Ahead of the 2023 referendum on Saturday, October 14, The News has put together some information for voters.
Campaign material rules
Voters are encouraged not to wear campaign pins, shirts, or hats with slogans when entering polling places.
While wearing such items without promoting them may not be considered campaigning, any discussions or gestures regarding these items inside could potentially be construed as such.
The AEC suggests avoiding potential issues by not wearing campaign material or covering it up with another piece of clothing.
Voting centres and times
Over 7000 voting centres will be operational across Australia from 8am to 6pm.
Here are the locations you can vote around the Greater Shepparton area:
Gowrie Street Primary School (1-19 Gowrie St, Shepparton)
St Brendan’s Primary School (143-149 Knight St, Shepparton)
Bourchier Street Primary School (1-19 Bourchier St, Shepparton)
Wanganui Visy Centre (1-19 Parkside Dr, Shepparton)
St George’s Road Primary School (120 St Georges Rd, Shepparton)
Guthrie Street Primary School (33-69 Guthrie St, Shepparton)
Wilmot Road Primary School (84-90 Wilmot Rd, Shepparton)
Mooroopna Primary School (16-18 Obrien St, Mooroopna)
G T Coulson Community Activity Centre (Echuca Rd, Mooroopna)
Orrvale Primary School (300 Channel Rd, Orrvale)
Ardmona Primary School (580 Turnbull Rd, Ardmona)
Shepparton East Primary School (15 School Rd, Shepparton East)
Sirius College (685 New Dookie Rd, Lemnos)
Congupna Primary School (3580 Katamatite-Shepparton Main Rd, Congupna)
Kialla Central Primary School (128 Central Kialla Rd, Kialla)
Kialla West Primary School (7370 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Kialla West)
Toolamba Primary School (69-71 Wren St, Toolamba)
Victory Hall Tatura (77-83 Hogan St, Tatura)
Bunbartha Community Centre (Shepparton Barmah Rd, Bunbartha)
Undera Primary School (45-55 Anderson St, Undera)
Byrneside Public Hall (5390 Midland Hwy, Byrneside)
Katandra West Primary School (17-27 Bankin St, Katandra West)
Dhurringile Primary School (605 Langham Rd, Dhurringile)
Merrigum Primary School (14 Judd Ave, Merrigum)
Wunghnu Primary School (12 Brunton St, Wunghnu)
Dookie Primary School (21-43 Dookie St, Dookie)
Invergordon Sports & Community Centre (Batey Dr, Invergordon)
Numurkah Town Hall (Knox St, Numurkah)
Murchison Community Centre (14 Watson St, Murchison)
Stanhope Community Hall (Godley Pl, Stanhope)
Girgarre Primary School (524 Winter Rd, Girgarre)
Nathalia Sports & Community Centre (32-42 Robertson St, Nathalia)
Rushworth P-12 College (45 Heily St, Rushworth)
Katamatite Primary School (4-6 Currajong Ave, Katamatite)
Katunga Primary School (24 Carter St, Katunga)
For more locations visit https://tinyurl.com/3jwsf57h
Early voting trends
As of Wednesday’s closure:
Around 4 million people had voted at an early voting centre, slightly up from the 3.9 million during the 2022 federal election’s comparable period.
About 2 million individuals had requested a postal vote, a drop from the 2.7 million during the 2022 federal election. Postal vote applications are now closed.
About 125,000 had voted through an AEC mobile polling team, with 23,000 from remote communities. Other mobile polling venues include aged care facilities, mental health facilities, and prisons.
Postal votes
Those who’ve received their postal votes are advised to complete and send them back to the AEC at the earliest.
Votes need to be finished by 6pm local time on Saturday. The AEC will be accepting postal votes up until close of business on Friday, October 27.
Voting instructions
Voters will be handed one ballot paper with a simple instruction: to write Yes or No in the designated box, clearly and in English.
Count and results
All votes cast on the day, along with the majority of pre-poll votes, will be counted that night. However, the number of postal votes counted depends on how many have been received by the AEC by that time.
Some pre-poll counts may not be available until later in the night. Time differences will also impact the reporting.
Whether a clear indication of the result will be available on the night will be contingent on the closeness of the margin.
The AEC clarifies that it never officially declares the outcome of a referendum or federal election on the night.
Votes have to be counted multiple times, with some taking longer to arrive at local counting centres. For the referendum to pass, a ‘double majority’ — a national majority and a majority in at least four of the six states — is required.
Voters are encouraged to stay updated through the AEC’s Tally Room, available on their website on referendum night.
For more information visit the AEC’s website www.aec.gov.au/