2 days Ago By Ayden Dawkins
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has issued a warning to voters ahead of the 2025 federal election about unsolicited postal vote applications. Login or signup to continue reading While political parties and candidates sending application forms is not banned, the commission is concerned about privacy because political parties can collect voters' data before forwarding applications to the AEC. Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said while the AEC operates under Australian privacy laws, political parties are not required to.
"People should always carefully consider what they're doing with their personal information," Mr Pope said. "If you receive an application form for a postal vote in the mail or via SMS, it hasn't come from the AEC," Mr Pope said. The AEC said some third-party applications at past elections have featured misleading colours and even directed voters to non-AEC websites, which have the potential to mislead that they are official documents.
With applications for postal voting closing at 6pm on April 30, the AEC is concerned about the time they may receive third-party applications. "If you need a postal vote, the easiest way to apply for one is to do it on the AEC's website. It takes a few minutes and guarantees that your personal information stays secure with us.
" READ MORE: Enrolling, early voting: everything you need to know before the election The electoral commission shared the same warning ahead of the 2022 federal election , and Mr Pope said concerns have been shared with parliamentary committees in the past and the AEC "will continue to do so in the future". Unsolicited outreach is the number one complaint the voters share with the AEC at almost every federal election, he said. "Voters ask us how their mobile number is known by a political party.
It has not been provided by the AEC." Ayden is the morning news editor for ACM's national digital team. Do you have a story that should be told? Email him at ayden.
[email protected] Ayden is the morning news editor for ACM's national digital team.
Do you have a story that should be told? Email him at [email protected].
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