Everything you need to know about voting and enrolment while you live abroad is explained in the Southern Cross Group's info sheet "What you need to know about voting in Australia while you live overseas", accessible at:http://www.southern-cross-group.org/
Join in the new blog discussion about Aussie expat voting on the GetUp! website and share your views and experiences:http://www.getup.org.au/blog_details.asp?blog_post_id=132
GetUp! is campaiging in Australia to alert people to the fact that the electoral rolls will close virtually immediately the next federal election is called due to new legislation enacted last year. Since most people only think about getting their enrolment in order once an election is called, this change may well operate to disenfranchise you or people you know. So get your enrolment organised with the AEC now. A federal election is expected towards the end of this year. It will be too late once the election is called.
To check out the GetUp! campaign:http://www.getup.org.au
When signing the GetUp! online petition overseas Australians should give their Australian home state or territory.
STOP PRESS Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) enrolment forms and procedures will change on Monday 16 April 2007. From that date, new proof of identity requirements will be in place. Overseas applicants for enrolment will have to provide their Australian passport number or Australian driver's licence number on the enrolment form. Most expats should have current passports and have no problem with this change. But if you don't have a passport or licence, other proof of identity will be required plus the form will need to be witnessed by an "authorised person". If you can't manage that, then two people already enrolled, who've known you for a month or more, will have to confirm your identity.
If you want to enrol from outside Australia using the current form (which requires a declaration by a witness who is eligible to enrol for Australian federal elections) then it must reach the AEC by midnight Australian time on Sunday 15 April 2007: http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/what/enrolment/forms/ER016OSw_0207.pdf
You can fax it, or scan and e-mail your signed form to info@aec.gov.au
If you can't be sure that your completed overseas enrolment form will get there by Sunday 15 April, then wait until 16 April and download the new form on or after that date from www.aec.gov.au.
If you are already on the electoral roll, and you just want to change your status to that of an Eligible Overseas Elector, then use this form: http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/what/enrolment/forms/ER022Ew_0307_f.pdf
To check whether you are currently enrolled, use the AEC Online Enrolment Verification Facility: https://oevf.aec.gov.au/
Have you discovered that you are disenfranchised? Any other comments or questions? Contact the SCG on info@southern-cross-group.org http://www.southern-cross-group.org/
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