as we continue underpin the AEC’s delivery of the 2019 federal election.
to foster the AEC’s reputation as one of the world’s truly great
electoral administration bodies. Should you have any comments on the service plan or feel the AEC
is not delivering on these commitments, I would ask you to take the
The AEC has also further refined processes, policies and time to let us know through our online enquiry form so we can use
procedures following the passage of a number of pieces of your feedback to continue improving the delivery of election services.
legislation. These include:
• Electoral and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017; Tom Rogers
• Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Electoral Commissioner
Disclosure Reform) Act 2018;
• National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign
Interference) Act 2018; and
• Electoral Legislation Amendment (Modernisation and other
Measures) Act 2019.
These changes can all be viewed on our website.Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan 3 Overview The AEC is the independent statutory authority responsible for the conduct of federal elections. Agency purpose The purpose of the AEC is to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs. AEC Values The AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC’s focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility, and professionalism.
4 Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan
Election timetable
A number of essential steps are involved in conducting a federal election.
These steps, according to the Australian Constitution, the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act),
and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 begin with the issue of the writs (a document commanding
an electoral official to hold an election) and end with the return of the writs after the results are declared.
The federal election will be conducted according to the following timetable.
Activity Timetable
Issue of the writs Writs are issued within ten days of the dissolution of Parliament
Close of rolls Rolls close at 8pm, seven days after the issue of writ
Close of candidate bulk nominations Candidate bulk nominations close 48 hours prior to the close of candidate nominations
Close of candidate nominations Nomination close at 12 noon, between 10 and 27 days after the issue of writs
Declaration of candidate nominations Nominations are publicly declared 24 hours after nominations close
Early voting commences Early voting (pre-poll voting) is available from the fifth day following the declaration of nominations
Mobile polling commences Mobile polling commences up to 12 days before election day
Last day for receipt of postal vote applications Postal vote applications must be submitted by 6pm on the Wednesday prior to election day
Election day Election day is fixed between 23 and 31 days after the date of nominations Note
a) Public holidays may have
an effect on the election
Last day for receipt of postal votes 13 days after election day timetable
b) The election timetable will
be made available on the
Return of the writs (latest date) Writs must be returned within 100 days of their issue AEC website after the issue
of the writs.Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan 5
Election delivery
The election delivery principles underpin delivery at the next election.
Integrity of the result
Professionalism
• safe custody and handling of ballot papers
• maintaining integrity of a person’s lawful right to vote by providing a wide range of voting
services nationally and internationally for all eligible Australians
Electoral
integrity
• Ballot paper formality
Qu
ility
alit
Ag
y
• all electoral processes undertaken in compliance with the Electoral Act
• recent legislative changes, which include changes to the nominations process, implemented
according to the requirements of the Electoral Act
Good customer service and positive customer experience
• provide an improved voter experience at the election
Efficient processes and procedures
• continue to build staff capability and provide an improved experience for AEC staff in delivering
the election
• further integrate planning across all levels of the AEC
• maintain the ability to mobilise and deliver electoral events whenever they are calledFEDERAL ELECTION
1 ANNOUNCED
VOTING
6 COMMENCES
E his
le is
T
ct a
io r
ns e
ar re
e se
p
la n
rg ta
e tio
an n
d of
co t h
ELECTION
m e
p ke
2
le y
x a
COMMUNICATION
ev c
en tivi
ts tie
. s.
VOTER
3 ENROLMENT
PREPARING FOR
7 POLLING DAY
BALLOT PAPER
5 PRODUCTION
8 ELECTION DAY
NOMINATION OF
4 CANDIDATES
SEATS ARE
12 DECLARED
9 ELECTION NIGHT
COUNTING
11 SENATE VOTES
13 DAY THIRTEEN
THE WRITS
14 ARE RETURNED
COUNTING HOUSE OF
10 REPRESENTATIVES VOTES
15 ELECTION PACK-UPDelivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan 7
The federal election story
01 FEDERAL ELECTION ANNOUNCED 07 PREPARING FOR ELECTION DAY 12 SEATS ARE DECLARED
Federal election announced and the writs About 7,000 polling places will be open After polling day, polls will be progressively
are issued. on election day staffed by over 80,000 declared as candidates achieve a clear
temporary workers. majority of first preference votes.
