<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While millions of Australians will do their civic duty and head to the polls on May 3, thousands will also have legitimate reasons that prevent them from going to the physical ballot box this </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/federal-election-2025" rel="" target="" title="federal election"><span>federal election</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead, they can opt to cast their vote by mail, called postal voting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So if you can't make it to the polling station here's what you need to know about applying for and casting a postal vote.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-policy-promises-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-housing-tax-energy-health-explained/69f5f5d2-2fff-4aa3-b10e-8ce7d707a50f"><strong><span>The election promises Labor and the Coalition have made to win your vote</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>How do I get a postal vote?</span></strong><span></span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>First, you'll need to </span><a href="https://forms.aec.gov.au/PostalVoteApplication/Form/Apply/840f239c-412f-4758-9ac3-b28e008ebbd0?mode=Wizard" rel="" target="" title="submit a postal vote application form to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)"><span>submit a postal vote application form to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The AEC will then send you back a postal vote pack – a bundle that includes a certificate for your vote, along with the ballot papers to vote on, a return envelope, and an information pamphlet.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-how-does-postal-voting-work-and-to-apply-explainer/f4806a40-9f89-4ae4-8ea9-fae547228654" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Step two is to simply complete the certificate, fill out your ballots, and put it all in the envelope.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You'll need to send that envelope back to the AEC by mail, or hand it in physically by 6pm on election day at the latest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For your vote to count, the AEC has to receive your postal vote within 13 days of the election – that's by Friday, May 16 this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-labor-and-coalition-slammed-for-dismal-economic-plans/2c08b250-cd08-4527-b25b-ee64f5ad5880"><strong><span>'Dismal' housing plans by Labor and Coalition risk skyrocketing debt, says expert</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>How to apply for a postal vote</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You can apply now for postal voting at the AEC link </span><a href="http://aec.gov.au/pva" rel="" target="" title=""><span>here</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You can otherwise collect the postal vote forms from an AEC office, or call them on 13 23 26.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You are eligible to cast a postal vote if you:</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><span>are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote</span></p></li><li><p><span>are more than 8km from a polling place</span></p></li><li><p><span>are travelling</span></p></li><li><p><span>can't leave your workplace to vote</span></p></li><li><p><span>are seriously ill, infirm, have recently given birth or are expected shortly to do so</span></p></li><li><p><span>are caring for someone who is seriously ill, infirm, has recently given birth or is expected shortly to do so</span></p></li><li><p><span>are a person with disability</span></p></li><li><p><span>are caring for a person with disability</span></p></li><li><p><span>are a patient in hospital</span></p></li><li><p><span>have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place</span></p></li><li><p><span>are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained</span></p></li><li><p><span>are a silent elector</span></p></li><li><p><span>have a reasonable fear for your safety</span></p></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXPLAINED:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-preferential-voting-system-explained-everything-you-need-to-know-house-of-representatives-senate/4f4ac1a2-1913-44c5-ad68-2572f095b444" rel="" target="" title="How Australia's preferential voting system works"><strong><span>How Australia's preferential voting system works</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>When do postal vote applications open and when do they close?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Applications for postal voting opened the day the election was called.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That means applications for this year's election are already open.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Postal vote applications close at 6pm local time the Wednesday before election day – that's April 23 this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>When do postal votes get sent out?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The AEC starts sending postal vote packages out once ballots are finalised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As soon as practicable after the issue of writ for a referendum or when ballot papers have been finalised in a federal election or byelection, you will receive your postal vote pack in the mail," it says.</span></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/04/01/11/52/federal-election-2025-campaign-in-pictures"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/n5sBNCGxw34DqhctLP0k1cO5h-c=/0x201:3856x2370/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fd29bf6bc-cc01-43d6-9e3f-aee626582f34" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/n5sBNCGxw34DqhctLP0k1cO5h-c=/0x201:3856x2370/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fd29bf6bc-cc01-43d6-9e3f-aee626582f34 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/AWOlM9RLhdNGQtKgUHSjlg_edCg=/0x201:3856x2370/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fd29bf6bc-cc01-43d6-9e3f-aee626582f34 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">'Reckless': PM, opposition leader trade blows over Russia report</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/04/01/11/52/federal-election-2025-campaign-in-pictures">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Do you need a witness for your postal vote?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Yes, one of the requirements of doing a postal vote is that you have to have someone witness your ballot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They need to see you filling out your vote – but not who you vote for.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The role of the witness is to ensure the elector completes their own ballot papers," the AEC says. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>When do the postal votes have to be received by?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For your vote to count, the AEC has to receive your postal vote within 13 days of the election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That means the AEC has to receive your votes by Friday, May 16.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>And what if you live overseas?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You can vote from overseas by visiting an overseas voting centre or completing a postal vote. You will need to provide an overseas address to receive your postal vote pack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The AEC has encouraged Australian citizens who are in a different country to apply for a postal vote as early as possible to ensure they receive it in time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>