Voting

We deserve to vote as ourselves. The Australian Electoral Commission outlines clear detailed instructions and easy to access forms to update your enrolment details or enrol to vote for the first time. For all eligible Australian citizens, it’s compulsory by law to vote and to avoid any fines.  

Voting is not just an obligation, it’s an essential right and a privilege.

Exercising your right to vote is a chance to have your say, and as trans people, what we have to say really matters, particularly those who have so often been silenced including Sistergirls, Brotherboys, trans mob, trans people of colour and trans people with disability.

It’s understandable to feel like our individual voices may not create direct change on their own. However, remember that there is also strength in numbers, and the impact of our collective voice is substantial in elections, policy reform and constitutional amendments, that doesn’t mean we need to agree on everything though.

In the lead up to local, state and federal elections all political parties will typically release what's important to them and their election priorities. 
 
Many LGBTQ+, trans and allied organisations collaborate and engage in state and federal elections by contacting political parties and candidates with questionnaires related to our communities.  
 
It's helpful to spend some time reviewing this information to help you decide who you want to vote for. Lots of information is also released during other democratic processes like referendums, plebiscites etc. Making sure you're accessing trusted and legitimate sources is important. Just like trans people, many communities and issues are targeted through misinformation.  

ACON’s Policy and Research work outlines NSW based election information. 
You can find federal based election information through LGBTIQ+ Health Australia. 

Eligibility  
To enrol or update your details, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen, or eligible British subject 

• Aged 18 years and over, and 

• Have lived at your address for at least one month

When should I enrol or update my details?  

• If you are 16 or 17 – in preparation to vote when you turn 18.  

• If you have changed your name or gender marker*  

• If you have changed your address 

• If you are living or planning to go overseas 

* You can update your enrolment to reflect your chosen name and gender marker even if these have not been updated on other documents or legally changed. Within the enrolment form application, select the option to update your name. Here you provide your name as you want to be referred to on the roll, as well as the details of your previous/legal name and gender marker. 

Providing these details is so you can be matched with your current electoral enrolment. Your previous/legal name will need confirmation, either through a legal document such as a driver’s licence, or you can also ask someone you know who is enrolled to confirm your identity.

This will ensure that when you arrive to vote on the day the electoral officers will use your chosen name on the list.

What you need  
You will need to supply one of the following: 

• Your driver's licence, or 

• Australian passport number, or 

• Medicare card number, or 

• Australian citizenship number, or 

• Have someone who is enrolled to confirm your identity – if your ID is out of date or has expired this may be a suitable option.  

18+ or Proof of Age cards are not accepted. 

How to enrol or update electoral details 
You only need to complete one enrolment form for federal, state and local government elections.  

To enrol or update your electoral details, you can submit an enrolment form through AEC, select enrol to vote, choose your selection and follow the prompts. 

If you changed your details online, you can check the status of your enrolment.

Other ways to enrol or update electoral details

• Complete and print a PDF enrolment form, then return form to the AEC 

• You can also pick up a form from an AEC office, and return form to the AEC 

We know there are lots of barriers to voting in Australia, including legal barriers to those in long-term incarceration; and for people experiencing homelessness, people with a disability, people with a mental illness, and young people. These disproportionately affect trans people, and particularly Sistergirls, Brotherboys and trans mob.  
 
The AEC provide special enrolment options if you have specific circumstances that might affect your enrolment or ability to vote. 
 
Silent elector 
You may be able eligible to enrol as a silent elector, if you believe that having your address included may pose a risk to the safety and wellbeing of you or your family. 

People with no fixed address  
You may be eligible to enrol as an itinerant voter if you meet the eligibility of enrolment for people with no fixed address.  

People who are incarcerated  
Once enrolled it is compulsory for all eligible people to vote in a federal election, including some who are incarcerated. The eligibility and requirements vary across the continent.  

However, you can only vote in federal elections if you are serving a full-time prison sentence of less than three years.  
Voting when incarcerated can be done online or through a paper enrolment.  

Assistance with enrolment and voting   
For people living with a disability, you can access support with enrolment and voting. The AEC provides tailored assistance and provides information in accessible formats. You can view the full list of special enrolment options outlined by the Australian Electoral Commission.