With the upcoming Federal Election scheduled for Saturday 21 May, some of our patients may have questions about how they can vote.
While you are not expected to assist patients in exercising their right to vote, we can keep our patients informed about voting arrangements and the options available to them.
This year, and due to ongoing COVID-19 challenges, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is unable to provide face-to-face mobile polling services at health services across Victoria.
In preparation for the election, the AEC has voting arrangements in place for our patients who find themselves in our care and unable to attend a polling place on election day.
If our patients are unable to attend a polling place on election day, they have four voting options available to them.
1. Apply for a one-off postal vote
Patients are eligible to apply for a one-off postal vote if they are unable to attend a polling place on election day, with applications to apply closing Wednesday 18 May.
Patients are encouraged to apply as soon as they are aware they are eligible through the AEC website.
2. Register to become a General Postal Voter
If a patient meets the eligibility criteria, they can register to become a General Postal Voter, with applications to register closing Wednesday 18 May.
If a patient is eligible, they will receive a postal vote for the upcoming election and will receive postal votes for all elections moving forward. Our patients can register on the AEC website.
3. Visit an early voting centre
Patients are eligible to visit an early voting centre, if they are aware they will be in our care and unable to visit a polling place on election day. Our patients can find their closest early voting centre on the AEC website.
4. Visit a polling place on election day
If patients feel strongly about their right to vote on the day, are deemed safe to leave the hospital by their treating team, they may do so if they wear a surgical mask for the entire time and only travel to and from the closet polling booth. Our patients can find their closest polling place on the AEC website.
Further enquiries
For more information on voting options, our patients can visit the AEC website or contact the AEC Contact Centre for general enquiries.
AEC Resources
For a step-by-step guide to assist patients to apply for a postal vote, download and share the ‘Need a Postal Vote?’ poster.
For our residential aged care sites, download and display the ‘Mobile voting in residential aged care facilities will not be able to occur’ poster to inform our residents of their voting options this Federal Election.
Approved by Martin Keogh.