Australia — 2010 Election voting underway for deployed Defence personnel

Vot­ing in the 2010 fed­er­al elec­tion for Aus­tralian Defence per­son­nel cur­rent­ly deployed on over­seas mis­sions has already begun in key loca­tions such as the Mid­dle East Area of Oper­a­tions and East Tim­or.

ADF mem­bers trained and autho­rised as Assis­tant Return­ing Offi­cers by the Aus­tralian Elec­toral Com­mis­sion (AEC) will oper­ate polling booths in deployed locations. 

For those per­son­nel unable to reach a deployed polling booth, vot­ing at an Aus­tralian Embassy or apply­ing for a Postal Vot­ing is also available.

Chief of Joint Oper­a­tions Lieu­tenant Gen­er­al Evans said the ADF would make it pos­si­ble for ADF per­son­nel to cast their vote in the 2010 fed­er­al election.

“It is impor­tant that all Defence per­son­nel, includ­ing those on over­seas deploy­ment, are giv­en an equal oppor­tu­ni­ty to cast their vote,” Lieu­tenant Gen­er­al Evans said. “Defence works close­ly with the AEC to ensure vot­ing is con­duct­ed in accor­dance with cor­rect elec­toral procedures.”

At the con­clu­sion of the vot­ing peri­od, bal­lot box­es along with postal votes, will be escort­ed back to Aus­tralia and returned to the AEC. 

Press release
Min­is­te­r­i­al Sup­port and Pub­lic Affairs,
Depart­ment of Defence,
Can­ber­ra, Australia 

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