02 ELECTION COMMUNICATION
Election information provided to all 08 ELECTION DAY 13 DAY THIRTEEN
Australians through a range of mediums Polling places are open from 8.00am to To be included in the count, ballot papers
and languages. 6.00pm local time. must be received by the 13th day after
election day.
03 VOTER ENROLMENT 09 ELECTION NIGHT
Eligible voters can enrol or update details After 6.00pm on election day, ballot papers 14 THE WRITS ARE RETURNED
before Close of Rolls. The certified list of are counted, scrutinised, packaged and Once all seats are declared and the Senate
voters is then prepared and distributed. securely transported to central counting results finalised, all writs are returned and
centres. the new parliament can be formed.
04 NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES
Close of nominations is followed 24 hours 10 COUNTING HOUSE OF 15 ELECTION PACK UP
later by random allocation of candidate REPRESENTATIVES VOTES All 50 million ballot papers (used and
order on the ballot paper. Votes are counted and verified within unused) are stored securely and all other
each division with candidate appointed material is either stored or recycled.
05 BALLOT PAPER PRODUCTION scrutineers observing.
Ballot papers are designed, printed and
delivered across Australia following the 11 COUNTING SENATE VOTES
declaration of nominations in preparation Votes are scanned, counted and verified in
for early voting. a Central Senate Scrutiny (CSS) centre in
each capital city with candidate appointed
06 VOTING COMMENCES scrutineers observing.
A range of voting services commences five
days after Declaration of Nominations.8 Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan
AEC service standards
The AEC is committed to upholding four key service standards.
1. Voters and candidates receive timely and The AEC has notified electors affected by the The AEC’s online enquiry form will be monitored in
accurate information redistribution of electoral divisions in the Northern real time and any enquiries received via this form will
Territory, Tasmania, Queensland, the Australian be answered in an efficient and accurate manner.
The AEC will support effective participation in the Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia to
federal election by ensuring information provided to advise them of the electoral division they will vote A telephone interpreter service is available in more
the voting public and candidates is timely, accurate, in at the federal election. than 16 languages, and the National Relay Service
comprehensive and easy to understand. is also available for voters (or any other person) who
For each federal election an official guide will be may need assistance contacting the AEC.
The AEC will conduct a national public information delivered to households across Australia, coinciding
and education campaign in three phases, to: with the early voting period. The guide will provide Prospective candidates will also be provided
information on where, how and when to vote, what to with a range of information and services. The
• provide eligible electors with a final reminder to do if you cannot get to a polling place on election day AEC website serves as a central information hub
enrol or change their details on the electoral roll and how to complete your ballot papers correctly. providing candidate nomination forms (including
the qualification checklist), the Nominations Guide
• ensure electors are aware of their voting options, The guide will be translated and made available and the Candidates Handbook, which provide
regardless of whether they are able to get to a on the AEC website in 29 languages and will also guidance on standing for election to the Australian
polling place on election day be available upon request to voters who are blind Parliament. The AEC will also hold face-to-face
or have low vision in a range of accessible formats briefings for candidates to raise questions and be
• ensure electors are advised how to cast a formal including Braille, large print, e-text and audio files. given assistance in accessing and understanding
vote as instructed on the ballot papers. The AEC is committed to the provision of services candidate information materials.
through a range of channels.
The campaign will utilise a range of channels
including television, radio, press, online and social Should a member of the public be looking for
media. The campaign also includes information information, wish to ask a question, provide feedback
formats for Australians with a disability, Indigenous or make a complaint, they can do so online, on the
Australians and Australians from culturally and phone or at an AEC office.
linguistically diverse backgrounds.
During the election period, the AEC’s national
13 23 26 telephone number will operate from
8am to 8pm local time.Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan 9
2. The AEC delivers a high quality service Overseas
Eligible voters who are living, working or holidaying
All voters are able to
Enrolment services overseas can vote in person at an overseas voting check their current
Australian citizens, 18 years of age or older, are centre or by post. Information on how to vote while
required by law to enrol and vote in the federal election. overseas, including a full list of overseas voting electoral enrolment online
The electoral roll will close at 8pm, seven days after
centres, is available at www.aec.gov.au/overseas.
If you are unable to vote you should complete and
at any time during the
the issue of writ. Voters are able to enrol or update submit an Overseas Notification Form. election period.
their enrolment details, or check the progress of their
enrolment application online. Enrolment applications The AEC will be providing postal voting services to
are also available at any AEC office. A full list of AEC Australian Defence Force personnel serving overseas
offices is available on the AEC website. at the time of the federal election.
