Today is the last day to take advantage of early polling centres, and all people on the electoral roll must cast their votes before the close of polls tomorrow.
According to the Australian Electoral Council, there are 17,676,347 people on the electoral roll.
The question to be asked of all Australians is as follows:
A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?
To vote, you must write either yes or no in the box provided on the ballot paper.
A ‘double majority’ must be reached for a referendum to be carried. That is, a national majority and a majority of voters in at least four of the six states.
The count
Results will be updated on the AEC’s Tally Room from after 6pm (AEDT) Saturday.
The AEC has said whether a result will be declared on Saturday depends entirely on how close the margin is.
Indications of a result are always made by electoral analysts and commentators.
What is counted on Saturday night?
• All votes cast on the day will be counted that night.
• The majority of pre-poll votes cast will also be counted on the night.
• A small number of postal votes will be counted on the night but how many depends on how many postal votes the AEC has received back from voters by then. Two million people registered for postal votes.
• There will be pre-poll counts that will not be available until late in the night on the Tally Room.
• Time differences also need to be taken into consideration when reporting on the count. In Western Australia for example, polling places close at 6pm AWST (9pm ADET).
• The AEC can receive postal votes until the close of business of Friday, October 27 which is the required 13 days after voting day the AEC must wait.
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