Go to an election official at an issuing table and provide your full name, date of birth and enrolled address. They will ask if you have voted in this election, mark your name off the electoral roll and hand you the ballot paper. You are entitled to one vote in the area where you live.

Scrutineers

Scrutineers are appointed by candidates to be present during key election processes, including the counting of votes, to ensure they are done properly.

Scrutineers may be at the polling place and can request the election official to ask you certain questions about your entitlement to vote. You must answer these questions and if they satisfy the election official you will be allowed to vote.

Scrutineers play an important role in the election by checking the transparency of the electoral process and accuracy of the count of votes.

Assistance to electors

Electors who need assistance to vote can ask an election official to help.

Ballot paper

There is usually one ballot paper, unless your local council is also conducting a mayrol election, referendum or plebiscite.

You must take your ballot paper(s) to a voting compartment and mark according to its instructions. If you make a mistake, take your ballot paper back to the same election official who gave it to you and ask for a new one. Do not sign or mark the ballot paper in any way which may identify you.

The ballot paper must be completed in private and then folded so that the vote cannot be seen and placed in the ballot box at the exit of the polling place. Voting is secret and you do not have to tell anyone how you voted.

Voting as a section voter

You are entitled to vote as a section voter if your name is:

• not on the electoral roll but you have enrolled;
• marked to show that you have voted but you haven't.

If you vote as a section voter, you place your ballot papers in a declaration envelope which you have to sign so that your enrolment details can be checked later. If an error has been made your vote will be admitted to the count.

Voting by silent electors

Electors who have applied for and been granted enrolment as a silent elector (no address on the certified roll) will be issued ballot papers by the polling place manager.