All voters are able to check their current electoral Mobile polling
enrolment online at any time during the election period. AEC mobile polling teams will visit voters throughout
Australia in remote areas, hospitals, and nursing homes
Early voting services who are not able to get to a polling place. Details
Voters who are entitled to cast an early vote can do regarding the locations that mobile polling teams will
so in person or by post. A person is entitled to an be visiting will be available at www.aec.gov.au. Mobile
early vote if they meet the eligibility requirements polling will occur at selected locations around Australia
listed on the AEC website. to deliver voting services catering for homeless and
other marginalised elector groups. Mobile polling
Early voting centres will be located in each electoral will also occur in prisons in a number of States and
division and the details of these locations will be Territories.
available at www.aec.gov.au/vote-early. Alternatively,
voters who are entitled to a postal vote can apply at
www.aec.gov.au or on a paper application available
at AEC offices. Postal vote applications must be
received by the AEC before 6pm on the Wednesday
before election day.10 Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan
Supporting people with disability and mobility Antarctic voters
restrictions Voters working in Antarctica, or in transit to or from
The AEC upholds sanctity
The AEC provides assistance for people living with Antarctica on election day, are eligible to register and of the ballot paper in all its
disability to ensure they are not disadvantaged from vote as Antarctic voters.
participating in the electoral process. This includes forms and at all times.
but is not limited to: Fly-in, fly-out workers
Early voting will be available at selected airport All ballot papers remain ‘live’ from printing
Providing assistance to vote at a polling place departure terminals in Western Australia and postal through to statutorily authorised destruction.
Voters who need assistance to vote at a polling place voting services will be available to fly-in, fly-out
can ask someone to help. Polling place staff are workers across Australia.
trained to assist voters, or a voter can nominate any The security, integrity and accountability of
person (other than a candidate) to assist. This could be Voting on polling day ballot papers must be preserved at all times
a friend, relative or another person. If a voter does not On election day, approximately 7,000 polling places – including transit and storage by the AEC,
nominate someone, then the polling official in charge across Australia will be open between 8am and 6pm contractors, or other third parties.
may provide assistance. In some circumstances, if the local time.
voter cannot get out of the car at the polling place, ballot
These two maxims of ballot paper handling
papers may be brought to the voter for completion. Interstate voting must never be breached and must underpin
Voters who are outside their enrolled division, but still AEC operations, culture and standards.
Providing accessible polling places within their home state/territory, can cast an absent
Following the announcement of the election a list vote at any polling place within their home state/
of polling places will be made available on the AEC territory. Voters who are visiting interstate will be able
website. Each polling place is given an accessibility to vote at a designated interstate voting centre on
rating to assist people with disabilities or mobility election day.
restrictions.
A full list of polling places and designated interstate
Telephone voting for people who are blind voting centres will be available at www.aec.gov.au Declaration votes, which include postal votes and
or have low vision votes cast during early voting, do not get counted
Any voters who are blind or have low vision will be 3. Votes will be counted in accordance with the on election night; instead, they are counted in the
able to vote via telephone. This service is operated Electoral Act and the public and stakeholders days and weeks following the election. The counting
by the AEC and allows registered voters to cast a have confidence in the result of these votes takes longer than the counting of
secret vote from any location, without attending an ordinary votes. The AEC is required to wait 13 days
AEC office or polling place. The blind or low vision Counting the votes after election day to receive postal votes before it can
telephone voting service is available between 8:30am The count of ordinary votes cast at polling booths finalise counting. This ensures that voters in remote
and 5:30pm AEDT/AEST Monday to Friday during begins at 6pm on election day. Polling officials count areas and overseas are not disenfranchised.
the pre-poll period and 8am to 6pm AEDT/AEST on both House of Representatives and Senate ballot
election day on 1800 913 993. papers that night. After election day, ballot papers are Candidates are not permitted to observe the counting
scrutinised multiple times to ensure count processes of votes for elections in which they are standing.
