Australian federal election 2010
The next Australian federal election will be held on Saturday 21 August 2010.
The Australian High Commission (High Commission), Abuja, recommends all Australians resident in Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Niger, the Republic of Congo and The Gambia consult the website of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), at http://www.aec.gov.au
The High Commission also recommends you read the travel bulletin issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to the election, which can be accessed at the following site:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Federal_Election_2010
How you can vote:
There are two ways to vote if you will be in Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Niger, the Republic of Congo and The Gambia at the time of the election.
(1) Lodging a postal vote application
You can lodge a postal vote application. This can be downloaded from the AEC website above. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact the High Commission, which can arrange for a hardcopy to be sent to you. Please note, however, that this may take some time, so the AEC recommends you access the form on the Internet.
Make sure you fill out all the fields properly and abide by the requirements of the form, or your application may be invalid. Then please send the completed form by email to the High Commission, at [email protected], or or via mail to the following address:
Australian High Commission
Fifth Floor
Oakland Centre
48 Aguiyi Ironsi Street
Maitama, Abuja
Nigeria.
Upon receipt of a valid postal vote application, the High Commission will post you the voting material.
You should lodge your application early to ensure that voting materials can be sent to you and then returned to you in time.
The High Commission will accept these applications until 11am Nigerian time on Thursday 19 August.
(2) Pre-poll voting
The second way to vote is in person. You can vote at the High Commission at the above address between 8am and 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 8am and 1pm on Friday, between Monday 9 August and Friday 20 August 2010. For security reasons, please bring with you some form of identification.
Owing to the time difference between Australia and Nigeria, there will be NO voting at the High Commission on Saturday 21 August 2010.
Other important things to note:
You will need to know at which Australian address you are currently enrolled so that you can be issued with the correct ballot papers for your electorate. You can check this on the AEC website above.
Enrolment and voting by Australians who are overseas at the time of the election is not compulsory. If you are not in Australia on Saturday 21 August you will not be fined if you do not vote. However, you should complete the overseas identification form available on the AEC website above.
Further questions:
If you have any further questions on enrolment or eligibility, please call the AEC, on +61 2 6271 4411 or email it at [email protected].
Alternatively, regarding any questions about voting procedures please contact the High Commission at [email protected].
Please note that while every care has been taken in preparing this information, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.