The Australian Electoral Commission's role at a referendum is to provide voting services to the electors of Australia to enable them to have their say on the proposed law(s) to alter the Constitution.

Procedures for voting at a referendum are substantially similar to those which operate at federal elections except that electors vote by writing either Yes or No opposite each question on the ballot paper. Voting is compulsory for eligible electors.

At the 1999 referendum the AEC provided the following services:

Public Information

The AEC is conducting a public information campaign to increase public understanding of, and participation in, the referendum process. The major messages are:

• how, when and where to enrol and vote
• assistance and services available to electors
• how to correctly complete the referendum ballot paper.

The AEC will use a number of strategies to communicate to electors including advertising, public relations, publications, national telephone enquiry service and Internet.

A number of specific activities will also be directed at key target groups of electors from non-English speaking backgrounds, electors with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander electors and young electors.

The AEC is also responsible for printing and distributing to every elector the Yes/No case arguments prepared by the Parliamentarians who voted for and against the proposed changes. This pamphlet is expected to be distributed to electors throughout Australia between 5 and 22 October 1999.

ENROLMENT & VOTING SERVICES INCLUDE:

• printing ballot papers
• setting up and staffing polling booths (approx. 8,000 booths and 60,000 polling staff)
• postal voting
• pre-poll voting
• overseas voting (at Australian embassies and High Commissions)
• Antarctic voting
• counting votes
• releasing results

Please note: The AEC is an independent statutory authority and is responsible for the machinery of the referendum only. It has no involvement with the campaigns for or against the proposed changes to the Constitution, nor has it any involvement with the Government-run neutral referendum information campaign.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information about enrolment and voting can be obtained by phoning 13 23 26 or visiting the AEC's website at www.aec.gov.au.

Information about the Government run public information activities (including the 'Yes' and the 'No' campaigns) can be obtained from the Referendum Task Force by phoning 02 6271 5564 or www.dpmc.gov.au/referendum.