When and where to vote in Queensland

Can I vote?

You can vote in the Queensland State Elections if you are:

• 18 years old or over
• an Australian Citizen
• have lived in your address for at least one month
• enrolled to vote

If you didn’t enrol by the deadline, you can still vote. Visit a voting centre to enrol and vote on the spot. Make sure you bring ID, such as your driver licence, learner permit, Australian passport, or a recent electricity bill or council rates notice in your name and showing your address. Let one of the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) voting centre staff know you are not enrolled, and they can assist you.

Do I have to vote?

Yes, if you meet the criteria listed above, you have to vote. You can receive a fine if you do not vote without a good justification for why you could not vote.

When to vote

Many people in Queensland will vote on election day. Election Day will be held on a Saturday, with voting open between 08:00 and 18:00 on that day.

The next Queensland state election is scheduled to be held on 26 October 2024.

If you cannot vote on election day, you can vote earlier in person or by mail (a postal vote) among other options listed below.

Where to vote

You can vote:

• On election day – at a voting centre near your house. These are usually public buildings, such as schools, churches, or halls. To find out what polling places are available you should visit https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au or call 1300 881 665 to find out what options are available.
• Before election day – at an early voting centre OR by postal vote. You can vote at early voting centres in the two weeks leading up to election day. You don’t need a reason to vote early. Visit https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au or call 1300 881 665 to find out what options are available.
• Vote by phone – you can use telephone assisted voting if you are eligible. You can find more information here.
• Mobile voting & voting from prison – Election officials may visit voters in eligible remote areas during an election. Prisoners serving a term of less than 3 years are eligible to vote. You can find more information here.

What happens at the polling booth or early voting centre?

Outside the polling booth or early voting centre, you may see candidates and/or volunteers helping the candidates. They may offer you a piece of paper called a ‘how-to-vote’ card.

You do not need to take or follow the how-to-vote card if you do not want to. It can help you decide how to vote if you agree with the candidate’s policies. However, you can still vote for the candidate and rank the other candidates in a different order than what the how-to-vote card suggests.

Inside the polling booth, you will see an ECQ election official at a table with a list of names. You need to check in with the election official. They will ask for your name, your address, if you have already voted in the election, and to confirm your electorate. The election official will give you a ballot paper and will point you to where you should vote.

You will vote at cardboard voting booths. The booths have dividers so no one else can see how you vote. The booths have pencils that you can use to mark your vote, but you can also use your own pencil or pen.

If you need help filling out the election ballot paper, you can take a support person or friend with you. The election official can also help you. This helper should not tell you who to vote for and must not tell anyone how you voted without your consent.

What do you do if you will be overseas or interstate on election day?

If you will be travelling during election day (either within Australia or overseas), you can either:

• Vote ahead of time at an early voting centre or by postal vote

• If you will not be able to vote while you are travelling overseas, you can notify the Electoral Commission of Queensland. If you are travelling indefinitely, you can be removed from the electoral roll and re-enrol when you are back.

You can also call the ECQ on 1300 881 665 to find out more information.