Further information and resources are available on the produce a timely and accurate result and are Candidates have the right to appoint scrutineers as
AEC website. managed in a transparent manner. personal representatives to observe both the votingDelivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan 11
and the counting of votes on their behalf at every The AEC is committed to delivering processes that
polling place and scrutiny centre. Scrutineers in an uphold electoral integrity and engender voter and
election must not wear or display in a Polling Booth stakeholder trust in the result and to ensuring the
on election day any badge or emblem of a candidate security and sanctity of the ballot paper at all times.
or political party. Scrutineers must not actively seek
to interfere with or attempt to influence an elector or The AEC has in place, and will demonstrate at the
communicate with any person in the polling booth federal election, clear and established safeguards for
except so far as is necessary in the discharge of the the handling of ballot papers by AEC staff, temporary
scrutineer’s functions. A Scrutineers Handbook is election staff and contractors. This is supported by
available to support the role of scrutineers. the introduction of visual identification requirements for
AEC staff, visitors and scrutineers that provide for easy
Reporting the vote count visual identification and consistency across polling
The election results will be communicated to the places and counting centres during the election.
public in a clear and timely way. The AEC’s official
results centre, the Tally Room, enables the public, The AEC is committed to treating complaints
candidates and scrutineers to follow vote counting on seriously, promptly and in line with the AEC’s
election night and progressive results until the final complaints management policy. Complaints received
outcome is declared. during the election period will be managed according
to the principles and processes set out in the policy.
The Tally Room can be accessed on election night Complaints about possible electoral fraud will be
from 6pm and will be updated as results from managed according to the AEC’s fraud control policy
individual polling places are entered into AEC systems. and procedures. Information on how to report any
suspected fraud is available on the AEC website.
Counts conducted in polling places on election night
provide indicative results only. As counting continues
in the weeks following the election night, updates
are made to the Tally Room as re-checked results
and ‘fresh’ results from declaration votes become
available.
4. The public and stakeholders have confidence
that the electoral process is well managed
The Electoral Act prescribes how a federal election
is to be conducted. All policies, processes and
procedures implemented by the AEC during the
federal election are designed to operate within the
prescribed boundaries of the Electoral Act.12 Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan
Achieving the AEC Service Standards
The four AEC service standards as outlined above will be achieved by:
Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3
Voters and candidates receive timely and The AEC delivers high quality services Votes will be counted in accordance with the
accurate information Electoral Act and the public and stakeholders
Achieved by: have confidence in the result
Achieved by: AEC staff will be courteous and professional in all
The AEC will provide timely and accurate information their dealings with the public and candidates. Achieved by:
using appropriate technology and channels. After election night, accurate count information
Polling places will be inspected and assessed for will be progressively updated on the AEC website.
Details of voting centres (early voting centres and accessibility. Accessibility ratings will be made
polling places) will be published on the AEC website available for all polling places. Ballot papers (both used and unused) will be
a minimum of 48 hours prior to being open to the accounted for.1
public. Enrolment claims received by the close of roll
deadline will be processed in time for the election.
Information published on the AEC website about
the location and accessibility of voting centres (early Postal vote packs will be dispatched upon receipt of
voting centres and polling places) will be accurate. a valid and complete application (once ballot papers
are available), according to the following timeline:
Preliminary results will be published as soon as they
are available on election night. • Prior to the Monday before election day:
−−Paper postal vote applications – within 5 business
days of receipt.
−−Online postal vote applications – within 3 business
days of receipt.
• From the Monday before election day:
−−Paper and online – within 2 business days of
receipt.
Voting locations (including early voting centres
and polling places) will open in accordance with
advertised dates and times.
1. The AEC will follow the established process to account for ballot papers from the time they are printed, issued to an elector, placed in a ballot box (or discovered as discarded or returned as spoilt), counted and then placed in long term storage
prior to statutorily authorised destruction. For ballot papers that are not issued the AEC will follow the established process to account for them from the time they are printed until statutorily authorised destruction.Delivering the 2019 Federal Election Service Plan 13 Standard 4 For more information The public and stakeholders have confidence Visit the AEC website or contact us on 13 23 26. that the electoral process is well managed Achieved by: The writs for the federal election will be returned in accordance with the relevant legislation. The AEC’s conduct of the federal election is upheld in the event of any challenges to results taken to the Court of Disputed Returns. All instances of apparent multiple voting will be reviewed and dealt with in accordance with AEC policy and procedures and within statutory timeframes. All instances of apparent non-voting will be reviewed and dealt with in accordance with AEC policy and procedures and within statutory timeframes.
www.aec.gov.au
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