Electoral material, including how-to-vote cards, to be distributed on election day must first be registered by the Electoral Commission. Unregistered electoral material must not be distributed on election day.

Distribution includes leaving material in a public place where it can be picked up or collected by any person.

Registration does not apply to posters, whether they are displayed before or on election day. Electoral material (including how-to-vote cards) distributed before election day do not have to be registered. They must however, comply with other legal provisions including the name and address of the person who authorised the printing and the name and street of the printer, and contain voting directions that are consistent with the ballot paper instructions (ie. electors must vote for at least half the number of candidates to be elected in a particular undivided Council area or Ward).

How-To-Vote Cards and Posters - Questions and Answers

The How-To-Vote Cards and Posters - Questions and Answers brochure provides answers to frequently asked questions about the distribution and display of how-to-vote cards and posters on election day.

How to vote cards and posters – Questions and answers
(PDF)[174.9 kb]

Examples of How to Vote Material

Candidates who want to register electoral material (including how-to-vote cards) for the council elections should view the examples to assist with drafting acceptable electoral material. There are a number of different examples for different types of ballot papers (ie. groups/no groups) and elections (ie. mayor/councillor/referendum):

How to vote card examples
(PDF)[390.9 kb]

Referendums and Polls

Any person who wants to distribute electoral material on election day which relates to a Council referendum or poll must also have it registered. The above provisions apply to such material.

Distribution of electoral material on election day

Party workers (also referred to as Candidate Workers) must not distribute electoral material within six metres of the entrance to a polling place. The entrance to the polling place is determined to be the entrance to the building in which the polling place is situated.

Display of posters on election day

Posters cannot be displayed within 6 metres of the entrance to a polling place or on the exterior of a building being used as a polling place.

Posters displayed beyond the 6 metres but within the grounds of an enclosure in which a building being used as a polling place is situated (e.g. inside school grounds) cannot be larger than the prescribed size of 8000 square centimetres (80cm x 100cm).

Posters exceeding 8000 square centimetres in area cannot be displayed on the outer wall, fence or other boundary of the enclosure.

How to register electoral material

Application forms and a copy of each how-to-vote card must be lodged with the Returning Officer for the Council area in which the material is to be distributed. The application and the how-to-card can be submitted by fax, email, post, or over-the-counter. If submitted by email the application must contain an image of the signature of the applicant.

Returning Officer contact details are available on this website for each Council Area

When to register electoral material

Applications and electoral material (including how-to-vote cards) for registration can be lodged from noon Wednesday, 13 August 2008 until 5.00pm Friday, 5 September 2008.

Who can apply to register electoral material

• Any party, group or candidate contesting a Council election can make an application to register electoral material (including how-to-vote cards).
• Other persons, organisations or community groups not contesting the election can also make an application to register electoral material.

The following people can sign an application for registration of electoral material:

Groups – party affiliation

• Registered Officer
• Deputy Registered Officer
• Head candidate in the Group

Ungrouped candidates – party affiliation

• Registered Officer
• Deputy Registered Officer
• Candidate

Groups – no party affiliation

• Head candidate in the Group
• Any candidate within the group

 Ungrouped candidates - no party affiliation

• Candidate

Other persons, organisations or community groups

• Any person authorised by the organisation or community group who is not a candidate
• Any person with an interest in the outcome of the election who is not a candidate

What is acceptable electoral material

Examples of acceptable electoral material (including how-to-vote cards) will be available on this website.

Information is also contained in the Handbook for Parties, Groups, Candidates and Scrutineers.