Services for Australians Overseas

Services for Australians in South Africa

Voting in the Voice Referendum 2023

On 14 October 2023, Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum to alter the Constitution.

The Australian High Commission in Pretoria will be an in-person voting centre and postal vote collection centre.

In-person voting will be available at the High Commission between the hours of 0900-1200 and 1300-1500 on the following dates:

Monday 9 October to Friday 13 October

Identification will be required for entry into the High Commission.

Before you come to vote, please check your enrolment on the AEC website. You will need to be on the electoral roll (Referendum 2023 - Enrol to vote) to be able to vote in the referendum.

It is not compulsory to vote if you are not in Australia at the time of the referendum. If you will be overseas at the time and unable to vote, you can advise the AEC by completing and returning the Overseas Notification Form. You can also use the Overseas Notification Form and email it to [email protected].

We recommend in-person voting due to the limited postal service in South Africa. However, you may also cast a postal vote in this referendum, which, once completed, can either be posted to the AEC in Australia directly, or mailed or dropped off to the High Commission. If you would like to mail in your postal vote to the High Commission, please send it to:

Australian High Commission

PostNet Suite 493

Menlo Park 0102

South Africa

If dropping off your completed postal vote, please deliver it to the guardhouse at the front of the Australian High Commission, 292 Orient St, Arcadia, Pretoria.

Postal votes delivered to the High Commission must be received by 3pm, Friday 13 October 2023 in order to be dispatched.

Postal votes sent to the AEC in Australia directly must be received by 27 October 2023 in order to be counted.

Additional information on the referendum and voting is available from the AEC website and Smartraveller.

Assisting Australians Overseas within Limits

Find out what we can and cannot do.

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