By Jeremy Cook
Polling locations for the 2023 referendum have been released for the more than 17.6 million enrolled voters around Australia wishing to cast their ballot early or on the day.
Australians will head to the ballot box on 14 October to vote in the country’s first referendum since 1999.
Early voting opened on Tuesday 3 October in Queensland for voters wishing to cast their vote before referendum day.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) revealed enrolment numbers were the largest ever recorded for a referendum in the country’s history with 97.7 per cent of eligible Australians listed on the electoral roll.
Voters will be asked to answer either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to one question:
“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?”
Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers encouraged voters to plan their vote ahead of 14 October.
“Federal referendums are in-person events just like elections,” Mr Rogers said.
“If you can vote on 14 October, then that’s what you should do,” he said.
“However, if your circumstances might prevent you from doing that then you need to think about the early voting options available and vote according to your circumstances.
“Remember, it is compulsory to vote for all enrolled Australians.”
In a statement to media, Maranoa MP David Littleproud urged all enrolled voters to have their say.
“Whether it’s by post, a remote voting booth, at an early voting centre or at your local polling booth on 14 October, I encourage everyone to cast their vote,” Mr Littleproud said.
Voting will open at 8am on referendum day with polls closing at 6pm.
Information on where and when to vote in the Southern Downs can be found below.
EARLY VOTING –
St Marys Hall, cnr Wood St and Acacia Ave, Warwick:
Tue 3 Oct – Fri 6 Oct: 8:30 am–5:30 pm
Sat 7 Oct: 9 am–4 pm
Mon 9 Oct – Thu 12 Oct: 8:30 am–5:30 pm
Fri 13 Oct: 8:30 am–6 pm
St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, 2 Corundum St, Stanthorpe:
Mon 9 Oct – Thu 12 Oct: 8:30 am–5:30 pm
Fri 13 Oct: 8:30 am–6 pm
REFERENDUM DAY VOTING (SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14)
Warwick and surrounds:
– St Marys Hall, cnr Wood St and Acacia Ave, Warwick
– Warwick Indoor Recreational & Aquatic Centre, 29 Palmerin St, Warwick
– Warwick East State School (National Building), 45 Fitzroy St, Warwick
– Warwick West State School (Phillip Higgins Hall), 17 George St, Warwick
– Deuchar-Massie Public Hall, cnr Massie-Bony Mountain Rd & Massie Hall Rd, Massie
– Murrays Bridge State School, 1378 Warwick Killarney Rd, Murrays Bridge
– Yangan School Of Arts Hall, 7-9 King St, Yangan
– Allora State School, 21 Warwick St, Allora
– Goomburra Public Hall, 17 Inverramsay Rd, Goomburra
– Maryvale Community Hall, 33 Taylor St, Maryvale
– Pratten Public Hall, 101 White St, Pratten
– Killarney Senior Citizens Centre, 11 Ailanthus St, Killarney
– Dalveen Hall, 38 Pine Cres, Dalveen
– Clifton State School, 1 Tooth St, Clifton
– Pilton State School, 24 Pilton Valley Rd, Pilton
Stanthorpe and surrounds:
– The Summit State School, 34 Taggart Rd, The Summit
– Nobby State School, 7 Davenport St, Nobby
– Applethorpe State School, 25576 New England Hwy, Applethorpe
– Amiens State School, Post Office La, Amiens
– Leyburn State School, 34 Peter St, Leyburn
– Stanthorpe Civic Centre, 61 Marsh St, Stanthorpe
– Broadwater State School, 638 Texas Rd, Broadwater
– Glen Aplin State School, 54 Mount Stirling Rd, Glen Aplin
– Ballandean State School, 7 Bents Rd, Ballandean
– Wallangarra State School, 50 Callandoon St, Wallangarra
Voters are encouraged to head online to the AEC website for more details on voting and the referendum itself.
