Aussies in Phuket called to submit postal votes for May 21 election

The consulate has posted a notice on its official website explaining the requirements and conditions for submitting a postal vote.

“The next federal election will be held on 21 May 2022.  If you are still in Australia, you can pre-poll vote from 9 May 2022.

“The AEC recommends overseas voters cast a postal vote in this election. If you plan to be overseas at the time of the election, make sure you check your enrollment and request a postal vote as soon as possible on the AEC website,” the notice said.

Australians in Thailand are encouraged to vote via postal vote, which can either be posted to the AEC directly, or mailed or dropped off to the Consulate-General.

Australians can send their postal vote addressed to:
Australian Consulate-General – Federal Election 2022
6th Floor CCM Complex
77/77 Chalermprakiat Rama 9 Road (Bypass Road)
Muang Phuket 83000 

To drop off your postal vote, please drop it off at the Consulate-General during the following hours:

Monday – Friday 08:30-16:00, excluding Consulate-General public holidays.

 

The notice reminded visitors that photo ID is required to enter the Consulate-General and that all visitors are subject to security screening.

Postal votes must be returned as quickly as possible to ensure they are received by the AEC in time to be counted.

Australians wanting to register to cast their vote in the election must do so before 8pm next Monday (Apr 18), one week after the election has been called.

The Australian Electoral Commission will start sending postal votes immediately after the declaration of nominations. Postal votes are expected to be sent from April 26, the notice explained.

Requests for postal votes will close on May 18. The Australian Electoral Commission recommends people apply for a postal vote as soon as possible to ensure there is enough time for it to be posted to them and returned to the Australian Electoral Commission by June 3, 2022.

“When you go overseas you must meet requirements in order to remain on the electoral roll, and in some cases, to avoid a fine. Voting is mandatory for Australians. However, being overseas is a valid reason for not voting,” the notice said.

Up to date information on elections and eligibility, and copies of relevant forms (e.g. applications for postal votes, application to be registered as an overseas elector) are available from individual electoral commission websites.

“We are unable to advise you or comment on the eligibility of individual voters. Eligibility is a matter for the relevant electoral commission,” the notice explained.

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For further information, visit the following:

Electoral Commissions in Australia

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

See also: Australian Electoral Commission

Strictly speaking, voting is not compulsory in Australia. What is compulsory is turning up at a voting booth and getting your name crossed off a list. Or, just pay the fine and not be accountable for the trash that gets elected!

Yes, voting is compulsory IN Australia. Any aussies who will be outside the country for an extended period (ie. retirees) can ask to be taken off the voters roll while they are away.

Is voting compulsary for Australians? In Europe, in some countries it is compulsory, while next door, in other european countries it is not. There you are just invited to vote only. Up to you.

IIRC isn't voting compulsory under the laws of Horse-troylia? Don't vote and you end up with what you didn't want anyway. The only way to change is free and fair elections (maybe other countries could learn from this nudge-nudge!).

I recommend mouthy morons (pooliekev) should go home forever and never return.

Better not to vote at all when you consider that a politician ends up being elected!

I recommend all Aussies should go home to vote.