Enrolments, postal applications open as Governor-General issues writ on Voice referendum

Callan Morse Published September 12, 2023 at 11.00am (AWST)

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Governor-General David Hurley issued the writ to the Australian Electoral Commission on Monday. (Image: AAP)

The Voice to Parliament referendum date was formalised Monday with Governor-General David Hurley directing the Australian Electoral Commission to hold the vote on October 14.

The process is a formality following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's announcement of the date in late August.

The issuance of the writ means eligible voters have seven days to enrol or update their details to be able to vote in the poll, with the enrolment cut-off set for next Monday 18 September.

Monday also saw the opening of postal applications, which close one month from the Mr Hurley's issuance of the writ, on Wednesday 11 October.

Australians can use their Medicare card or citizenship certificate to sign up or alter enrolment details.

The referendum will ask Australians to vote on constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples and to enshrine the Voice, a permanent advisory body in Australia's constitution.

The vote will be the highest recorded level of participation of any federal election event in the country's history.

The national enrolment rate was approximately 97.5 per cent in June, with 94.1 per cent of eligible Indigenous people and 90.3 per cent of youth enrolled to vote.

Special Minister of State Don Farrell said voter enrolment has increased in the lead up to next month's referendum, Australia's first in 24 years.

"The numbers don't lie - younger Australians are ready to have a say, new Australians are ready to have a say, our First Australians are ready to have a say," Senator Farrell told AAP.

"If you aren't enrolled or need to update your details, I urge you to do it now so you can be part of a historical, unifying moment by saying 'yes'."

The issue of the referendum writ comes after recent poll results suggest the No position is ahead in every state apart from Tasmania.

According to Resolve Political Monitor survey, published in Nine newspapers on Monday, 56 per cent of Tasmanian respondents said they were in support of the Voice, with 43 per cent opposed to the proposal.

The poll showed crucial the majority of Victorian (49 per cent for, 51 per cent against) and South Australia (41 per cent for, 59 per cent against) respondents were against the Voice, with stronger support for the No campaign in other jurisdictions.