Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT 1918 - SECT 200BA

             (1)  The Electoral Commission may declare, in writing, for an election:

                     (a)  a specified place to be a pre‑poll voting office; and

                     (b)  the day or days on which, and the hours during which, applications for pre‑poll votes may be made to a pre‑poll voting officer at that place.

             (2)  If the Electoral Commission makes a declaration under subsection (1), the Electoral Commission must:

                     (a)  unless paragraph (b) applies, cause a copy of the declaration to be published in the Gazette before the first day (the first pre‑poll voting day ) specified in the declaration under paragraph (1)(b); or

                     (b)  if, because of exceptional circumstances, the declaration is made on the first pre‑poll voting day, or so close to the first pre‑poll voting day that the Electoral Commission is not able to cause a copy of the declaration to be published in the Gazette before that day:

                              (i)  comply with subsection (3); and

                             (ii)  cause a copy of the declaration to be published in the Gazette as soon as practicable after making the declaration.

             (3)  For the purposes of subparagraph (2)(b)(i), the Electoral Commission must, as soon as practicable after making the declaration:

                     (a)  take all reasonable steps to inform the following persons of the place, the day or days, and the hours specified in the declaration:

                              (i)  each candidate for election to the House of Representatives for the Division in which the place is located;

                             (ii)  each candidate for election to the Senate for the State or Territory in which the place is located;

                            (iii)  if a candidate referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) has been endorsed by a registered political party--that political party; and

                     (b)  if it considers it appropriate to do so, publish in a newspaper circulating in the Division in which the place specified in the declaration is located a notice stating:

                              (i)  that the place has been declared to be a pre‑poll voting office; and

                             (ii)  the day or days on which, and the hours during which, applications for pre‑poll votes may be made to a pre‑poll voting officer at that place.

             (4)  A declaration made under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.