Council elections (local government)
Voting in council elections is conducted by post. All election materials, including your ballot papers, are mailed directly to the postal address you provided on the electoral roll.
- Find out more about the 2023 supplementary council elections
State elections
If you are unable to attend an early voting centre or a polling booth on polling day, you may be eligible to apply for a postal vote. Strict eligibility criteria apply.
View postal voting eligibility criteria
You are eligible to vote at an early voting centre if, on polling day, you:
- are more than 8 km from a polling booth
- are travelling
- are ill, infirm or disabled – preventing you from attending a polling booth
- are due to give birth shortly
- are caring for someone who is ill, infirm or disabled - preventing you from attending a polling booth
- have religious beliefs - preventing you from attending a polling booth
- are working and unable to leave your workplace to vote
- are a resident of a declared institution being a hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, home for the aged, hostel for the aged or infirm, prison or other places of confinement
- have your address suppressed on the electoral roll (a silent elector)
- are subject to a direction under the Emergency Management Act 2004 requiring you to quarantine or isolate during the hours of polling.
Application forms are available at Australia Post outlets, by calling ECSA on 1300 655 232 or by downloading one from the website during an election. The deadline for receipt of applications is on the Thursday preceding polling day. Postal voters must complete their ballot papers before 6:00 pm on polling day and have up to 7 days to return their envelope to the electoral commission.