With early voting starting across Australia, MOJO News is here to explain your options for casting a vote this federal election.

Voting in Australia is compulsory for all citizens over 18 years of age and, as long as you are enrolled to vote, can be done by voting early, by post or at a voting centre on election day — Saturday, May 3.

And to keep up to date with the polling results, MOJO News will broadcast live on Channel 31 from 6.30pm on election night.

What is early voting?

Early voting, or pre-poll as some refer to it, is an option if you know you will be unable to vote on May 3. 

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following criteria, as set out by the Australian Electoral Commission. You: 

• are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
• are more than 8 kilometres from a polling place
• are travelling
• are unable to leave your workplace to vote
• are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
• are a person with disability (or caring for someone who is)
• are a patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital
• have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
• are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
• are a silent elector
• have a reasonable fear for your safety or wellbeing.

You can find your local early voting centre here.

What is postal voting?

If you can't make it to a polling place, the AEC also offers postal voting. This involves the AEC sending  you your ballot, for you to send back on or before election day.

To be eligible for this you must meet one of the following criteria. You:

• are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
• are more than 8 kilometres from a polling place
• are travelling
• can't leave your workplace to vote
• are seriously ill, infirm, have recently given birth or are expected shortly to do so (or caring for someone who is)
• are a person with disability (or caring for someone who is)
• are a patient in hospital
• have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
• are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
• are a silent elector
• have a reasonable fear for your safety.

Postal ballots must be posted by 6pm on election night to be counted. The AEC cannot count votes more than 13 days after election night.

To apply for a postal ballot, fill in the form here:

Voting on election day

Perhaps the easiest way to vote is to attend a polling place on May 3. Polling places are usually located at local schools, churches and community halls, or public buildings.

So long as you have enrolled to vote, head down to a local polling place, cast your ballot and enjoy a democracy sausage (often not available at early voting centres).

You can find your local polling place here.

Meanwhile, to find out what 'democracy food' is at your voting location, Democracy Sausage offers a map of sausage and cake availability on election day. 

Are there more options?

The AEC provides more voting options for those living in regional communities via mobile voting, those with low vision via telephone voting, as well as some overseas locations for Australians not in the country on election day.

To view all voting options take a look here.