Australian Federal Election 2010
Australians residing and travelling in China are advised that the Prime Minister has called a federal election for Saturday, 21 August 2010.
Voting is compulsory in federal elections for Australian citizens resident in Australia. However, if you are outside Australia on Election Day, you will not be fined if you do not vote. However you should notify the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) that you are not in Australia. For further information, please refer to www.aec.gov.au.
Enrolment
Australians resident overseas are advised to confirm their enrolment with the AEC in order to be able to vote. Please refer to the AEC website www.aec.gov.au for enrolment verification. You may also direct your enrolment enquiries to [email protected] or call +61 2 6271 4411.
Note that if you are enrolled to vote and wish to change your details, you need to download a change of address form from www.aec.gov.au and fax it to the relevant AEC office in Australia by 8pm on Thursday 22 July 2010.
Voting
The Australian Embassy in Beijing and the Australian Consulates-General in Shanghai and Guangzhou will offer voting services for Australian citizens. You should contact your nearest Australian mission for assistance in voting by mail or in person.
1) Voting in person at the Australian Embassy in Beijing
Pre-poll voting services in Beijing will commence on Monday, 9 August 2010. Office hours will be Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm. The Australian Embassy in Beijing will also be open for voting on Election Day, Saturday, 21 August 2010, from 9:00am until 5:00pm. Given the large volume of voters expected on Election Day, Australians are strongly encouraged to vote prior to Election Day.
Address:
Australian Embassy,
21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Sanlitun,
Beijing, 100600, tel (010) 5140 4111.
Due to security requirements, Australian citizens must bring their Australian passport or other photo ID to enter the Embassy;
2) Applying for a postal vote
Australian citizens unable to visit an Australian mission in China in person may cast a postal vote. You must apply for a postal vote in order to have ballot papers sent to you.
To apply for a Postal Vote either:
• Download the Postal Vote application on the Australian Electoral Commission's website at http://www.aec.gov.au/election/pva.htm
or
• Contact the Australian Embassy or nearest Consulate-General and request an application form to be sent to you via post.
You will need to complete the Postal Voting Application form, including having it signed and witnessed. Guidance on completing the postal voting application form, including witnessing, is attached here.
Your postal address should be written on the form in both English and Chinese in order for ballot material to be correctly sent to you through the local postal service. The form should then be mailed or faxed to your nearest Australian mission. The fax numbers are provided below:
Australian Embassy Beijing: (010) 5140 4292.
Consulate-General Shanghai: (021) 2215 5252
Consulate-General Guangzhou: (020) 3814 0112
After returning the completed postal vote application form to the Australian Embassy or nearest Australian Consulate-General, you will be mailed ballot papers to enable you to cast your vote.
In order to be accepted your Postal Vote Application must reach the Australian Embassy or your nearest Australian Consulate-General by Thursday 19 August 2010. However as postal services in China can be slow, you should apply for a postal vote as soon as possible. To ensure your vote is counted the Embassy recommends you allow at least one week for ballot papers to be mailed to you and for you to return them by mail. Only postal votes received by the Embassy on or before Election Day, or postmarked before Election Day, will be counted.
Should you have any questions regarding the federal election, please visit the Australian Electoral Commission website at www.aec.gov.au.
Enquiries to the Australian Embassy in Beijing should be directed by telephone to (010) 5140 4111 or by e-mail to [email protected]
Further information on the voting hours and arrangements at the Consulates-General in Shanghai and Guangzhou are available here:
Shanghai: www.shanghai.china.embassy.gov.au/shai/home.html
Guangzhou: www.guangzhou.china.embassy.gov.au/gzho/home.html