This Saturday, October 14, Australians from all over the country will head to their local voting centres to have their say in the nation’s first referendum in over 20 years.
The nationwide poll will allow people to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to enshrine an Indigenous Voice in the Australian Parliament. The Voice is said to increase recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
If you haven’t already early voted, The Greek Herald has everything you need to know about the referendum ahead of tomorrow:
When do you need to vote?
By Saturday, 14 October 2023.
Where can I go and vote?
Between 6 am and 8 pm on Saturday, more than 7000 polling booths will be open around the country. You can find them at schools, local churches, community centres and town halls. To locate your local polling booth, visit the Australian Electoral Commission website.
How do I vote?
You will be asked to write a ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ on the ballot paper to the proposed question:
“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this change?”.
What happens if I don’t vote?
As voting is mandatory in Australia, anyone over 18 years old who does not vote will receive a $20 fine.
When will we know the final results?
The counting of votes will commence on Saturday evening. The Australian Electoral Commission will then begin releasing the results of the poll.
Although the results may not be confirmed on the day, the number of votes will constantly be updated to give an indication of the result.
Source: The Daily Telegraph and Australian Electoral Commission.
