Federal Election 2022: People with disability - exercising your right to vote

Voting is one of the most important responsibilities we have - it’s a way we can voice our opinion about what is important to you and choose who represents you in the federal parliament.

The policies and decisions of our politicians have an impact on every aspect of our lives – from services like the NDIS or income payments such as the Disability Support Pension (DSP).

For this reason, we encourage every person with a disability to exercise their right to vote, after all 1 in 5 Australians have a disability.

We know not everyone is interested in voting, but if you are interested in voting, we are keen to ensure you are supported to vote in the upcoming Federal Election on Saturday 21 May 2022.

How to participate in the Federal Election

Information about voting can be long, complex and hard to understand. We’ve put together some tips on how you can prepare to participate in the upcoming Federal Election.

Register to vote

It’s a good idea to check now to see if you are on the electoral roll. If you aren’t, you may need some support to register to vote. For a guide, check out the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) easy-to-read-guide on ‘How to enrol to vote’.

*Please note registrations to vote for the 2022 election have closed.

Voting in person

There are multiple ways you can vote. Many people opt to vote in person on election day. If you haven’t done this before, you may need an explanation on what to expect when voting and where you can vote in your community. Going over the voting process well in advance is very important because there is a lot to know and understand. For example:

• Where and when to vote. Each polling place has an accessibility rating to assist you to find one that suits your needs.
• How to get to the polling place, and the necessary transport arrangements (it is a good idea to go to your chosen polling place when it is less busy)
• Who to ask for help:
  1. if assistance is needed to fill out a ballot
  2. if a mistake is made on the ballot paper
• What to take – a form of identification, water, glasses, election materials – maybe a sample ballot to copy
• Who you may wish to vote for. The Australian Electoral Commission has a wealth of information about the election, and has a list of all registered political parties in Australia. This might be a good place to start for general information about voting in the upcoming election. Alternatively, you can try out the Vote Compass, which shows you how your views align with those of the candidates running for election.

Check out the AEC easy-to-read guide on ‘How to vote at a polling place’.

Voting by mail

If you are unable to vote in person, or choose not to, you can choose to send your vote in by mail. To do this, you will need to submit a request to apply for a postal vote, to fill out and mail the ballot. The final date to submit your application for a postal vote in the upcoming election is 18 May 2022. Check out the AEC easy-to-read guide on ‘How to vote by mail’.

More important resources that provide helpful information about the voting process for people with disability or mobility restrictions can be found here at www.aec.gov.au/assistance/

Your vote counts

While voting alone won’t instantly solve your problems, it is vitally important you understand your right to vote and that your vote matters, no matter your ability.

Please pass this information along if you know someone who could benefit from it.