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Australian Federal Election 2010
Australians resident in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei and Jiangxi provinces are advised that the Prime Minister has called a federal election for Saturday, 21 August 2010.
Voting is compulsory in federal elections for Australian citizens resident in Australia. However, if you are outside Australia on Election Day, you will not be fined if you do not vote. However, you are required to notify the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) before the election date that you are not in Australia. For further information, refer to www.aec.gov.au.
Australians resident overseas are advised to confirm their enrolment with the AEC in order to be able to vote. Refer to the AEC website www.aec.gov.au for enrolment verification. You may also direct enrolment enquiries to info@aec.gov.au or call +61 2 6271 4411.
If you are enrolled to vote and wish to change your details, you must download a change of address form from www.aec.gov.au and fax it to the relevant AEC office in Australia by 8 pm on Thursday 22 July 2010.
After confirming your enrolment with the AEC, you may vote in the federal election in one of two ways:
1) By visiting the Australian Consulate General in person.
Due to security requirements, Australian citizens must bring their Australian passport to enter the Consulate-General.
Pre-polling services commenced on Monday, 9 August 2010. Office hours will be Monday - Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm. The Consulate General will be open for voting on Election Day, Saturday, 21 August 2010. Given the large volume of voters expected on Election Day, Australians are strongly encouraged to present to vote prior to Election Day.
Australian Consulate General
Level 22 - CITIC Square
1168 Nanjing West Road
Shanghai 200041
Or
2) By applying for a postal vote.
To apply for a Postal Vote either:
• Download the Postal Vote application on the Australian Electoral Commission's website at http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/files/pva-2010.pdf
or
• Contact the Australian Embassy or nearest Consulate-General and request an application form to be sent to you via post.
You will need to complete the Postal Voting Application form, including having it signed and witnessed. Guidance on completing the postal voting application form, including witnessing, is attached here.
Your postal address should be written on the form in both English and Chinese in order for ballot material to be correctly sent to you through the local postal service. The form should then be mailed or faxed to your nearest Australian mission. The fax numbers are provided below:
Australian Embassy Beijing: (010) 5140 4292.
Consulate-General Shanghai: (021) 2215 5252
Consulate-General Guangzhou: (020) 3814 0112
After returning the completed postal vote application form to the Australian Embassy or nearest Australian Consulate-General, you will be mailed ballot papers to enable you to cast your vote.
In order to be accepted your Postal Vote Application must reach the Australian Embassy or your nearest Australian Consulate-General by Thursday 19 August 2010. However noting postal services in China may be slow, you should apply for a postal vote as soon as possible. To ensure your vote is counted the Embassy recommends you allow at least one week for ballot papers to be mailed to you and for you to return them by mail. Only postal votes received by the Consulate-General on or before Election Day, or postmarked before Election Day, will be counted.
Timeframes for postal voting are tight. The deadline for postal voting will be updated on this website as soon as it is confirmed by the AEC.
Should you have any questions regarding the federal election, please visit the Australian Electoral Commission website at www.aec.gov.au
Australian Consulate General, Shanghai