This information is provided on behalf of the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). You can listen to an audio version of this notice here.
Why is this information being provided?
The purpose of this information is to ensure that all Victorian voters who are blind or have low vision are provided with accessible information for the upcoming State election on Saturday 26th November 2022.
Enrolling
You must enrol to vote if you:
- are an Australian citizen and
- are 18 or older and
- have lived in Victoria for longer than a month.
You have until 8 pm on Tuesday 8 November to enrol.
You can enrol online at vec.vic.gov.au or use a paper form, which you can get by downloading an enrolment form from our website or by calling us on 131 832.
Check or update your details
If you have moved house or changed your name recently, you must update your details.
You have until 8 pm on Tuesday 8 November to update your details.
You can check or update your enrolment at vec.vic.gov.au or by calling us on 131 832.
All new enrolments and enrolment updates must be received by the close of roll at 8 pm on Tuesday 8 November.
How to vote
There are several safe and convenient ways to vote. You can choose how and when you would like to vote.
Voting early
Anyone can vote early at this election, you don’t need to have a special reason or fill in an extra form.
Early voting centres will be open between Monday 14 November and Friday 25 November from 8:30 am – 6 pm. There are different opening hours on these days:
- Monday 14 November: 9 am – 6 pm
- Tuesday 15 November: 8:30 am – 8 pm
- Thursday 17 November: 8:30 am – 8 pm
- Saturday 19 November: 9 am – 5 pm
- Sunday 20 November: Closed
- Thursday 24 November: 8:30 am – 8 pm
Voting on election day
Election day voting centres will open on Saturday 26 November between 8 am and 6 pm.
Find your closest voting centre on vec.vic.gov.au from Wednesday 2 November.
Can someone help me at a voting centre?
Yes. You can ask a family member, carer/support person, or friend to assist you to complete your ballot papers. If you require assistance and don’t have anyone with you, you can ask one of our election staff to help you. Anyone assisting you to vote must follow your voting directions.
Magnifying sheets
Magnifying sheets are available in every voting centre. Please ask election staff if you would like to use one.
Voting by post
You can apply to vote by post.
Regular postal voting
If you want to vote by post for this election only, we will send your ballot papers to you and you can post them back to us.
You can apply online at vec.vic.gov.au, or you can get a paper application form at any Australia Post office or election office.
You can apply between Wednesday 2 November and 6 pm on Wednesday 23 November.
General postal voting
If you would like to have your ballot papers automatically mailed to you for all future elections, you can complete a General Postal Voter application. Only some categories of people can apply to be a General Postal Voter. To find out if you’re eligible, and to find the application form, go to vec.vic.gov.au, or call 131 832. If you would like this to apply from this election onwards, you need to complete this application prior to the close of roll at 8 pm on Tuesday 8 November.
If you apply to vote by post or as a general postal voter, or you are already registered as a general postal voter, you will receive your ballot papers after Monday 14 November.
Please post your completed ballot papers back to us before 6 pm on Saturday 26 November.
Voting by braille
You can register to have braille ballot material sent to you. Registration for braille ballot papers can be made by calling us on (03) 8620 1222, before registrations close at 5 pm on Monday 31 October. If you’ve already registered for a braille ballot pack and your details haven’t changed, you don’t need to register again. We’ll post braille ballot packs out from Thursday 17 November onwards.
Voting by telephone
If you are blind or have low vision and are unable to vote without assistance, you can register to vote by telephone.
You can call 13 57 23 to both register and vote from Monday 14 November. This service involves making two calls. In the first call, you will be registered, marked off the electoral roll and provided with a unique code. You will use this code in the second call to cast your vote, meaning your ballot will be secret.
Away from Victoria?
It is not compulsory to vote if you are away from Victoria during the election. However, if you would like to vote, you will be able to:
- vote at an interstate electoral commission office
- apply to vote by post and post your completed ballot papers back to us
- apply to vote by post and drop off your completed ballot papers at participating overseas embassies during business hours, so that they may be returned quickly by diplomatic pouch.
Locations and opening hours for interstate voting centres, as well as overseas postal vote drop-off points will be available on vec.vic.gov.au from Wednesday 2 November.
Please note that there is no voting on election day, Saturday 26 November, at interstate electoral commissions.
Let us know you will be away
If you will be away from Victoria between Monday 14 November and Saturday 26 November, and you cannot vote early or by post, you can let us know by calling us on 131 832.
Who are the candidates?
You can look up the candidates for your area from Wednesday 2 November on our website, vec.vic.gov.au or call 131 832 to ask us to provide this information over the phone.
Becoming a candidate
Nominations to become a candidate open on Wednesday 2 November and close at 12 noon on Thursday 10 November for political party candidates, and at 12 noon on Friday 11 November for independent candidates. Go to our website at vec.vic.gov.au to find out how to nominate.
What happens if you don’t vote?
If you are on the roll and you do not vote, you will get a letter from us next year. This is not a fine, but it’s important that you respond to us. Please call us on 131 832 to advise why you couldn’t vote.
If you don’t respond or don’t have a good reason for not voting, you may have to pay a $92 fine.
More information
If you have a question about the 2022 State election, call us on 131 832 or visit our website at vec.vic.gov.au
Please note: This communication has been distributed by Vision Australia and Blind Citizens Australia on behalf of the Victorian Electoral Commission. If the person to whom this communication has been sent is deceased, please contact the respective organization so that they may be removed from the mailing list.