Voting remotely

August 5, 2008 10:45 PM

We've recently moved from one Australian state (NT) to another Australian state (Tasmania), and have neglected to update our voting registration details. Aware that an election is about to take place in the NT, I started looking into changing my voter registration, only to discover that the election is happening this Saturday, and it's probably too late for the change to take effect! Am I likely to get into trouble for going to the electoral office in Hobart to vote in the NT election, given that while I remain on the electoral roll in the NT, my actual residence is now in Tasmania? Or should I just send in the voter registration change-of-address forms as quickly as possible and hope for the best?
posted by Jimbob to Law & Government (11 answers total)

You won't get into any trouble. You need to do a postal vote. You don't have much time, so I wold call your local electoral office right now and ask them for their advice. Just tell them the details you are enrolled under, you don't have to explain your situation, just that you need to do a postal vote for this weekends election. I always vote as soon as they open pre-polling and no one ever asks about why I'm voting early or doing a postal vote.
Just get the postal vote sorted out NOW, you can then update your enrollment whenever it's convenient for you.

Most of your questions should be answered on the Australian Electoral Commission web site.

Here is a FAQ question more specific to your situation.
posted by goshling at 11:02 PM on August 5, 2008

Best answer: Jimbob, you're too late for the NT close of rolls.
You won't get in trouble for voting at your old address, though of course you should update your details as soon as possible. It's quite common for people on polling day to realise they're only enrolled at a previous address---as long as you only vote once you'll be fine.
If you want to vote in the NT election in Hobart, it's pre-poll this Friday:
TAS Electoral Commission
Level 2 Telstra Centre
70 Collins St
HOBART
Ph: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Hours: Mon 4 Aug -Thurs 8 Aug
9am – 5pm
Friday 8 August 9am – 6pm
Either they or the NTEO will definitely be able to answer any other questions.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 11:03 PM on August 5, 2008

goshling, according to the NTEO jimbob has missed the deadline for postal voting. He would have had to apply by 2pm this Tuesday.
Sorry jimbob.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 11:05 PM on August 5, 2008

Best answer: I don't think you'll get in trouble by trying to do the right thing but I think you probably don't even need to go down there. I'm not 100% sure but I think what you'll need to do is arrange for a postal vote by filling out these forms at the NT's electoral commision website.

As I said though, I'm not 100% sure so give the office of the MP or local candidate your planning on voting for in the NT a call. They'll be more than happy to clarify these details for you. I gaurantee you that the candidates staff will be all over this question and will help you out in a few seconds flat.
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:07 PM on August 5, 2008

Hell. I'm all over the place today.
To be clearer, jimbob, what you want is a "pre-poll" vote, involving you turning up to the Tasmanian Electoral Office and put your vote with a ballot box, not a "postal" vote, where you apply, receive a ballot, then post it back to Darwin.
Pre-poll is on this Friday.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 11:08 PM on August 5, 2008

Response by poster: Yeah, Fiasco's plan was the one I was planning on going with; I was just a bit concerned I might get asked questions along the lines of "How long are you staying in Tasmania before you return to Darwin?" but further reading of the NTEC's site indicates they aren't that nosy.
posted by Jimbob at 11:08 PM on August 5, 2008

Response by poster: NTEO, even.
posted by Jimbob at 11:08 PM on August 5, 2008

Also, for any other readers, Effigy2000's 2nd paragraph is also very good advice. In any given election, if you work out who you want to vote for, their campaign staff will bend heaven and earth (but not the law) to make sure your vote gets counted.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 11:10 PM on August 5, 2008

Jimbob, no, I've never heard of them to be nosy at all, ever. They don't care why you're doing a postal/pre/absentee/whatever vote, they just want to cross your name off the list and give you your bits of paper. Since you'll be there, you might as well kill two birds and fill out the change of enrollment forms and get that over and done with before you get called up for jury duty.
posted by goshling at 11:25 PM on August 5, 2008

Best answer: Jimbob, I've heard that absentee voting using your old address is only permitted if you vote for the Greens.

Vote for anybody else & you might risk prosecution.

IANAL, IANYL, etc etc.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:09 AM on August 6, 2008 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Alas, the Greens aren't even running in "my seat", so I've got a choice between a dirty old bastard who sexually harassed a woman while pissed at the cricket, and the Liberal candidate. So I guess I'll have to vote Labor again :(
posted by Jimbob at 2:15 AM on August 6, 2008 [2 favorites]